Memorial Coliseum opened on November 3, 1960, in Portland’s Rose Quarter as a tribute to local veterans of World War II and the Korean War. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the arena’s signature feature was its striking gray glass-and-aluminum curtain wall wrapped around an oval concrete seating bowl, a modernist design that made it one of the first true “glass box” arenas in the country when it was built for about $8 million.
The building became a cornerstone of Portland sports and entertainment, serving as the original home of the Portland Trail Blazers from 1970 to 1995, including their lone NBA championship season in 1977. It was renamed Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2011 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, and it continues to host the Portland Winterhawks junior hockey team today.
- Portland Trail Blazers played here 1970–1995. See every Trail Blazers arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Portland Trail Blazers (1970-1995), Portland Winterhawks (1976-present)
- Location: Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon
- Opened: November 3, 1960
- Capacity: About 12,666 (original); reduced to roughly 10,000 after 2025-2026 renovations
- Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
- Notable fact: Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009
A Championship Home
For 25 years, Memorial Coliseum was the beating heart of Portland basketball. The Trail Blazers won their only NBA championship there in 1977, going undefeated at home through that postseason run. The team moved to the larger Moda Center (then Rose Garden) next door in 1995, but the Winterhawks have kept the old arena alive, including taking up full-time residency there starting with the 2021-22 season.
Beyond sports, the Coliseum’s bowl has hosted major cultural moments, including two Beatles concerts in August 1965 and the 1965 NCAA basketball tournament’s Final Four, cementing its place in Portland’s civic memory alongside its intended purpose as a veterans’ memorial.
Preserving a Modernist Landmark
Memorial Coliseum’s glass-walled design was considered architecturally significant enough to earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, protecting the building even as newer, larger venues took over as Portland’s primary arena. A roughly $60 million renovation project began in 2024 and is slated to finish by summer 2026, aiming to modernize the building while retaining its distinctive curtain-wall exterior.
Today the venue sits alongside the Moda Center as part of the Rose Quarter entertainment district, giving Portland a rare side-by-side pairing of its past and present home arenas.
Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums and arenas.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
A see-through purse that looks like a purse. Works for most stadium, arena and concert bag policies.
Memorial Coliseum FAQs
What is Memorial Coliseum in Portland known for?
It’s known as the original home of the Portland Trail Blazers, including their 1977 NBA championship season, and for its distinctive glass-box modernist design.
When did Memorial Coliseum open?
It opened on November 3, 1960, and was dedicated in January 1961 as a tribute to local veterans.
Is Memorial Coliseum still in use?
Yes, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League play there full-time, and the arena underwent renovations beginning in 2024.
Get More from Memorial Coliseum
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Memorial Coliseum, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Steve Morgan / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.