Step Inside: Moda Center – Home of the Portland Trail Blazers

Home of the Portland Trail Blazers

Virtually stone-skipping distance from the Willamette River, the 19,393-seat Moda Center is the crown jewel of Portland’s Rose Quarter. Home to the NBA‘s Portland Trail Blazers since opening in 1995, the former Rose Garden stands beside the team’s historically-protected predecessor Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Along with its built-in Theater of the Clouds configuration, the Moda is The City of Roses’ versatile indoor events space for everything from kid-friendly ice shows to tattoo conventions, bull riding to wrestling and massive comedy stars to some of the biggest names in music.

Moda Center History

As the NBA’s popularity grew, the Moda Center was proposed as an upgrade to the 12,888-capacity Memorial Coliseum. After its $262 million construction, the arena opened as the Rose Garden on October 12, 1995. Just like the Trail Blazers, the venue was owned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, and both were run by his estate after his death in 2018. However, in July 2024, Moda Center became publicly owned after its $7.13 million purchase by the City of Portland.

Initially, the Moda hosted the Trail Blazers and the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, though the latter moved to Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2021. Over the years, Moda Center played host to several former professional sports franchises such as the WNBA’s Portland Fire, the National Lacrosse League’s Portland Lumberjax, the Arena Football League’s Portland Forest Dragons and the World Indoor Soccer League’s Portland Pythons. In 2026, the Moda will see women’s professional basketball once again as the WNBA launches a Portland expansion team for the 2026 WNBA season.

Sporting events are just one of the many offerings at Moda Center. The multipurpose arena comes equipped with an “acoustical cloud” of 160 ceiling panels that can rotate to absorb or reflect sound and create a unique, sound experience for each event. Aside from amplifying crowd noise at a home game, the state-of-the-art, adjustable acoustics allow for more intimate performances, especially for the main arena’s 6,500-seat Theater of the Clouds configuration.

Notable events at Moda Center, which had its name changed from the Rose Garden in 2013, include the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, early round matches for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2009, 2015 and 2022 and three Western Conference Finals series for the Trail Blazers, in 1999, 2000 and 2019.

Meanwhile, the first concert at Moda Center was a double bill featuring David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails on October 25, 1995. Between its main stage and Theater of the Clouds setup, the Moda has also hosted performances by Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart, Bon Iver and more.

As of 2025, the Portland Trail Blazers have partnered with Ticketmaster and OneCourt to offer haptic display devices for Blind or Low Vision fans at every home game at the Moda, becoming the first professional sports team to do so. These devices, available at no extra cost, allow fans to experience live basketball action in real-time through trackable vibrations. Devices can be reserved and checked out from Guest Services stands at various entry points in the Moda Center for the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Moda Center (@moda_center)

Parking and Admission at Moda Center

Moda Center is located at 1 Center Court in Portland, Oregon. Located in the Rose Quarter neighborhood, Moda Center can be reached by the MAX light rail at the Rose Quarter Transit Center via the Blue, Green and Red lines. The TriMet bus system also stops at the Rose Quarter Transit Center on the 4, 8, 35, 44 and 77 routes. Maps, schedules and service updates for Portland public transit can be found via the TriMet website.

Parking at Moda Center is offered in the East and West Garages on North Flint Avenue as well as the Garden Garage on North Ramsay Way. Moda Center parking passes can be purchased in addition to your event ticket via Ticketmaster. Prices for on-site parking at Moda Center generally range from $18 to $28, but vary by event.

Moda Center rules prevent entry for any guest with weapons, illegal substances, vapes or other smoking devices, noisemakers, glass, fireworks, professional recording equipment and signs larger than 11” x 17”. Additionally, the Moda Center bag policy does not permit bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″ and backpacks, though exceptions are made for medical and childcare bags. For the full list of prohibited items at Moda Center, visit the venue’s website.

Moda Center Capacity & Seating Options

The capacity at Moda Center ranges from 19,393 seats in a basketball setting to 20,500 seats for a center stage performance. Due to the versatile build of the arena, Moda Center can also accommodate 15,000 guests for an end-stage performance or 6,500 seats in its intimate Theater of the Clouds configuration. For ice hockey or indoor lacrosse, the Moda Center seating capacity can reach 18,280 total. Beyond the upper and lower bowls, Moda Center holds seating within 70 suites and eight skyboxes. Check out the Moda Center’s seating chart on Ticketmaster.

Food & Beverage Options at Moda Center

The Moda Center has a famously top-notch concessions lineup that prioritizes high-quality grub from homegrown institutions. To go along with the more than forty-five local brews on tap, grab Rose City favorites from inventive pizza slinger Sizzle Pie, the dastardly decadent Killer Burger or beloved poke purveyor Kama’aina.

Meanwhile, carts around the arena serve up neighborhood staples like specialty sausages and Portland’s own Salt & Straw, famous for fusing dessert flavors with uncommon ingredients like bone marrow, olive oil and bleu cheese. Looking for a slightly lighter bite? Moda bakes their own soft pretzels, too.