Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland Trail Blazers offered city officials and members of a citizen committee more details about what the team would like done to the city’s Rose Quarter. Rob Manning reports.

The city of Portland has a 32-member task force considering the future of the historic sports arena, Memorial Coliseum, and the surrounding Rose Quarter district.

The Trail Blazers competed at the Coliseum for years, and the Blazers have development rights in the Rose Quarter.

The team would prefer to turn the Coliseum’s bowl into an amphitheater. The Blazers’ vision also includes surrounding the Rose Garden arena with entertainment-focused businesses.

Team spokesman J. Isaac highlighted the area's potential on a tour. J. Isaac: “As you can see, this is a pretty prime spot for development. You’re immediately adjacent to the convention center, the bus mall, and you’re visible to I-5.”

A spokesman for Mayor Sam Adams said the city is still collecting ideas on what to do with the Coliseum and the Rose Quarter. But he said the Blazers’ ideas are mostly consistent with the city’s general goals.