Dedicated Blazers season ticket holder 'adopts' players over the years
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Trail Blazers season ticket holders get invited to numerous events during the season where fans get to know the Blazers players -- whether that’s playing ping pong with them or just visiting with them on the Moda Center court.
NBA Summer League is also a great way to meet and talk with players after games.
And it’s a way that Patrea Kroll, a Blazers season ticket holder for the past 30 years, got the opportunity to share her encouragement with players --- players that she wanted to be a motherly figure to while they played in Rip City.
“I said I'd like to be your Portland mom,” Kroll would say to the players she thought she would connect with or if she knew their family was miles and miles away.
Her list of adopted Blazers dates back to 2008 and includes Nicolas Batum, Dante Cunningham, Jeff Aryes, and Luke Babbitt.
In 2008, Patrea talked with then-Blazers rookie Nicolas Batum and asked him if she could adopt him while he played in Portland.
And he said, ‘Oh that’d be great, but you have to take my mother and sister, too,” Kroll said. “That was the start of me being a Portland Mom for some of the guys… When I adopt them I communicate with them, and after games we drive down to the bus and visit for a little bit.”
Kroll added, “I think getting to know the players on a personal level, and talking with them and asking them their goals, I always ask their goals, try to give them a little encouragement.”
Patrea and her husband Bill became well-known as avid Blazers fans dating back to the late '90s. It was rare to not see them in Section 331.
“My husband and I always liked basketball," Kroll said. “We went to games over in the Coliseum and then one of the doctors that I worked with -- I worked at Emanuel for 36 years -- and so we decided we’d like to have season tickets but with our schedules we couldn’t have a whole season at that time because one of us would be working. So we bought a full season and then we split it in half.”
In 2003, they decided they wanted to attend more games so they bought a full season.
But three years later, Patrea’s life completely changed when her husband passed away.
“When my husband passed in 2006, I told my Ticket Service Manager, Cindi Gross, that I should probably give up my season tickets," she said. "But she said, 'You enjoy the games don’t you?' and of course I said yes. She said, 'Then we’ll just make you part of the family.'"
That meant she went to a picnic out on the bluff at University of Portland and spent time meeting players and coaches.
"Nate was especially nice to me as it had just been a short time since my husband passed. My son went with me and seemed to enjoy it. When working, I had as many as 7 season tickets as I enjoyed taking grandkids, and friends to the game. Both of my sons got their own season tickets and my oldest has now moved to OKC."
But two years ago she chose to renew just her single ticket.
"I do enjoy meeting new people and have met some interesting folks who now sit in the two seats next to me that I gave up.”
Patrea’s friendly demeanor and knowledge of the team over the years is what fellow fans and ushers and many others at Moda Center have come to love about seeing Patrea around the Rose Quarter campus.
Who is next on her list of Blazer players to adopt?
“Probably one of my favorite ones that I want to adopt is Shaedon Sharpe.”
Now 79, Patrea said no matter what —- it’s hard to keep her away from Blazers games -- and from church.
She thanks her son Jeff for driving her to games. The Krolls still live in St. Helens, a 35-mile trip to-and-from Moda Center. They spend about 2 hours on the road every game day.
Patrea is also grateful for the Moda Center’s hospitality.
“Guest services is absolutely fantastic. I had an issue with my knee and my mobility was pretty much limited for almost a year. Elaine in guest services, she’d say just give me a call and we’ll send the wheelchair up.”
Patrea Kroll is undoubtedly a fixture at Trail Blazers home games. And she’s excited about the future of this franchise. She said this season’s squad has shown her potential.
“I believe they are coming together and playing good defense most of the time lately. Time will tell more," she said. "But I do like many of the new players and how they are developing. I especially like Shaedon Sharpe and would love to be his Portland mom. I really like Deni and Toumani, too!”