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The NBA is more than 100 days into a lockout that has already canceled the first two weeks of the 2011–12 season. The argument over how to split league revenues between owners and players is one thing, but what about the local business aspect of a faltering league?

Consider that the Trail Blazers are the primary tenant in the Rose Garden, a LEED gold-rated, $267 million facility in the predominantly commercial Lloyd District. The ever-evolving area plays a vital role in the city’s economy, and the need for developers and contractors remains strong considering the district’s consistent foot, cycle and auto traffic.

That heavy traffic makes building in the area attractive for business owners who run bars, restaurants, merchandise stores, etc. However, if 41 regular-season games disappear, so do the 20,000-plus consumers on each game night. Financing new construction or renovation is a much harder sell without knowing if there will be game-night traffic, as ambiguity doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

It’s unclear if the Blazers can be counted on to attract business, which is among the chief reasons to build in the Lloyd District (a pricey area that is fairly tight on space). Total fan attendance , meaning that nearly 1 million potential customers per season are at risk should the NBA remain locked out. The San Antonio Spurs, for example, experience similar patterns for attendance and related business. It’s a club that yields roughly for the arena and nearby businesses on game nights.

One silver lining for developers is that business owners in the area may be unwilling or unable to afford a passive business cycle. They’ll have to sell space to developers who can afford an off season (no pun intended) – developers who could use the lockout to focus on renovation projects and aim to reopen doors once the Blazers get back to business. Furthermore, the city of Portland is likely to follow the Memphis City Council’s example and to recoup some of the lost business.

Hey, at least parking in the area will be easier without all the game-night congestion.

by samgrover via Flickr