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The Memorial Coliseum
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One Center Court Portland, OR 97227 (503) 235-8771 Basketball Capacity: 12,888 Tenant: Portland Power (ABL) Former Tenants: Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) 1970-1995 Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
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The Memorial Coliseum
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One Center Court Portland, OR 97227 (503) 235-8771 Basketball Capacity: 12,888 Tenant: Portland Power (ABL) Former Tenants: Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) 1970-1995 Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
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Designed by the architectural firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Coliseum opened for business on November 1, 1960. A smaller and simpler version of the Rose Garden, the Coliseum has been called home by several Portland-area sports franchises over the years including the Buckaroos of the old Western Hockey League, the Winter Hawks of the current Western Hockey League, and the Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. Following the 1994-95 NBA regular and post-seasons, the Trail Blazers have played 1,093 games in 25 years at the Coliseum, including 71 post-season playoff contests, nine games in the NBA Finals, and one World Championship. Upon leaving the Coliseum, the Trail Blazers had sold out 810 consecutive regular season and playoff games, a record unmatched by any franchise in professional sports. Total capacity for NBA Basketball is 12,888. The Blazers moved into their new home, the Rose Garden, in time for the 1995-96 season.
Arena Resources
Other Resources Amazon.COM Basketball Books Like the Rose Garden, the Memorial Coliseum was designed as a flexible, multi-purpose venue. In addition to the numerous basketball and hockey contests held at the facility, the Coliseum has been host to hundreds of concerts, rodeos, circuses, ice shows, and trade shows. In 1965 the Coliseum hosted the NCAA Final Four collegiate basketball tournament. November 1, 1974 marked the first time in history a U.S. President attended an NBA game as President Gerald Ford watched the Blazers defeat the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), 113-106 in the Coliseum. Portland, and the rest of the globe, saw the debut of Dream Team I in 1992 when the Coliseum played host to the Tournament of the Americas (North America's basketball selection tournament for the Olympic Games in Barcelona).
Source: The Rose Quarter TRAIL BLAZERS HAVE PLAN FOR FORMER ARENA
November 5, 2009
Copyright 2009 MediaVenturesPortland, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reduce the size of Memorial Coliseum and create an entertainment district called "Jumptown" that will include music, sports and cultural events.
By adding condos and apartments, hotels, offices, stores and restaurants - and potentially a "Nike interactive experience" - the Blazers are trying to bring economic vitality to the struggling district surrounding the Rose Garden.
Blazers President Larry Miller wants to turn the aging glass palace into a more intimate venue for Portland Winterhawks hockey games, the famed Rose Festival parade and performances of all kinds.
By reducing the seating area, remodeling inside spaces and getting creative with marketing, Miller said he hopes the coliseum will be an added attraction in the bigger mix.
The Rose Quarter Stakeholders Advisory Committee, which began meeting this fall, is looking to adopt a new plan for the area over the next year. The group will accept ideas from the public through Dec. 1.
The Blazers, operators of both the Rose Garden and coliseum, have the right of making the first proposal for any private construction project involving the coliseum. The advisory committee will look at all the ideas, including the Blazers' plan, and make a recommendation to the City Council on what it would like to see in the Rose Quarter, including how best to redevelop the coliseum.
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