Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Exterior view of the arena (c.2013)
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 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Location in Oregon
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Memorial Coliseum (1960–2011) |
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| Address | 300 N Ramsay Way Portland, Oregon |
| Location | Lloyd District |
| Coordinates | 45°31′55″N 122°40′08″W / 45.532°N 122.669°W |
| Public transit |  MAX Light Rail   at Rose Quarter Transit Center at Interstate/Rose Quarter Bus Service4, 8, 17, 35, 44, 77 |
| Owner | City of Portland |
| Operator | RCM |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 4, 1959 |
| Opened | November 3, 1960 |
| Construction cost | $8 million ($80.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill |
| Structural engineer | Moffat, Nichol and Taylor |
| General contractor | Hoffman Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Portland Winterhawks (WHL) (1976–present) Portland Buckaroos (WHL) (1960–1975) Portland Pilots (WCAC) (1960–1984) Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) (1970–1995) Portland Timbers (NASL) (1979–1982) Portland Pride (CISL) (1993–1997) Portland Power (ABL) (1996–1998) Portland Prowlers (IPFL) (2000) |
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Memorial Coliseum
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| Area | approx. 7.24 acres (2.93 ha) |
| Built | 1960> |
| Architectural style | International style |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000707 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 2009 |
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a famous indoor sports and event center in Portland, Oregon. It was first called the Memorial Coliseum. This arena is a key part of the Rose Quarter area.
It's the home ice for the Portland Winterhawks, a popular junior ice hockey team. The Coliseum was also the first home for the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team. This building is so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized for its important design.
Contents
Welcome to Veterans Memorial Coliseum!
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum has been a hub for sports and entertainment since 1960. It's a place where many exciting moments have happened. From thrilling basketball games to rock concerts, it has seen it all.
Home to Awesome Sports Teams
The Coliseum has hosted many different sports teams over the years. It's a place where athletes have competed and fans have cheered loudly.
Portland Trail Blazers' Early Home
The Portland Trail Blazers basketball team started playing here in 1970. The arena could hold 12,666 fans for basketball games. The Blazers even won the 1977 NBA Finals right here! They were undefeated at the Coliseum during those playoffs.
Two other NBA Finals were also played in the Coliseum in 1990 and 1992. In 1974, Gerald Ford became the first US president to watch an NBA game here. He saw the Blazers win against the Buffalo Braves. The Blazers moved to the nearby Moda Center in 1995.
To celebrate their history, the Blazers played special games at the Coliseum. They had a preseason game in 2009 against the Phoenix Suns. In 2019, they played another preseason game against the Denver Nuggets. This honored the stadium that was their home for 25 years.
Portland Winterhawks' Ice Arena
The Portland Winterhawks ice hockey team currently calls the Veterans Memorial Coliseum home. They used to share their games with the Moda Center. But since 2021, they play all their home games here.
In 2007, the city and the Winterhawks added replay screens to the scoreboard. Other improvements included a new beer garden and general repairs. These changes made the arena even better for hockey fans.
Other Cool Teams and Events
Many other teams have played at the Coliseum. The Portland Buckaroos hockey team played here from 1960 to 1974. The Portland Timbers soccer team played indoor games from 1979 to 1982.
The arena has also hosted college basketball tournaments. The NCAA basketball tournament Final Four was here in 1965. UCLA won one of its many championships that year. High school sports events, like hockey and dance championships, also take place here.
Big Events and Fun Times
Beyond sports, the Coliseum has been a stage for many other exciting events. It's a place for community celebrations and world-famous performers.
Famous Concerts and Shows
Many legendary music artists have performed at the Coliseum. The Beatles played two shows here in 1965 to 20,000 screaming fans. Led Zeppelin visited in 1969, 1970, and 1972. The Monkees also performed in 1967.
Elvis Presley had three concerts here in the 1970s. The Bee Gees played two sold-out shows in 1979. Bon Jovi even recorded parts of their music video "Lay Your Hands On Me" here in 1989.
Extreme Sports Action: Dew Tour
Portland was chosen to host the Dew Tour, an extreme sports event, starting in 2005. The Coliseum hosted events like BMX and Skateboard competitions. The Dew Tour returned to Portland many times, showing off amazing tricks.
Tennis Championships: Davis Cup
In 2007, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum hosted a major international tennis event. It was the Davis Cup Tennis final between the USA and Russia. This brought top tennis players to Portland.
A Look at the Coliseum's History
The Coliseum has a rich history, from how it was built to its unique design. It stands as a memorial and a landmark.
How It Was Built
Voters approved $8 million to build the Coliseum in 1954. Construction finished in 1960. It was dedicated on January 8, 1961. The building honors veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The famous architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the building. It was one of the largest multi-purpose facilities in the Pacific Northwest when it opened.
A Special Memorial
The Coliseum includes a special war memorial. It has two black granite walls below ground level. The names of fallen soldiers are written in gold paint on these walls. It's a place to remember their bravery and sacrifice.
In 2011, the city council changed the name to Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This was to better highlight its role as a memorial to war veterans.
"The Glass Palace" Design
The building is sometimes called "The Glass Palace" because of its design. It's 100 feet tall and has a modern look with gray glass and aluminum. The outside walls are made of 80,000 square feet of glass.
Inside, the glass walls offer amazing views of the city. Black curtains can close in 90 seconds to block sunlight for events. The design is a great example of the International Style of architecture.
What's Next for the Coliseum?
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum continues to be an important part of Portland. There have been talks about its future over the years.
In the late 2000s, there was a plan to build a new baseball park on the site. However, many people wanted to save the historic Coliseum. Veterans and history experts worked to protect the building. They successfully got it added to the National Register of Historic Places. This helped stop the demolition plans.
Other ideas for the site have included an entertainment district or a recreation center. In 2011, a $30 million renovation was announced. This project helped update and repair the facility. The Coliseum continues to host many events and remains a beloved landmark.
See also
In Spanish: Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland) para niños
- List of sports venues in Portland, Oregon
- Memorial Fountain
