Memorial Coliseum has been saved:

Sam Adams has told the Oregonian he plans to save Memorial Coliseum and put a baseball stadium in Lents. Not only that, but Adams' office says it plans to listen to the public on the redevelopment of the Rose Quarter, now. The city should complete the initial agreement with the Blazers within two weeks. ...

"If it really is saved then I feel like the end of Star Wars when they blew up the death star," says architecture blogger Brian Libby, who has resisted the destruction of the Coliseum since the idea was first floated,

Comments

[Alex Deve]

I assume that is a good news!

[David Jacobs]

Extremely, it's an important building. I also liked the death star quote.

[John U]

I'm late to this debate, but is it important to save Memorial Coliseum solely because it housed 5-6 years of amazing basketball? Can't the same be said for almost every old sports arena in any town?

I got my first high school job at the Coliseum slinging hot dogs and soda and I do not see it as a comfortable or well designed facility in any way. This is coming from the biggest Blazer fan I know who also saw an amazing REM concert there when I was 17.

[David Jacobs]

I more or less agree with you - but I think it can be fixed more easily than torn down and rebuilt and it is also beautiful.

[John U]

Ok, I guess the main argument is about preserving the architecture, not nostalgia. Still, I don't think a Modernist 1954 cement and glass cube (that you can't use for much) is that important to non-architects.

[David Jacobs]

Brian Libby has a follow-up post on his blog: "[I said that] ... It feels like the end of Star Wars when they blew up the Death Star. But notice Star Wars was only one of several chapters in the overall saga."

http://chatterbox.typepad.com/portlandarchitecture/2009/05/adams-announces-memorial-coliseum-to-be-spared-from-demolition.html

I noticed!

[Sportsgem]

I don't understand why it is so important to hold onto a place that has no life currently other than "B" ticket rap concerts and monster truck rallies. The Rose Quarter is a dead area (other than the Blazers or a Miley Cyrus concert). The only idea that sounded logical was a baseball stadium over-looking our beautiful city, on the Max line and in the spot the Coliseum now sits (once demolished). I love baseball - but doubt I am going to fight rush hour traffic to drive over to Lents. Does anyone else think this is a crazy idea? We've said goodbye to Ebbets Field, The Kingdome and Comiskey Park. Let it go and move Portland into a new direction.

[Ana Pierre Relation]

Yes, it's a very good news. All historical buildings must be preserved. if we want to continue to have a history we must be very careful.