The Portland Steel were a professional arena football team based in Portland, Oregon and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team started as the Portland Thunder , joining the AFL in 2014 as an expansion team along with the Los Angeles Kiss . The team played their home games at the Moda Center . They were known as the Thunder until the franchise went under league ownership in 2016 and became the Steel.
120-580: On October 2, 2013, a press conference was held at the Moda Center where it was announced that sports investor Terry Emmert had purchased the membership rights to an AFL franchise. Emmert purchased the Milwaukee Mustangs , which had been a defunct franchise since the 2012 season. This essentially gave Emmert the right to an expansion franchise, since none of the team's Milwaukee roots, such as players, front office staff or coaches, remained. When asked what
240-471: A "broken economic model", and there was much speculation that the Trail Blazers might leave. The team was put up for sale in the summer of 2006, only to be taken off the market again several months later. Speculation intensified as to what would happen, and the team and Paul Allen were roundly criticized in the media. Despite the criticism and the team's poor finances the team insisted that bankruptcy
360-786: A 60-by-40-foot (18 m × 12 m) permanent stage, and a 200-by-85-foot (61 m × 26 m) ice rink. The building is composed of over 48,000 cubic yards (37,000 m ) of concrete, and over 9,700 short tons (8,800 t ) of steel . The exterior is composed of over 29,000 square feet (2,700 m ) of glass, 17,500 square feet (1,630 m ) of plaster, 52,000 square feet (4,800 m ) of architectural precast, 39,000 square feet (3,600 m ) of insulation, and 13,654 square feet (1,268.5 m ) of steel louvers . The building, designed by architecture firm Ellerbe Becket , has been criticized by some in Portland's architectural community. A survey of local architects and planners
480-470: A Gladiator franchise record with six touchdown catches during the game. Unfortunately, the Gladiators were not able to post their best start in franchise history, losing the next two weeks. Injuries to Rocco during midseason led to third-string quarterback and Cleveland-area Case Western University alum Dan Whalen mounting second half comebacks. However, Rocco would eventually retake the starting position for
600-515: A corporate partner to grant naming rights for the facility, with the goal of a new name being available for the Blazers' 2008–09 season. In August 2013, the Trail Blazers announced a 10-year deal with Moda Health , an Oregon-based health insurance provider, to rename the arena Moda Center. The renaming spurred a public outcry and petition by fans and Portlanders who preferred the old name. Portland mayor Charlie Hales initially expressed concern about
720-460: A down for the Thunder and replaced them on January 30, 2016, with former Las Vegas Gladiators , Utah Blaze , and Pittsburgh Power head coach Ron James . James was also named the team's general manager. In 2014, Emmert had trademarked the Thunder name, logo, color scheme, and identity (similar to what Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did with the identity of the now-defunct Dallas Desperados in
840-485: A franchise best 204 yards and four touchdowns, and Brandon Hefflin had two interceptions and recovered a key fumble late in the game to seal the victory. The following week, the Gladiators advanced to their first conference championship game in team history when they beat the Georgia Force in the divisional round 73–70. Raymond Philyaw had eight touchdown passes and Robert Redd and Otis Amey each caught three touchdowns in
960-492: A holding company owned by the Estate of Paul Allen which manages Allen's various sports-related properties. Management and operation of Moda Center, along with other Rose Quarter facilities, is contracted out to Global Spectrum, Global Spectrum employs more than 75 full-time and 700 part-time employees at Moda Center. Mike Scanlon is the current general manager of the arena. Global Spectrum was first hired by arena creditors to operate
1080-581: A packed house in the Garden (including a graduating class of 2000), gave a speech embracing immigration to the United States, and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university. On June 27, 2000, a concert by former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters at the arena became the basis for the concert video In the Flesh: Live . On April 24, 2012, British rock band Coldplay performed
1200-463: A pair of 44-person Super Suites, or as one 88-person mega suite. For smaller, more intimate events, Moda Center can be placed into a configuration known as the "Theater of the Clouds". This configuration, part of a trend of large arenas having smaller theater configurations, places the stage at center court, and utilizes the western side of the arena. Custom floor-to-ceiling theater curtains are draped at
1320-513: A press release, "We highly value the Thunder fans and this step was needed to stabilize the team in the Portland market." Employees, staff, vendors and even broadcasters were owned combined thousands of dollars in unpaid bills prompting several lawsuits against Arena Football One, LLC. As of September 2017, only one lawsuit was settled out of court. Phone calls and emails to the league office in Las Vegas went unanswered. The investigation even uncovered
SECTION 10
#17328524530701440-567: A radio deal with KXTG Sports Radio 750 AM with Jeremy Scott on the play-by-play and Brian Perkins as color analyst. Moda Center Moda Center , formerly known as the Rose Garden , is the primary indoor sports arena in Portland, Oregon , United States. It is used for basketball, rodeos, circuses, conventions, ice shows, concerts, and dramatic productions. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 spectators when configured for basketball. It
1560-568: A score of 103–3 — and two championships (Haege was later charged by the AFL with violating the af2 salary cap rules at Quad City, and was fined heavily by the league. Also, the Quad City team was banned from the af2 playoffs in 2002). The Gladiators' new quarterback for 2002 was Jay McDonagh, who had played under Haege. Former Red Dog Alvin Ashley was back with the club, seeing limited duty; however, this time around
1680-419: A sold-out show at the arena as part of their Mylo Xyloto Tour . On October 2, 2017, the band came back to the arena during their A Head Full of Dreams Tour . The band covered Free Fallin' with Peter Buck of R.E.M. there as a tribute to Tom Petty following his death that day. Lady Gaga performed at the arena on January 15, 2013, as part of her Born This Way Ball tour trek through North America. This
1800-548: A sports jersey company in Las Vegas being owed $ 13,000 for manufacturing home black jerseys for the Las Vegas Outlaws in 2016. That company had still not been paid and there has been no indication of payment. Additionally, the same former employees and vendors received a letter from a law office in Vermont representing "Arena Football One, LLC". The letter said the league was restructuring finances, but offered 10 to 15 percent of
1920-661: A thorough thrashing of the Iowa Barnstormers (runners-up in the previous year's ArenaBowl X ), and also one game in which they scored a then-record 91 points against the Texas Terror . (This record has since been surpassed by the New York Dragons , who scored 99 in a game against the Carolina Cobras in 2001 .) The Red Dogs were led by head coach John Hufnagel , who had been a quarterback and offensive coordinator for
2040-494: A variety of concession stands. The arena also features 32 public restrooms; women's toilets outnumber men's toilets 3 to 1. There are Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the arena. The concourses are decorated with historical memorabilia. The primary scoreboard is a Mitsubishi-manufactured HD video scoreboard. This scoreboard, which hangs from the ceiling over center court, features four 15 feet by 22.5 feet (4.5 m by 6.75 m) video screens, among
2160-532: A winning record of 9–7. On June 21, the Gladiators clinched a playoff berth with a 47–35 win against the Columbus Destroyers as well as home field advantage for the first round. Cleveland won its first playoff game in 10 years with a 69–66 win over the Orlando Predators. Raymond Philyaw threw for 436 yards (the second-most yards in AFL postseason history) and eight touchdowns, receiver Robert Redd caught
2280-581: Is equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics and other amenities. The arena is owned by Jodi Allen, Vulcan Inc. , a holding company owned by the estate of Paul Allen . The primary tenant is the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise, also owned by Allen's estate. In addition, the Portland WNBA team will make its debut in the arena in 2026. The other major tenant of the building was the major junior hockey franchise Portland Winterhawks of
2400-654: Is located in a sports and entertainment district known as the Rose Quarter , a parcel of land in inner northeast Portland which also includes the Memorial Coliseum arena, as well as several parking structures, restaurants, and other amenities. The original name of the facility was "Rose Garden"; however, the arena was also commonly known as the "Rose Garden Arena" to disambiguate it from the International Rose Test Garden , also located in Portland. The name
2520-511: Is parking. The fact that we have a [light rail] stop outside our front door, and the potential for what we'll get with the south/north line made this the only place for us to build." (The "south/north" MAX line referred to was a then-planned line from Clackamas Town Center to Vancouver via downtown Portland , which was canceled in 1996, but partially revived several years later, with the MAX Yellow Line connecting Moda Center with areas to
SECTION 20
#17328524530702640-586: Is seen in several of the city's 12 iconic bridges. The Steel finished the 2016 season with a 3–13, but were guaranteed a playoff spot as all teams played in the playoffs. The team lost in the first round to Arizona, 84–40, in what would be the team's last game. The AFL officially folded the Steel franchise in October 2016 and placed its players into a dispersal draft conducted on October 14, 2016. On September 7, 2017, Portland television station KGW did an investigation about
2760-639: Is the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Both the Trail Blazers and Moda Center are ultimately owned by the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen , which also owns the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League . The head of the estate is his sister Jody Allen . The Trail Blazers have a lease agreement with Moda Health which runs through 2025, and an exclusive site agreement with
2880-524: Is very populous in its own right, the Red Dogs had hoped to be the team for the entire New York metropolitan area . Despite this setback, the Red Dogs management built a good team, which opened its history in memorable fashion. The team won 8 of its first 9 games, including a victory in their inaugural game on a last-second game-winning field goal , a thrilling overtime victory against the Albany Firebirds ,
3000-675: The 2003 season and played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . This arena was also the home of a previous Arena team, the Las Vegas Sting , in 1994 and 1995. In 2007, in an effort to increase attendance, the Gladiators moved to the Orleans Arena . The move did not have the desired effect; the Gladiators averaged 5,383 fans in 2007, down from 10,115 in 2006. The Gladiators competed in
3120-877: The Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena , which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League . The franchise was originally based in East Rutherford, New Jersey , and then later in Las Vegas , Nevada , before relocating to Cleveland for the 2008 AFL season . The Gladiators qualified for
3240-679: The Arena Football League in 1997, along with the Nashville Kats and the New York CityHawks . Their ownership group, which was led by New Jersey radio entrepreneur E. Burke Ross, also included several ex- NFL players, such as Joe Morris , Carl Banks , and Harry Carson . The name "Red Dogs" reflected the sponsorship of the Miller Brewing Company , the makers of Red Dog beer. The Red Dogs played at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey . The AFL's intention
3360-780: The Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League . After his time with the Red Dogs, Hufnagel went on to be an offensive coach for several National Football League teams, including the New England Patriots and the New York Giants . He then became the head coach of the CFL's Stampeders for the 2008 season, and won the Grey Cup in his first season at the helm. Hufnagel brought in several players with CFL experience to
3480-683: The Iowa Barnstormers 86–49. On July 12, 2014, following their 50–47 overtime win over the San Antonio Talons , the Gladiators clinched the East Division Championship, and the #1 seed in the American Conference for the 2014 playoffs. On July 26, 2014, the Gladiators set an AFL record for wins in a single season by going 17–1 after defeating the Tampa Bay Storm , 56–49. This gave the Gladiators home field advantage throughout
3600-510: The Pittsburgh Power . This was the first ever game forfeited in AFL history, due to the Gladiators (representing the AFL players' union) going on strike to protest on-field safety concerns and contract disputes with AFL management. Though the Gladiators would end the streak with a Week 16 win against division rival Milwaukee, two more losses against Orlando and Utah officially eliminated the team from playoff contention. The Gladiators finished
3720-670: The Portland Steel (originally called the Portland Thunder), from 2014 until it disbanded in 2016. From 2000 through 2002, the facility hosted the now-defunct Portland Fire of the WNBA . In the past, the Portland State Vikings men's basketball team has played home games in the arena; currently, the team plays its home games at Viking Pavilion on the PSU campus. On September 18, 2024,
Portland Steel - Misplaced Pages Continue
3840-487: The Portland Tribune newspaper that the future of the team was up in the air because he was concerned with the league's medical insurance policies and was hoping to try to attract more investors to help fund the team. This prompted league officials and the board of directors to take control of the franchise and look for new owners. The league also decided to fire Andy Olson and his entire coaching staff before Olson coached
3960-635: The San Jose SaberCats at the Moda Center. On February 12, 2014 it was announced that the Thunder had signed former Portland State Vikings wide receiver Justin Monahan , who is a native of West Linn, Oregon . The Thunder have former Oregon Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas on their inaugural roster. When asked about being assigned to Portland, Thomas said, "That was one of the main reasons I came back and accepted this opportunity to come here, just for
4080-461: The U.S. Figure Skating Championships , an event attended by over 100,000 spectators. The arena would later host the 2007 NLL All Star Game on March 10, 2007. In 2009, the arena hosted first- and second-round games of the NCAA men's basketball tournament as well as in 2015 and 2022. It was the first time NCAA men's tournament games were played in the state of Oregon since 1983, though the arena did host
4200-620: The WNBA announced their a new team to play in Portland , which will bring the league back to both the arena and Portland for the first time since 2002. In the early 1980s, as the National Basketball Association increased in popularity, it became apparent that the 12,888-seat Memorial Coliseum, which was the home of the Portland Trail Blazers at the time, was no longer an adequate NBA facility. The Trail Blazers had sold out every home game since April 5, 1977. In 1988,
4320-523: The Western Hockey League 's record for single game attendance with a crowd of 14,103 on March 15, 1997, in which Portland tied the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds , 6–6. Prior to the start of the 2021-22 WHL season, the Winterhawks announced they will be moving back to Veterans Memorial Coliseum full-time. The arena was also built to accommodate an NHL franchise and there has been speculation over
4440-519: The Western Hockey League , which used to split its schedule with the Memorial Coliseum next door. In addition to the Blazers and Winterhawks, several other professional sports franchises, and the Portland State University men's basketball team, either currently play home games in Moda Center, or have done so in the past. In addition, Moda Center is a popular venue for concerts and other artistic productions. Construction began in 1993, and
4560-442: The 2-time reigning champion Arizona Rattlers , 52–48. On September 23, 2014, the Thunder fired head Coach Matthew Sauk. Days later, the team announced the hiring of former Iowa Barnstormers head coach Mike Hohensee . The team finished with the same results in 2015, finishing 5–13. Originally the team finished behind Las Vegas in the playoff race. However, as the AFL folded Las Vegas after the season, they had amazingly slipped into
4680-512: The 2012 season at 8–10, second place in the East Division. The Gladiators' 2012–2013 offseason saw the departure of veteran quarterback John Dutton, who had been with the team for the past three seasons. The team's fifth season in Cleveland was a struggle, as the Gladiators never were able to have any long sustained success over the course of the year, finishing at 4-14 (tied with Pittsburgh for
4800-689: The 2014 AFL playoffs. On August 2, 2014, the Gladiators defeated the Philadelphia Soul , 39–37, on a last second field goal by Aaron Pettrey in the first round of the AFL playoffs to advance to the American Conference finals. On August 10, 2014, the Gladiators defeated the Orlando Predators 56–46 to win the American Conference Championship, and advance to the ArenaBowl for the first time in franchise history. In ArenaBowl XXVII ,
4920-499: The 2015 AFL playoffs, drawing the East Division Champion Philadelphia Soul in the first round. The Gladiators' season ended on August 15 when they lost to Philadelphia 47–35 in the first round of the AFL playoffs. For the 2016 season, the AFL featured eight teams, due to a number of teams either folding or moving to other indoor football leagues. As part of the restructuring, the Gladiators were moved from
Portland Steel - Misplaced Pages Continue
5040-495: The AFL semifinals to end their season. In September 2017, it was announced that Quicken Loans Arena would be undergoing significant renovations during the 2018 and 2019 basketball offseason so as not to conflict with its primary tenant, the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers . However, as the AFL season runs into the basketball offseason, the Gladiators had to take a two-year leave of absence beginning in November 2017 with hopes to return for
5160-417: The AFL was reduced from eight teams down to five, due to teams folding or transferring to other leagues. With only five teams, the AFL essentially played a round-robin style 14 game schedule, with the top four teams at the end of the season advancing to the playoffs. The Gladiators finished at 5–9, clinching third place and a playoff spot. Cleveland would go on to lose to the #2 seed Tampa Bay Storm 73–59 in
5280-416: The AFL's operations following the takeover of the franchise from Emmert and reported that the league's owners Arena Football One, LLC, quietly shut down the operations following the 2016 season and left town leaving a trail of unpaid bills and failing to pay former employees and vendors money owed to them. After taking over the franchise and re-branding it as the Steel, AFL commissioner Scott Butera said in
5400-673: The American to the National Conference, so as to give each conference four teams. They finished the regular season at 7–9, third place in the National Conference. In the first round of the AFL playoffs, the Gladiators rallied and defeated the Los Angeles KISS 56–52 after trailing the bulk of the game. The Gladiators then lost to the Arizona Rattlers 82–41 in the National Conference championship game, ending their season. In 2017,
5520-611: The City of Portland requires the team to remain in Portland through 2023. It was home to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League , a Canadian-based junior hockey league. Both the Trail Blazers and Winterhawks previously played in the Memorial Coliseum and moved to the arena when it was completed in 1995. However, the Winterhawks played home games in both facilities during the season. Moda Center and Winterhawks hold
5640-451: The City transferred to Allen the underlying land. The city maintains ownership of the Memorial Coliseum and the adjacent parking garages, but the right to manage these was also transferred to Allen. In exchange, Allen signed an exclusive site agreement with the city requiring the Trail Blazers to play all home games in Portland for 30 years The City of Portland hoped that the building of the arena would lead to other renovation or development in
5760-653: The Coliseum's parking lot. A major factor in the choice of the site for the new arena was its close proximity to transit, with MAX Light Rail and bus service at TriMet's Coliseum Transit Center (later renamed Rose Quarter Transit Center ) being adjacent to the site. In July 1995, the Portland Business Journal quoted the Trail Blazers' then-president Marshall Glickman as saying, "There is no doubt that transit made it possible for us to build here. The thing that burns everyone in terms of financing big projects like this
5880-528: The Gladiators and continue to retain the team colors of red, silver, and black. On March 3, the Gladiators played their inaugural game in Quicken Loans Arena , a 61–49 win over the New York Dragons. Raymond Philyaw , the team's quarterback, was named the offensive player of the game after throwing for five touchdowns. The team's first season in Cleveland was a successful one, as they went on to have
6000-449: The Gladiators were defeated by the Arizona Rattlers , 72–32. The Gladiators opened the 2015 season by winning their first two games; however, on April 11 in an ArenaBowl XXVII rematch, the Gladiators lost to the Arizona Rattlers 49–41 in their home opener. Overall, the Gladiators were not able to replicate the success of 2014, finishing with a regular season record of 8–10, second in the East Division. This overall record did qualify for
6120-409: The Gladiators were sold to Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters owner Dan Gilbert . With John Dutton back as the starting quarterback, the Gladiators began their 2012 campaign successfully, reaching a record of 6–3 at the midway point of the season. However, the team then went on a five-game losing streak, which included some controversy when on June 8, 2012, the Gladiators lost by forfeit to
SECTION 50
#17328524530706240-420: The NBA and media entourage which accompanies the game. Moda Center has also hosted PBR Built Ford Tough Series bull riding events. The arena has hosted various WWE events, including Unforgiven in 2004 , No Mercy in 2008 , and NXT TakeOver: Portland in 2020. The arena has also hosted various episodes of Raw and SmackDown . The arena has also hosted UFC 102 in 2009. In 2004, Portland
6360-437: The NBA. A unique feature found in no other multi-purpose arena is known as the "acoustical cloud". The acoustical cloud is a set of 160 rotating acoustic panels suspended from the Moda Center ceiling, intended to recreate the roar of noise that made the old Memorial Coliseum one of the loudest buildings in the NBA. One side of each 10 feet by 10 feet (3 m by 3 m) panel reflects sound, while
6480-401: The Red Dogs slumped in 1999 to their first losing season, going 6–8, despite winning 3 of their first 4. The Red Dogs made a significant trade following the 1999 season, a trade they never got to benefit from. New Jersey sent Alvin Ashley to the Orlando Predators for wide receiver/defensive back Barry Wagner , widely regarded as the greatest player in the league's history. However, soon after
6600-416: The Red Dogs, including QB Rickey Foggie and offensive specialist Larry Ray Willis . The team's other main receiver was Alvin Ashley , a player whose small size (150 lb.) made him unlikely to play in the NFL but suited the more compact Arena game. The Red Dogs slumped late in their first season, losing 4 of their final 5 games to finish 9–5, then losing to the Orlando Predators in the first round of
6720-481: The Rose Quarter district, but as of 2021 this has yet to materialize. Ground on the arena was broken in 1993, and the arena opened on October 12, 1995. The project included the largest construction and demolition recycling program in the U.S. up to that time, in which 32,700 tonnes (32,200 long tons; 36,000 short tons) of construction waste and 308,400 tonnes (303,500 long tons; 340,000 short tons) of dirt were recycled, saving OAC over $ 127,000. This effort later won
6840-407: The Spokane Shock, the defending ArenaBowl Champions, at their own arena. However, this victory was marred by an Achilles' heel injury to John Dutton in the final minutes, which would ultimately sideline him for the season. Fortunately, the team's backup quarterback Kurt Rocco performed well in his first Arena football start as the Gladiators 3–0. In their home opener, wide receiver Troy Bergeron set
6960-447: The Tampa Bay Storm; and it acquired Connell Maynor from Orlando to be the starting Quarterback. Maynor had led the Predators to victory in ArenaBowl XIV the previous season, and was named the game's MVP. An all-around threat, Maynor had played with the CityHawks under Kuharich in 1997, but took only one snap all season as the backup to Mike Perez . Instead, the CityHawks used Maynor as a wide receiver/linebacker, and one week he even won
7080-416: The Thunder won their first game in Portland in week 11, beating the San Antonio Talons 55–40. Despite finishing 5–13, including an 0–6 divisional record and an even more ghastly 2–11 conference record, the National Conference was so weak, the Thunder slipped into the playoffs. In the conference semifinals, the Thunder actually led 48–45 with less than a minute left, before a miracle finish caused them to lose to
7200-433: The Trail Blazers franchise—has never hosted is the NBA All-Star Game . The Trail Blazers are one of several franchises to never host an All-Star game; the Blazers' All-Star drought of 42 years is second only to the Boston Celtics , who last hosted the game in 1964. According to the Oregon Sports Authority, the main issue is hotel space close to the arena; the city of Portland lacks the large "headquarters" hotel needed to host
7320-506: The Western Division of the AFL's American Conference. The team went 31–50 in five years in Las Vegas, making the playoffs once. On October 16, 2007, it was announced in a press conference that the Gladiators would be relocating to Cleveland, Ohio . This would be the second arena football team to play be in the Cleveland area; the Cleveland Thunderbolts played at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio , for three seasons from 1992 to 1994. Former Cleveland Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar
SECTION 60
#17328524530707440-410: The arena has a capacity of 19,393, and can accommodate a total of up to 20,796 patrons with standing room . Prior to the 1998 NBA season the capacity was reduced to 19,980 from the original 21,485 spectators. When configured for hockey or lacrosse, capacity decreases to 17,544. The arena supports numerous other configurations for events such as concerts, monster trucks , and circuses. The seating below
7560-423: The arena opened on October 12, 1995. The arena cost US$ 262 million to build; construction was financed with funds obtained by a variety of sources, including the City of Portland , Allen's personal fortune, and $ 155 million in bonds issued by a consortium of mutual funds and insurance companies. These bonds would become the subject of an acrimonious 2004 bankruptcy in which the Oregon Arena Corporation,
7680-540: The arena opened, it was the subject of several lawsuits seeking to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act . One lawsuit ( United States v. Ellerbe Becket, Inc. ) was filed by the United States Department of Justice against architect Ellerbe-Becket; another ( Independent Living Resources v. Oregon Arena Corporation ) was filed by a disabled advocacy group against OAC. Both lawsuits alleged that Moda Center (and other facilities designed by Ellerbe Becket) did not provide adequate seating for patrons using wheelchairs, and that
7800-432: The arena would undergo $ 13 million in renovations. While Moda Center has never hosted the NBA Finals (Portland's last appearance in the Finals was in 1992, three years before the arena opened), it has hosted three NBA Western Conference Finals series: in 1999 vs. the San Antonio Spurs ; in 2000 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers ; and in 2019 vs. the Golden State Warriors . One NBA-related event Moda Center—and for that matter,
7920-435: The award for the league's best "ironman" (player who plays both on offense and defense , as 6 of 8 players used to play both sides of the ball in Arena Football). The Gladiators reached the lowest ebb in franchise history during the 2001 season, winning only 2 out of 14 games. The club's top receivers attained roughly half the number of yards that Larry Ray Willis had achieved in each of the franchise's first two seasons, and
8040-414: The biggest challenge to running a new franchise was, team president Jared Rose said, "Getting new fans to buy into something that the market really hasn’t seen before. Any new product launch is difficult, but we’ve got an exciting product that once people see it, they are hooked." On November 8, 2013, the franchise announced that the nicknames, "Thunder", "Enforcers", "Sasquatch", "Growlers" and "Stomp" were
8160-403: The biggest in the NBA. The arena also features over 650 television monitors placed throughout, showing the action on court. Auxiliary scoreboards located both in the arena itself and the concourses provide statistical information, including "hustle" statistics for basketball ( rebounds , blocked shots , and steals ). Three media towers, one at each main entrance, provide video of other games in
8280-439: The early 2000s). As of February 3, 2016, Emmert still legally owned the trademarks of the team, despite reports to the contrary, and had no intentions of selling them to the league. Because Emmert owns the rights to the name, there was a possibility of a return of the Thunder name to the AFL or a new team named Thunder joining the Indoor Football League , but only if the Portland AFL franchise fails in 2016. On February 24, 2016,
8400-411: The edges of the seating area, creating a more intimate setting. As of 2004, on average 10 events per year have been held in the Theater of the Clouds configuration. The Theater of the Clouds configuration seats 6,500, with 16 of the 70 luxury boxes being usable. Two concourses, the 100 level and the 300 level, are open to the ticket-buying public during events; the 100 level concourse provides access to
8520-452: The event. For smaller events in which only the lower bowl of the arena is used, the panels can be lowered to further improve the sound and increase the intimacy of the arena. The acoustical cloud cost US$ 2 million to design and install. The arena is also equipped with a JBL sound system. The acoustics of Moda Center have been widely praised compared to similar venues. Moda Center is currently owned by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment ,
8640-456: The facility after Allen lost possession of the arena in a bankruptcy proceeding; Allen has subsequently repurchased the arena from creditors. Prior to the bankruptcy, Oregon Arena Corporation operated the arena directly; Global Spectrum has been widely praised for increasing the financial performance of the facility. In July 2024, City of Portland entered an agreement to purchase Moda Center for $ 7.13 million. The arena's current primary tenant
8760-489: The facility to the creditors. A new corporation owned by the creditors, Portland Arena Management (PAM) took over operation of the arena. PAM in turn hired Global Spectrum to operate the arena. For several years, the Trail Blazers (still owned by Allen) and the Portland Arena Management had a highly hostile relationship, with the two entities competing for ticket sales. The team made numerous complaints about
8880-532: The fans and I know people are behind me [...] I'm coming in to compete and be the starter and that's what I came out here for." The Thunder played their first game on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, as 8,509 people came to the Moda Center to see the team lose 64–34 to the San Jose SaberCats. The team started 0–5 before beating the Jacksonville Sharks 69–62 on the road in week 7. After starting 0–4 at home,
9000-464: The finalist for the team. Six days later, Emmert revealed the team's nickname would be the "Thunder." The Thunder nickname has history in Portland dating back to the 1975 Portland Thunder , who played at Civic Stadium as members of the World Football League (WFL) . John Canzano , sports columnist for The Oregonian , wrote that a "team source" indicated that team owner Terry Emmert selected
9120-456: The finals of the 2008 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament. The state had been under an NCAA-imposed tournament embargo due to sports betting being legal in the state (specifically, the Oregon Lottery 's "Sports Action" game, a parlay game which allowed bettors to wager on NFL games), but was awarded 2009 tournament games when the state Legislature eliminated Sports Action from
9240-538: The first one in which the league's games would be televised weekly by NBC ), owner Ferraro moved the team to Las Vegas. The AFL schedules for the 2003 season had already been devised; so the Las Vegas Gladiators would play that season in the Eastern Division of the National Conference, before shifting in 2004 to the American Conference's Western Division. The Gladiators relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, for
9360-513: The franchise was given a new name, re-branded the Portland Steel by the AFL. The name was derived from the region's steel industry and rich history. According to the AFL's website, the steel industry has been a backbone of the Portland working culture for over 150 years. Steel is an overtly visible part of the Portland landscape, with foundries decorating both the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, and
9480-459: The holding company which owned the arena at the time, would forfeit title to the arena in lieu of repaying the bonds per the payment terms. Allen would later repurchase the arena from the creditors in 2007. Moda Center is a multipurpose arena which is suitable for numerous indoor sports, including basketball , ice hockey , arena football , and lacrosse , as well as for hosting other events such as concerts, conventions, and circuses . The arena
9600-467: The league reorganized as Arena Football 1 before purchasing the assets of the Arena Football League, therefore assuming the AFL's history, and the Gladiators were revived for the 2010 season, with owner Jim Ferraro and Bernie Kosar returning as team president and Quicken Loans Arena continuing to act as the team's home field. On December 23, 2009, former Grand Rapids Rampage coach Steve Thonn
9720-542: The line-of-sight of patrons in wheelchairs was frequently obstructed by standing spectators. The first case was settled with a consent decree , wherein Ellerbe Becket agreed to design future projects in compliance with the ADA; the lawsuit against Oregon Arena Corp was resolved in 1998 when OAC agreed to install over one hundred elevated seats permitting wheelchair-using patrons to see over standing spectators in front. Claiming
9840-543: The local economy was responsible for reduced revenues which made it unable to make payments on the loans used to finance construction, the Oregon Arena Corporation filed for bankruptcy on February 27, 2004. After negotiations concurrent with the bankruptcy failed to produce a settlement, the United States Bankruptcy Court ordered on November 8 of that year that the Oregon Arena Corporation transfer
9960-438: The lottery's lineup. In addition to sports, the arena regularly hosts numerous other types of events, including concerts, circuses, ice shows , and conventions. Portland State University holds its spring commencement ceremonies at the arena. Notable non-sports related events include the 1998 Portland State commencement ceremony, where the keynote speaker was then U.S. President Bill Clinton . The President, speaking before
10080-432: The lower bowl (including the 200-level seats); the 300-level concourse provides access to the upper bowl. A third concourse, the 200 level, provides access to guest services such as a sports bar , a barbecue grill , an executive banquet facility, and several outdoor terraces. A fourth concourse, known as Suite Level, provides access to the skyboxes and is restricted to patrons who have skybox admission. All concourses provide
10200-650: The main New Jersey receiver was Mike Horacek , who had starred for the Iowa Barnstormers, and who later returned to that franchise to play for the Dragons. The Gladiators' fortunes turned around, and they had their first winning season since 1998, going 9–5 and hosting a playoff game for the first time (a loss to Orlando). A few weeks before the start of the 2003 season (the first one to begin in February instead of April, and
10320-420: The money owed, if the former employees agreed not to sue. The parties refused the offer and still planned on suing the now-former AFL ownership group following the report at the time. On February 1, 2023, four years after the folding of the second incarnation of the AFL and seven years after the demise of the Steel, a third incarnation of the AFL was announced as were 16 potential cities reported by TMZ . One of
10440-402: The name, calling it a "head scratcher". Moda Center is a precast concrete -framed structure with a roof made up of skeletal steel. The arena structure encloses a total of over 785,000 square feet (72,900 m ), on eight levels, five of which are open to the public. The building height is 140 feet (43 m), from the event floor to the pinnacle of the saddle-shaped roof. The arena includes
10560-700: The new teams would be based in Oregon, but not Portland. Instead, the new franchise would be located in Salem , much to the surprise of many. On October 25, 2023, the new team was officially announced and will be known as the Oregon Blackbears . However, that team folded after various complications and playing only three games. It was replaced by the Oregon Lightning the following year, that team being based in Redmond in
10680-402: The north.) The financing of the construction of the facility was widely hailed at the time as a good example of public-private partnership; most of the costs were borne by Allen and/or Allen-owned companies, rather than by taxpayers. The bulk of the $ 262 million construction costs were funded by a $ 155 million loan from a consortium of lenders led by pension fund TIAA-CREF . As Allen
10800-399: The other side absorbs sound. Each panel is shaped like an airplane wing, and is 8 inches (20 cm) thick at the center and 4 inches (10 cm) thick at the edges. The effect during Blazers games is to absorb the noise from the upper levels and reflect it back down to the court. The panels permit the acoustics of the arena to be adjusted according to the requirements of
10920-495: The playoffs again. They lost to the San Jose SaberCats. On August 24, 2015, head coach Mike Hohensee and his coaching staff mutually agreed to part ways. On September 11, 2015, the Thunder agreed to terms to hire former Spokane Shock head coach Andy Olson as its third head coach in three years. On January 6, 2016, the AFL announced that they took over operations of the Portland Thunder from owner Terry Emmert. Emmert told
11040-416: The playoffs eight times in their history, reaching the ArenaBowl in 2014. The Gladiators announced that they would not play the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to renovations on Quicken Loans Arena that required it to close during the NBA offseason and were granted a two-season hiatus. Before the team could return in 2020, the league filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. The New Jersey Red Dogs entered
11160-758: The playoffs. The Red Dogs finished 8–6 in 1998 , their second season, and won their first playoff game in Albany against the Firebirds. Hufnagel left the Red Dogs after the 1998 season for a job with the NFL's Cleveland Browns , and he was replaced by Frank Mattiace , a former defensive lineman for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL . Star Larry Ray Willis was traded to the Milwaukee Mustangs Following those losses,
11280-540: The project an environmental award from the city. The first concert held in the arena was held two weeks after opening, when David Bowie performed on October 25, with Nine Inch Nails opening. The first regular-season game to be played at the facility was the Trail Blazers hosting the then- Vancouver Grizzlies on November 3, 1995, a 92–80 defeat for the home team. The arena was originally capable of seating 20,340 spectators for NBA basketball. Its capacity has since been reduced to 19,393 by subsequent modifications. At
11400-482: The rest of the season. Through 2011, the Gladiators were very strong at home but often mediocre on the road. Though they finished with a 7–1 record at Quicken Loans Arena, they were only 3–6 in away games. But the season ultimately ended with success, as the team beat their newest rival, the Pittsburgh Power , to clinch the American Conference East Division and guarantee a spot in the playoffs. This
11520-484: The revival league's successor, Arena Football One . The Lightning name was chosen in homage to the Thunder. Fullbacks Wide receivers Defensive linemen Defensive backs Kickers Other league exempt League suspension Inactive reserve Team suspension Refused to report Recallable reassignment The following Thunder/Steel players were named to All-Arena Teams: Offensive coaches Defensive coaches On October 8, 2013, Matthew Sauk
11640-474: The rushing leader was quarterback Maynor himself. In 2002 , the club had another new coach, Frank Haege , who had been a Red Dog assistant under John Hufnagel. After leaving the Red Dogs, Haege went on to coach the Quad City Steamwheelers of the AFL's minor-league circuit af2 . Haege's Quad City team had dominated the af2 for two seasons, winning 31 of 32 regular-season games — including one win by
11760-491: The season, the Gladiators were officially eliminated from playoff contention when their division rivals the Milwaukee Iron defeated the Orlando Predators. The Gladiators finished their 2010 campaign with a 7–9 record. The Gladiators returned in 2011 with Steve Thonn once again serving as head coach. John Dutton also returned as the team's starting quarterback. The Gladiators started their 2011 campaign successfully, upsetting
11880-569: The suites, known as the lower bowl, is further divided into the 100 and 200 levels. The upper bowl seats, above the suites, are the 300 level. The arena features 70 Suites and 8 Skyboxes each with a seating capacity of 22 guests. Suites include amenities such as a wet bar, catering, a private restroom , multiple television monitors, and a sound system. Suites may be rented on a yearly or single-event basis; yearly renters of suites are given access to all Moda Center events. The arena also features modular party suites, which can be configured either as
12000-564: The team in mid-season and was replaced on an interim basis by Kevin Guy , a former defensive back/wide receiver who had played two full seasons with the Red Dogs. Before the 2001 season, the New Jersey team was sold to Jim Ferraro , a lawyer from Miami, Florida . Ferraro changed the team name to the New Jersey Gladiators . The new ownership appointed as head coach the ex-CityHawk boss Lary Kuharich , who had won ArenaBowl VII in 1993 with
12120-557: The team to an identical 5-13 record and a second trip to the playoffs. On September 11, 2015, Andy Olson was named the team's third head coach in franchise history. On January 30, 2016, Ron James replaced Olson as head coach. On March 11, 2014, the Thunder established a local television deal with NBC Sports Northwest . Scott Lynn provided play-by-play, Jordan Kent was a color analyst, and Megan Berrey served as sideline reporter. Periodically, Portland Trail Blazers TV broadcaster Mike Barrett filled in on play-by-play. They also announced
12240-528: The team was purchased by Paul Allen and made appearances in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 . Allen soon expressed a desire to build a new arena for his team, and in 1991 chartered the Oregon Arena Corporation , a private corporation with Allen as the sole shareholder, to build and operate a new facility. The team soon made an agreement with the City of Portland to build a new multi-purpose arena on
12360-577: The team's nickname himself, despite claiming that fans would have the ultimate say. According to Canzano's source the "Growlers" nickname was the most popular among voters followed by the "Sasquatch". The Portland Thunder began their training camp and held a media day on February 25, 2014. On March 1, the team held an intra-squad scrimmage for season ticket holders at Tualatin Indoor Soccer in Tualatin, Oregon . Their first game occurred on March 17 against
12480-425: The time of its construction, the arena was a state-of-the-art facility. Although more recent NBA arenas have surpassed Moda Center in amenities, it still is well regarded as a facility. A 2005 survey by USA Today ranked the facility in the middle of the pack among the 29 NBA arenas; factors unrelated to the venue itself (such as ticket prices and entertainment offerings) are considered in the rankings. Soon after
12600-452: The trade, the league and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that resulted in several veteran players—including Wagner—gaining free agency. Wagner then signed with the San Jose SaberCats . In 2000 , the Red Dogs, without Wagner, Ashley, and offensive mainstay Chad Lindsey, fell to 4–10. Foggie lost his job as starting QB, replaced by Tommy Maddox , at the time a failed NFL quarterback. Head coach Frank Mattiace left
12720-718: The win. The 61 points scored by both teams in the second quarter was also an AFL record for combined points in a quarter. The Gladiators then traveled to Philadelphia to face the Soul in the National Conference Championship game. Unfortunately, their season ended one game short of the Arena Bowl with a tough 70–35 loss. The National Conference Championship would be the Gladiators' last game for almost two years. The Arena Football League canceled its 2009 season and it seemed that operations would be suspended indefinitely. However,
12840-482: The worst record in the entire Arena League). The Gladiators began the 2014 season winning their first nine games, more than doubling their entire win total from the previous season (four). They didn't lose a game until being defeated by the Pittsburgh Power 48–34 on May 31 – more than two months into the season. On Saturday June 7, 2014, the Gladiators set a team record for points scored in a game when they defeated
12960-675: The years about Portland landing an NHL team; however this has not occurred. A former third tenant was the Portland Lumberjax of the National Lacrosse League , who played four seasons in the arena prior to disbanding. The arena has hosted numerous other minor league sports teams as well. In 1997, an AFL team landed in Portland from Memphis as the Portland Forest Dragons . Two seasons later, they relocated to Oklahoma City . The arena started hosting another AFL team,
13080-571: Was also their first concert in Portland since 1996. On October 1, 2019, AJR headlined the theater in Moda Center for their Neotheater World Tour . The exterior of Moda Center was featured in How I Met Your Mother 's 2011 episode, Tick Tick Tick ; again in the 2013 episode Platonish , and the series finale episode, Last Forever . Las Vegas Gladiators The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio , and members of
13200-501: Was announced as the public face of the team, as well as the President of football operations and minority owner. The Gladiators would play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena , the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters . The team also moved back to the Eastern Division of the National Conference for the first time since 2003. The team would still be known as
13320-504: Was chosen both to reflect Portland's reputation as the Rose City , and to reflect the importance to basketball heritage of Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden arenas in Boston and New York City , respectively. When the name was selected, the remainder of the former coliseum grounds were given the name "Rose Quarter". In 2007, the Trail Blazers and Vulcan announced that they were seeking
13440-467: Was conducted by the Portland Tribune , and subsequently Moda Center was listed among the five ugliest buildings in the city. The arena has a total of over 14,000 permanent seats arranged in two bowls. An additional 1540 permanent seats are found in the arena's 70 skyboxes . Over 4,200 portable seats may or may not be installed, depending on the arena's configuration. When configured for basketball,
13560-502: Was named as new head coach of the Gladiators. Soon after, Arena Football 1 decided to re-adopt the Arena Football League name. During their first season in two years, the Gladiators hovered around .500 for the majority of the time. Highlights of the season included blowout victories over the Utah Blaze and the Iowa Barnstormers, but there were also some close losses attributed to poor special teams play. On July 17, during their 15th game of
13680-489: Was named the Thunder's inaugural head coach. Sauk had previously worked for the Utah Blaze , where he served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator . Following the team's inaugural season, in which Sauk led Portland to a 5–13 record, Sauk was dismissed as head coach and replaced by Mike Hohensee . On August 24, 2015, Hohensee suffered the same exact fate as he and his staff mutually agreed to part ways after he coached
13800-402: Was one of the few shows the singer completed in the United States before she was forced to cancel the remainder of the tour due to a labral tear of the hip. On Sunday, August 9, 2015, Bernie Sanders held a campaign rally at Moda Center that was attended by over 28,000 people. On April 9, 2017, Radiohead performed at the arena for the first time during their A Moon Shaped Pool tour. It
13920-578: Was selected as one of five cities in the U.S. to host the Dew Action Sports Tour , a new extreme sports franchise to start in 2005. Titled the Vans Invitational , the event was held at the Rose Quarter from August 17 to 21. The Rose Quarter hosted BMX: Dirt and Freestyle Motocross . The Dew Action Sports returned to Portland for a third year. In the winter of 2005, the Rose Quarter hosted
14040-463: Was the right move. Early in 2007, Allen and the creditors reached an agreement for Allen to repurchase the arena, and the team and the building were united under common ownership once more. After much speculation that Allen would hire Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) to replace Global Spectrum, arena management elected to extend Global Spectrum's management contract by one year in the summer of 2007. In September 2007, Global Spectrum announced that
14160-404: Was the second time in three seasons that Gladiators will enter the playoffs while in Cleveland, as well as the first time they have clinched the East Division. The team entered the playoffs with a 10–8 record to face the Georgia Force in the first round. Despite playing at home, the Gladiators played poorly in the second half and were eliminated from contention, losing 50–41. On January 17, 2012,
14280-586: Was to add only New Jersey and Nashville for 1997. However, well after the awarding of the Red Dogs and Kats franchises, the owners of Madison Square Garden in New York City requested a franchise of their own, and the league granted this request. And so the CityHawks also began play in 1997. This affected the Red Dogs, in that the league then prevented the Red Dogs from advertising in New York. While North Jersey itself
14400-451: Was unwilling to guarantee the loan with his personal finances, the lenders demanded an interest rate of 8.99%, with no opportunity for prepayment. Other major creditors included Prudential Insurance , and Farmers Insurance . The remainder of funds came from the City of Portland ($ 34.5 million), Allen himself ($ 46 million), with the final $ 10 million coming from a bond backed by box office and parking revenues. In addition,
#69930