Oregon Public Broadcasting

The city of Portland is hoping the right idea to transform the Memorial Coliseum will be submitted soon. Portland officials announced Monday that they’re accepting “concepts” until December 2nd.

Last summer, the city considered demolishing the coliseum to make way for a baseball park. The building is now on the National Historic Register.

The Portland Trail Blazers have suggested turning it into an amphitheater. But spokesman for Mayor Sam Adams, Roy Kaufmann, says the city is hoping to get a range of ideas.

Roy Kaufman: “We might even see the partnership come together between an individual resident who has an idea, and a team of people who’ve been waiting for the right idea to move forward. This concept phase is going to be the basis that will eventually determine the future of the coliseum.” 

The city council intends to approve a plan for Memorial Coliseum next spring.

That plan would need to fit with what the Trail Blazers want to do nearby. The Blazers have extensive development rights there.  Team officials unveiled a mixed-use entertainment vision Monday -- they’re calling it “Imagine Jumptown .”