These days it is known as the Moda Center, but most people probably still know it as the Rose Garden. It’s crazy to think the arena is 15-years old because it looks and feels new on both the inside and outside. The Portland Trail Blazers have seen a lot of interesting players come and go, but they all called the Rose Garden home.
In order to do a Moda Center review, it is important to understand that Portland is a different kind of town and this is no different when it comes to basketball games. The food options are very hipster and you’ll see fans in flannel. It’s all very Portland. But everyone knows their basketball.
Getting to the stadium is pretty easy and not expensive to do. There is the light rail if you’re feeling adventurous and want to give public transit a go. There is some parking adjacent to the arena, but cheaper lots can be found to the east of Moda Center. Various hotels and parking lots charge $15-ish and most of them are a ten-minute walk away.
There are two main entrances on the Northwest and Northeast corners of the arena and lines to get in aren’t too long for most games. You enter at the concourse level where access to the lower bowl is found. Upper level seating requires you to take an escalator.
I was able to get from my car to my seat in 20 minutes, although I did arrive a little under an hour before tip-off. Getting back to my car took a little longer but wasn’t bad by any means. The is some postgame traffic, but nothing too extreme.
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The only complaint you’ll find in this Moda Center review is that the team shop is way too small and way too crowded. It’s impossible to get around once inside and every time you try to leave it seems like someone is blocking your path. A few smaller satellite shops can be found on the concourse and upper level, but the selection at these sucks.
Food is an eclectic mix of stuff that’s kind of expensive. There are some traditional options as well, but I wasn’t impressed. You’re better off going to BurgerVille after the game. Trust me on that recommendation.
Views throughout Moda Center are all pretty good. There are some weird one-row seats available in the lower bowl. If you’re going by yourself, you might try to snag one. I find the upper level seats to still be pretty good compared to some newer arenas such as the Golden 1 Center.
Moda Center review score: 9
The Moda Center has a unique charm that makes it one of the better NBA arenas to visit. There aren’t many bad seats in the Moda Center and the Portland-vibe is definitely noticeable. If you get a chance to see a Blazers game, do it. Just don’t plan on getting anything from the team store.
