A Rose Like No Other

Official Review by Matt Scheelar, Stadium Journey Correspondent

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Since 1995 the Rose Garden has been the home to the only professional sports franchise in Oregon, the Portland Trail Blazers. Since its inception, the 20,630 capacity arena has been a shining example of what an NBA arena should be like. From the physical make-up to the atmosphere it creates, the Rose Garden is tremendous destination for sports fans.

Every time you attend a Blazer game at the Rose Garden, it’s an experience like no other. With multiple mass transit opportunities and easy accessibility, people flood in from all around. It’s as close to a college atmosphere as you’ll find in the NBA. Fans are always excited for every game and the atmosphere and camaraderie is some of the best you’ll find in any professional sport.

Food & Beverage   5/5

One of the major positives for the Rose Garden Arena during a Blazer game is the wide array of beer and wine options. Portland is well known for it's microbrews so it's only fitting that they would provide dozens of different beer varieties from your standard light and domestic to home grown ales and other beers from around the US. They have two main bars in the Rose Garden on the main floor, one is called Schonely's place(named after our announcer of the past) which has a restaurant and 2 bars. The other is on the opposite side of the arena and is strictly for beer, wine and spirits. You'll also find beer stations throughout the main floor and 300 level with all your standard beers available at the concession stands. You're always within 20 feet of getting a beverage. Prices are steep, domestics usually run $7.50 for a pint and $8.50 for anything else.

As far as food goes in the arena, you'll always find your standard arena items in the concession windows, but it's the other options that make the food better than most arenas. You'll find a decent meal at Schonely's Place, like burgers and sandwiches. There are also various booths set-up around the first level that make sandwiches and other items, but make sure you bring your wallet, because nothing is cheap.

Another excellent option if you're lucky enough, is the corporate seats just above the 100 level. Every person sitting in those sections has access, for a fee, to an amazing food spread. From roasts and pastas to seafood and desserts, it's a good place to fill up on amazing food. Also in an exclusive area, if you're ever lucky enough to sit in the first few rows, is the restaurant for the courtside ticket holders. It not only has a bar with everything you can think of, but there is gourmet pizza, pastas, and many other food items. Many patrons dine here before they attend the game and are able to order off of a restaurant menu. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is much like that of fancy restaurant, if that's your cup of tea before a game.

Atmosphere   5/5

The atmosphere at the Rose Garden is unlike any other in the NBA. The fans are die hard and committed, probably because there is no other professional team in the area. But when the game is on and the fans are in place, it feels like a college crowd. People are loud, excited and very much in tune to what's going on in the game. There is never any fabricated crowd noise and when the officials are off their game, they hear about it from Blazer fans. Believe me, get ready for an intense crowd and an amazing atmosphere if you enter the Rose Garden on game night.

Neighborhood   3/5

Unfortunately the options for bars and restaurants right next to the arena are limited. Being surrounded by a river, a freeway, and neighborhoods doesn’t make it easy to get anything in place for pregame festivities. But if you’re savvy, there are some options.

Probably the best option is McFadden’s Restaurant located just across the steel bridge (.6 miles) in downtown Portland (107 Northwest Couch Street). It’s literally one stop away on the max line(mass transit train) but not really within walking distance.

The absolute best part about this place is its happy hour menu which usually lasts up until gametime 6 days a week (excluding Sunday). They have $2 High Life pints and $2 appetizers which are much more than just an app. From Sliders and burgers to wings and quesadillas, every item is just $2. They also have a wide array of other beers and foods, but it’s hard to pass up the deals before Blazer games.

The other option, a place that is actually within 100 feet of the Rose garden, is The Game Sports Bar. But there is a catch with this place. It is actually owned by the team and beverages are sold for the same high price as inside the arena. Generally speaking I like to get bargains before games and this is not the place to get said bargain. But if you park in the parking garage, and like to be near the arena, this is a decent spot to hang out before a game.

Fans   5/5

There's a reason why people like Bill Simmons and other national media members say Portland has the best fans in the NBA. I went into some detail in the atmosphere section but the fact is that Blazer fans are rabid and loyal, they put their hearts into every game, even if sometimes that leads to epic disappointment. When you look across the league and see so many empty NBA arenas, it's refreshing to see Portland always filling up the Rose Garden. They've been sold out for at least 2 years now and that trend isn't going to change anytime soon. Blazer fans are savvy people who know their team well and understand the game of basketball. They can be homers at times, but isn't that what makes a good fan? A sometimes blind devotion and undying loyalty to their team? Blazer fans are all of those things.

Access   5/5

The Rose Garden was designed with ease of access as a number one priority. On the outside there are parking garages under, around, and across the street from the arena. The main freeway exits and enters within a block of the arena allowing for the quickest of access to Blazer games. Not only that, but the Max mass transit line runs two different stops to the South and West of the arena. Thousands of fans park far away and take the Max to the game. It provides for less traffic, less pollution and really the type of organization that makes fans want to come back time and time again.

As far as the arena itself, there are multiple entrances and exits, there is almost never a serious line to get into a game, even though 20,000 people are in attendance. Bathrooms are everywhere, lines form at half time but everything is a fairly smooth transition. Access is as good as you could expect from any arena in the league.

Return on Investment   4/5

For a professional sports team, return on investment has a lot to do with how good the team is and how well they play that particular night. Sure the food and beverage being above average is nice, but you're there to see a good team perform at their best. As far as the Portland Trail Blazers go, at least for the last couple years, it's been a great experience to attend most games. They're a hard working team who've now made the playoffs 2 years in a row. So the product is outstanding, and then when you factor in all of the good food and beverage options, the easy accessibility and the great atmosphere, you know it's a great return on investment. The only reason I don't give it a 5 is because prices for tickets have gone way up and it is still very expensive to attend a game. I love going to games, but families and less fortunately people aren't able to afford the high prices for NBA games. But if you can go, it will be a great time and worth it is worth going at least once.

Extras   3/5

1 Point for a large array of beer options.

1 point for using mass transit to get fans to and from the game in a fairly organized fashion.

1 point for having the best fans in the league.

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