Rick Adelman weighs in on the demolition of Memorial Coliseum
Someone Tuesday asked Houston Coach Rick Adelman, who still has a home in Portland, what he thought abut the possible demolition of Memorial Coliseum. Remember, Adelman was the captain of the first Blazer team and coached two teams that played in the NBA Finals in that building.
“I hadn’t heard about that,” he said. “Oh, I think I remember — they want to put a minor-league baseball stadium there, right?
“Well, if they build one as nice as the minor-league ballpark in Sacramento, I think it’s a great idea. Be great for the city. That ballpark in Sacramento is just beautiful.”
When the questioner left, Adelman looked puzzled. “What, am I supposed to get all sentimental about that building, just because we won a few playoff games there? Or maybe they should keep it up forever and people can just drive by and look at all the pretty glass?”
Folks, if Rick’s not sentimental about that building, you shouldn’t be. And really, you SHOULDN’T be. I’ve said it several times, but anybody who wants the old barn saved from the wrecking ball just hasn’t been in it in a decade or so.
Well, actually, not many people HAVE been in it in a decade or so.
It’s incredible to me how process overwhelms logic in this town. ANY plan that includes keeping that building intact (and hey, it’s going to take many millions of dollars in upgrades to keep it open for virtually no bookings) is ridiculous.
I will say it one more time: Whether you put up a ballpark, an entertainment district or a 7-11, it will get more use than Memorial Coliseum. And it will be more comfortable inside, too.
Baseball, NBA, small-town Portland | Dwight Jaynes | April 22, 2009
I have had the “pleasure” of being in the coliseum reCan I set off the demolition charge?
I have had the “pleasure of being in the coliseum recently, and it is old, dark, and it smells. Can I set off the demolition charge?
Let them keep it…
well just two walls, use a corner for the facade/entrance to a new park, call it Memorial Field, everyone is happy, architects, veterans, and baseball fans.
Dwight, Let’s say that PCC did nothing, nothing at all. What’s so wrong about them not spending 15 million, oh hell, let’s be honest here and call it 60+ million dollars that they have no idea where it’s going to come from, on a new baseball park ( minor league mind you ), to replace PGE Park (also a minor leage park).
Forget the whole argument for a moment about the M.C. being a dump and it’s best days are behind it. How are they going to pay for the building to replace it?!? Shouldn’t that have some bearing on the decision making process?
Let Paul Allen develope the area if he wants to, at least he has the resourses to get it done right.
Also, what would your plan be for the Winter Hawks?
Graham, the plan for the Winter Hawks would be for them to play in the Rose Garden…they’ve played many games there in the past few years…Memorial Coliseum should’ve met the wrecking ball at least a decade ago…what a colossal waste of prime space/real estate…yeesh.
Graham — so if they leave MC standing it costs them no money???? Come on, it’s very soon going to cost A LOT of money to maintain it and upgrade it. In fact, the difference between what they’re spending on a ballpark and what it would take to keep the MC alive is not that much different, considering a “renovated” MC would still be worthless. Nobody wants to rent that building. Craig, a previous commenter, was absolutely correct, by the way — the place smells bad.
– Dwight
PS — and that’s not even counting the operating costs of that building. I have no idea what it’s costing just to keep the thing operational… when it’s not even suitable for a respectable flea market.
– Dwight
The MC needs to go. The veterans memorial needs to be displayed where it can be appreciated. But be fore we tear it down, I say the Blazers play a preseason game against the Sixers. Heck, why not the entire preseason?! I love that building but it needs to go. Let’s send it off the right way.
Roberto, the reason that the Hawks play in the M.C. is because they can afford it. A team that draws 5,000 fans on a GREAT night,at $7.00 a ticket can’t pay the rent to play in the R.G., do the math.
And once agian I’ll ask. How will PCC pay for the project?
Jim Goldsmith always said the rent was the same for the Hawks, regardless of which building they played in. PCC? So Graham, Portland Community College is picking up the tab? Great!
– Dwight
BLOW that buiding sky high
I wanna see glass fly
I wanna bring popcorn and watch
Out with the old and in with the new
I am not a baseball fan at all, but I am happy for them. It is a prime spot and it will look great once completed
The MC is old, smelly, worn out and way past it’s prime. That is just reality
You still haven’t said what you think about the plan to pay for this project? Oh that’s right there isn’t one!
Portland City Council (PCC), for short, sorry for the confusion…..
I went to duckworths wake in the mc. i didnt think it smelled bad ,but it is rather small and low rent looking compared to other facilities ive been to. I dont think it should stand in the way of developing the rose garden complex.
Dwight-
Opinions about the MC going or staying aside – you’re going to believe ANYTHING Jim Goldsmith said? The only person less believable is Randy Leonard. Or, maybe Portland’s other twin towers Leonard and Adams.
Having attended between 25 and 35 Hawks games in the MC over the last several years, I can say that I won’t be sad if the building goes, assuming the Hawks can get a workable situation in the RG. However, rushing and ramrodding some half-arsed plan through to appease Paulson and the MLS, particularly right now when people are struggling, leaves a worse taste in my mouth than the awful food in the MC or the amount paid to park in those lovely garages across the street.
That should say 25 to 35 games each year.
Is the MC tall enough for a world class indoor roller coaster?
That dank smell in the MC can be explained. That’s not the glass palace with a porcelain cup in it…it’s a giant athletic cup.
As an architect, I love the design of Memorial Coliseum. However, the facility needs a lot of improvement to be a reasonable venue and there simply is not a need for it (the ‘hawks should be able to work something out with the Rose Garden).
If it is converted to another use it is likely that the “teacup” seating inside would go away, thereby rendering the beauty of the current design extinct. Similarly, if a bunch of additions need to be tacked onto the outside of it to make it viable it also ruins the integrity of the design. I simply don’t see how reuse is feasible.
That said, I agree with Sara that the current plan seems half-baked and rushed (sort of like Merritt’s father Henry did with the TARP plan). For instance, MLS will typically draw more people than a Beavers game; why isn’t the MLS stadium going into the Rose Quarter and leave PGE Park for the Beavers. Doesn’t this seem like it would cost less money and cause less parking problems?
I also think the N & NE residents whose tax money is going toward the project are at least somewhat getting shafted. I thought the Shiels/Obletz plan to create a rec center on the site (or near it) was a good one.
@RayBourque
Your costs are off. $85 million to remodel PGE Park and build a new AAA baseball stadium. A brand new MLS stadium would cost around $120-$200 million.
PGE Park is an awful place to see a AAA game. Go to almost any other AAA stadium in the country and you’ll recognize that immediately. Minor league games are fun other place. PGE is simply cavernous and if the place is half full at 10,000 people it still feels empty. It’s the perfect size for MLS with some minor modifications.
If you like sports (regardless of what sport) you’d have to be for this in a heartbeat. Fighting this would absolutely kill any prayer of MLB in the future.