Best Seats At the Moda Center
Rip City was born in this corner of Portland. Broadcaster Bill Schonely coined the phrase in 1971 in the old Memorial Coliseum, the glass-walled building that still stands next door, and the Blazers sold out 814 straight games there before moving into the arena on its old parking lot in 1995. The Rose Garden became Moda Center in 2013, but it’s still the building where Damian Lillard ended two playoff series with a single shot, where the upper deck was designed to throw noise back down onto the court, and where a new WNBA team drew a sellout for its very first game.
The honest reality is that it’s a 1990s arena that has never had a major renovation, and some corners of it show their age. None of that dulls a sold-out night when the whole bowl is chanting “Rip City.” Here’s how to pick your seats, get in, and make the most of it.
BSeating Overview at Moda Center
Moda Center has three seating tiers: the 100 level lower bowl (sections 101–122), the 200 level Club sections (201–230), and the 300 level upper bowl (301–334). A full ring of suites sits between the 200s and 300s, which lifts the upper deck higher than you’d expect in an arena this size, so a mid-row 300 seat is a genuinely overhead view. Center court sits at Sections 101 and 112, the Blazers bench is in front of Section 122, and the ends run through roughly 106–107 and 117–118. The single biggest mistake here is buying a lower-level corner without checking which way it faces.
Best Non-Premium Seats
Sections 101–102 and 111–113, rows H through P. These are sideline seats close enough to hear the sneakers, but high enough to see over the courtside rows and the benches. Rows AA through EE at the front belong to the Courtside Club, so non-premium tickets start behind them.
Section 122, middle rows. You’re directly behind the Blazers bench, so timeouts, coaching and substitutions all happen in front of you. The lowest rows can lose a sliver of the floor when players stand, so aim for the middle of the section.
Best Value Seats
Corner Sections 104, 109, 115 and 120. These face toward center court rather than the baseline, and every seat is within eight rows of the concourse. Most rows have five or fewer seats, so getting to your seat with food doesn’t mean climbing over a dozen people.
Front rows of the center 300s, directly above 101 and 112. You get the full geometry of the game and the best look at plays developing for a fraction of lower-bowl money. The tradeoff is height; the suite ring puts even row A well above the action.
Budget / Cheapest Way In
Upper end sections, back rows. The 300-level seats behind each basket are consistently the lowest-priced tickets in the building, especially on weeknights against small-market opponents. You’re far from the court and watching the new center-hung video board for detail, but you’re inside one of the league’s loudest crowds for the price of a pizza.
Our Pick
Section 102 or 111, rows H through P. It’s the best mix of angle, closeness and price in the building, and you’re just off center court without paying center-court money.
What to Avoid (and What’s Worth Trying Once)
Corner Sections 103, 110, 114 and 121 for basketball. These look like decent lower-level seats on a map, but they face behind the basket, so you spend the night twisted in your seat to see center court. On a packed Saturday it’s genuinely uncomfortable.
Top rows of the 300-level ends. Distance plus height makes the far basket feel like a TV broadcast, and the steep rake is tiring if you’re climbing up and down for concessions.
Worth it once: a playoff or rivalry night upstairs. Moda Center was built with an “acoustical cloud” of 160 rotating panels meant to recreate the old Coliseum roar by reflecting upper-deck noise down toward the court. On a big night, the 300 level is where that noise starts.
Best Seats for Concerts at Moda Center
Moda Center is one of the busiest concert arenas in the Northwest, and its acoustics have been widely praised since it opened with David Bowie in 1995. The panels in that acoustical cloud can be adjusted for each show, which helps the sound in a way many arenas of this era can’t match.
How the Concert Stage Sets Up
For a standard end-stage show, the stage usually goes up at the end framed by Sections 103 and 110, which puts the 104–109 end behind or beside the production. Floor sections fill the court area in front of it, and the lower rows of some sections near the stage can be pulled for sound and lighting. The layout changes by tour, so check the chart for your specific show before buying.
Best Lower-Level Concert Seats
Sections 101–102 and 111–112. These give a clear side view of the stage without an extreme angle, and they’re often a better experience than the back half of the floor.
Sections 103 and 110. These are the closest lower-bowl seats to the stage and often among the cheapest in the lower level because of the side angle. They can be fantastic for some shows, but if a listing says limited view, believe it.
Sections 114–121. These face the stage head-on from the far end. You see the full production, but you’re a long way back.
Club Sections 202, 203, 214 and 215. These are the closest Club Level seats to the stage, with padded seats and access to the club concourse bars.
Floor Seats and General Admission
GA floor shows mean standing all night, and you can line up on campus from 8:00 AM on show day. Reusable water bottles are not allowed on GA floors, and drinks are often poured from cans or bottles before you walk away. If you want to be close without the crush, a low row in 102 or 111 is often a smarter buy than a mid-floor spot behind a wall of phones.
Upper-Level Concert Seats (and What to Skip)
Center 300s on the far end give a clean, full view of the stage and light show, and they’re usually the cheapest way into a sold-out tour. Skip the upper sections nearest the stage end; the angle gets severe and rigging can clip your view.
Theater of the Clouds
Some shows use Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds, a curtained setup that holds about 6,500 people with the stage at center court and seating on the west side of the arena only. It’s a real theater feel inside a big arena, and nearly every seat is closer than it would be in a full concert layout.
Premium Seating & Clubs at Moda Center
Moda Center’s premium lineup runs from courtside seats with private lounges to Club Level seats in the 200s and a full ring of suites. It’s a smaller, more traditional premium setup than the NBA’s newest arenas, but the courtside package is excellent.
The Best Premium Experience
Courtside seats with Oro Fino access. Courtside Club seats sit within five rows of the floor with in-seat ordering, a private entrance, early entry, and one Garden Garage parking pass for every two seats. Holders get access to the Riverside Club for event-level dining, and designated courtside sections also unlock Oro Fino, a speakeasy-style lounge with top-shelf cocktails, museum-quality art and local musicians.
Best Value Premium
Club Level seats in the 200s. This is the smartest premium buy in the building. The Club Level runs along both sidelines with more legroom, a slightly elevated view that’s ideal for basketball, a private entrance, complimentary parking for season members, and a club-only concourse with its own food and two full bars. Club seats often show up on resale for less than good lower-bowl seats, so compare both before you buy.
Other Premium Options
The Cascade Club is a members-only lounge on the Club Level with fewer than 125 memberships, chef-driven menus, and premium beer and wine. It’s built for season-long corporate entertaining, not single-game buyers.
Riverside Club is the event-level dining space for courtside ticket holders.
Moda Center Suites & Group Options
Suites are on the Columbia Bank Suite Level, and most hold up to 22 guests with a wet bar, catering, a private restroom and multiple TVs. Single-game Blazers suites are rented through blazerssuites.com, concert suites through modacentersuites.com, and larger modular party suites can be configured for 44 or 88 guests.
Moda Center Seating Chart & Capacity
Moda Center holds 19,393 people for basketball, and up to about 20,800 with standing room. Concert capacity is about 20,500 for a center-stage show and about 15,000 for an end-stage setup. That’s down from more than 21,000 when it opened in 1995; seating changes over the years cut the number to today’s figure.
Here is a Seating Chart To the Moda Center and its different configurations.
Getting the Best Tickets
Blazers tickets are sold through the team’s website via Ticketmaster, and every ticket is mobile-only in the Trail Blazers/Rose Quarter app. Lakers and Warriors nights price like marquee games, while weeknight games against small-market teams are where the value is.
Fire tickets are generally easier to find than Blazers tickets, but big WNBA draws still sell out. For concerts, check resale before the day of the show because GA floor tickets and the closest side sections often sell fast. Vivid Seats is a reliable place to compare prices across Blazers games, Fire games and concerts before you commit.
Moda Center Upcoming Events & Schedule
Moda Center’s calendar never really slows down. The Blazers play from October through April, the Portland Fire fill the summer and early fall, and major concert tours, comedy shows, monster trucks and family shows fill the dates in between. The Winterhawks play junior hockey next door at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the same campus. See the full Rose Quarter event calendar for current dates and on-sale times.
Tickets To Portland Trail Blazers games
Get your Portland Trailblazers tickets here! With our partnership with Vivid Seats you can get tickets to Moda Center Events, concerts and games in Portland!
Moda Center Bag Policy
For Blazers and Fire games, bags can be no larger than 10″ x 6″ x 2″. Medical and childcare bags can be up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″ and are X-rayed at designated entrances.
For concerts and other non-basketball events, bags can be up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″. Backpacks and hard-sided bags are not allowed, and the policy can change by event, so check your Know Before You Go email.
Bag check is available on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee, but prohibited items won’t be checked. There’s no luggage storage for suitcases, so drop yours at your hotel first.
Other items that catch visitors: laptops and tablets are prohibited, and so are umbrellas with pointed ends. You can bring an empty, non-glass water bottle up to 32 oz, except onto GA floors.
Key Venue Policies
Moda Center is completely cashless. Credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards and Apple Pay are accepted, and reverse ATMs are on the 100-level concourse at Entries A6 and A21, on the 300 level at C33, and in the Box Office lobby. The cards are free and work anywhere that takes Mastercard.
There is no re-entry. Once you’re in, you’re in for the night.
Doors open 75 minutes before Blazers games and typically one hour before concerts. The Box Office opens two hours before any event.
Accessibility: complimentary wheelchair escorts are available at 503-797-9750 on event days, assisted listening devices and sensory bags can be borrowed at Guest Information Booths, and there’s a sensory room inside the arena.
Full Policies: Moda Center FAQ
Getting to the Moda Center
Take MAX. Moda Center was built on this site specifically because light rail stops at its front door, and on a sellout night it’s faster and less stressful than driving.
Moda Center Parking
The Rose Quarter has more than 2,500 spaces across the Garden Garage (1,038 spaces, attached to the north end of the arena), West Broadway Garage (554), East Broadway Garage (533), Annex Garage (350) and the Benton surface lot. Parking is sold through JustPark or at Ticketmaster checkout, and prepaying is strongly recommended because garages often sell out. Garages open about two hours before events, cashiers take cards only, and clearance is 6’8″ in the Garden and Annex garages and 8’2″ in the East and West Broadway garages. The attached garages are convenient on the way in, but after the game every car is leaving through the same few exits onto the same streets.
The off-site lot is the parking hack. For Blazers games only, more than 1,700 spaces are available at NE 7th and Multnomah in the Lloyd District, five blocks away. Park there, board MAX at NE 7th and Holladay, and ride to the Rose Quarter Transit Center; after the game, take any eastbound train back. Paid parking in the Rose Quarter garages also includes free EV charging at 28 stations, first-come, first-served.
Check I-5 before you drive. The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project runs beside the arena through the end of the decade, and closures sometimes affect the Moda Center on-ramps.
Public Transit (MAX Light Rail)
The Blue, Green and Red Lines stop at Rose Quarter Transit Center, just south of the arena, and the Yellow Line stops at Interstate/Rose Quarter on the west side of the campus. The Red Line runs directly from Portland International Airport, and TriMet adds extra service on game days. There’s no fare-free zone anymore; tap a contactless card or phone before boarding, or use the Hop Fastpass app. Bus lines 4, 8, 35, 44, 77 and 85 also stop at the transit center. Here are the park and ride lots.
Rideshare
Lyft is the arena’s official rideshare partner, and pickup and drop-off are along NE Multnomah Street and NE Wheeler Avenue, right outside the east entry. After a sellout, prices rise quickly and cars get stuck, so walk a few blocks east into the Lloyd District or ride MAX one stop before requesting a car.
Walking
From Old Town, the Steel Bridge takes you across the Willamette to the Rose Quarter in about 20 minutes. It’s the easiest route back downtown after a game when the MAX platforms are packed.
Moda Center Insider Tips
oda Center is at its best when you treat it like a night out rather than just a ticket. Get to the plaza early, eat something local inside, and plan your exit before the fourth quarter starts.
The Rip City Story
Look for the Coliseum next door. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the glass-walled arena beside Moda Center, is where Bill Schonely first said “Rip City” in 1971 and where the Blazers clinched their only championship in 1977. Moda Center was built on its parking lot, and both buildings still share the same campus.
Know the Lillard moments. Damian Lillard ended a 2014 series against Houston with a buzzer-beater in this building, then ended a 2019 series against Oklahoma City with a 37-footer and a wave. Those shots are part of the building’s identity, and a big home win still has that kind of energy.
Will the Blazers Stay at Moda Center? The Renovation and Lease Talks
The city owns Moda Center, and the Blazers are its tenant. Portland bought the arena and its land from Paul Allen’s estate in 2024 for $7.13 million, and the team’s current lease runs through 2030. Tom Dundon bought the Blazers in March 2026 and has said he won’t personally contribute to the roughly $600 million renovation the NBA wants.
The public money is on the table. Oregon has pledged $365 million, Multnomah County $101 million, and Portland’s City Council voted 8–4 in August 2026 to commit $120 million plus up to $275 million for maintenance over 20 years. In return, the city wants a 20-year lease, a no-relocation commitment, annual rent and a payment in place of property taxes.
The deadline is December 31, 2026. If the team and the three governments don’t reach a final deal by then, the state’s money lapses. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in July that talks had gone off track, and Portland’s mayor has since said negotiations are moving but that there are no guarantees.
For fans, nothing changes on game night yet. Games continue as scheduled while the lease is negotiated, and any renovation would come after a signed deal. Moda Center is currently the oldest NBA arena never to have a major renovation.
Who Plays at Moda Center: Blazers, Fire and More
The Portland Fire brought the WNBA back in 2026. The expansion team shares Moda Center with the Blazers, plays from May into September, and its debut drew a sellout of 19,335. The original Portland Fire played here from 2000 to 2002.
The Winterhawks play next door. Portland’s WHL hockey team moved back to Veterans Memorial Coliseum full-time in 2021, so check which building is on your ticket.
The Women’s Final Four is coming. Moda Center hosts the 2030 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the first time the event has been held in Oregon.
Arrival Strategy
Check the entry closest to your ride. The south side near the Transit Center takes the MAX crowd, the east entry sits beside the rideshare lanes, and the Garden Garage connects to the north end.
Keep your phone, keys and wallet on you at security. Moda Center uses Evolv screening at select entrances, so small items usually stay in your pockets. Anyone with a bag goes through a separate, slower line.
Arrive when doors open if you want warmups. Blazers doors open 75 minutes before tip-off, which gives you time to watch shootaround, find food and get to your seat before the building fills.
Start at Dr. Jack’s if you want a pregame drink on campus. The restaurant sits just outside the southwest entrance, opens about three hours before tip-off, and has indoor and outdoor seating with live music on busy nights.
Food & Drink Inside Moda Center
Eat local. Portland restaurants dominate the concourse: Top Burmese (Section 105), Baes fried chicken (119), Killer Burger (116), Pizzicato (115), Mexi Masala (117) and Kinnamon’s cinnamon rolls (104).
Get to Schonely’s Taproom early. The 240-seat brewpub outside Section 101 has two circular bars, 22 TVs and Elysian beer, and it opens when doors open. By tip-off, the seats are gone.
Upstairs, go to Section 332. Kama’aina’s Hawaiian plates, Cha Cha Cha’s burritos and The Pines full bar are all there, so 300-level fans don’t have to go downstairs for good food.
Use Low Bar at Section 303 for cheaper beer. It’s the arena’s dedicated low-price beer stand.
Use the grab-and-go spots for drinks. Coors Marketplace (116) and Grab & Go (317) are designed to skip the full-service lines.
Bring an empty bottle. Water refill stations are at Entries A1, A8, A11, A17 and A21 on the 100 level and C34 on the 300 level.
Exit Strategy
Walk to the Steel Bridge if you’re going downtown. The Transit Center platforms get crushed after a sellout, and walking to Old Town can be faster than waiting for a train.
Finish your drink before you leave. Alcohol can’t leave the arena.
Don’t leave anything behind. Lost and Found is at the South Information Booth at A23, and you need to file your report before you leave the building.
Families & Kids
Go to Kid City on the 300 level. Games, activities and face painting are between Entries C11 and C15.
Pick up a booster seat and a child ID bracelet. Booster seats are at Guest Services at A7 or A25, and ID bracelets are free at any Guest Information Booth.
Stop at a My First Game booth. There are three in the arena, with a collectible button, a signed and dated certificate and a selfie station.
Know the ticket and stroller rules. Children 2 and older need a ticket, guests under 16 must be with an adult, and car seat and stroller policies vary by event.
Use the Parents Room at A7. It has nursing chairs, a changing table and toys, and family restrooms are at A22 and C14.
Autographs & Player Access
Treat autographs as a bonus. There’s no published autograph program for Blazers games, so your best chance is getting in at doors, heading to your section early and bringing a Sharpie. Warmups are worth watching even if nobody signs.
The Moda Center App and Quirks
Download the Trail Blazers/Rose Quarter app before you leave your hotel. All tickets are mobile-only in the app, and screenshots won’t scan.
Leave the laptop at your hotel. Laptops and tablets are prohibited, which catches a lot of business travelers coming straight from work.
Text 503-486-1470 for help. The Guest Text Line handles directions, questions and issues in your section.
Follow the wall color to the right restroom. Women’s restrooms have red walls and men’s restrooms have black walls.
Hotels Near The Moda Center
he Lloyd District and Convention Center area puts you within walking distance of the arena, while downtown and Old Town are one MAX ride or a walk across the Steel Bridge away. Concert weekends and big convention dates can fill the closest hotels, so book early.
Best Areas to Stay
Lloyd District / Convention Center. This is the easiest choice for a game or concert because you can walk to the arena in 5 to 15 minutes. It’s quieter at night than downtown, with fewer restaurants.
Old Town and downtown. Stay here if you want Portland’s restaurants and bars around you. MAX gets you to the arena in minutes, and the Steel Bridge makes the walk easy.
Where to Stay for a Blazers Game or Concert
Hotel Eastlund. This is the pick for most visitors: a short walk from the arena, comfortable rooms, and Metropolitan Tavern on the rooftop. Rooms on the MAX side can hear the trains.
Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. It’s modern, next to MAX, and sells MAX tickets at the hotel. The drawback is paid valet parking.
Crowne Plaza Portland-Downtown Convention Center. It’s an easy walk to both Moda Center and the Coliseum, with a pool and on-site restaurant. Parking is uncovered, so leave nothing in your car.
Courtyard Portland Downtown/Convention Center. It’s reliable and walkable to the arena, but valet parking is mandatory and adds up over a weekend.
The Hoxton, Portland. This is the downtown option, with a rooftop restaurant, a strong lobby scene and quick access to the Steel Bridge. Avoid the smallest rooms, which can feel cramped and have no view.
Budget Options
Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Convention Center. Suites with kitchens and breakfast make it a good value for families or longer stays. It’s farther east, so plan on a longer walk or a MAX ride.
The Society Hotel. This historic Old Town hotel has private rooms, some with shared bathrooms, plus a rooftop and a café. It’s a good value if you don’t mind the basic rooms and street noise.
Restaurants and Bars Near the Moda Center
The Rose Quarter is more arena campus than neighborhood, so most fans either drink on the plaza before the game or walk 10 minutes to Lloyd District or N Williams Avenue.
Best Pregame & Postgame Bars
Dr. Jack’s is the most convenient pregame stop, just outside the southwest entrance with patios and live music. The food is basic, but you can’t get closer.
Spirit of 77 is Portland’s classic Blazers bar, named for the 1977 title team, with wooden basketball hoops and a big screen. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the arena.
The Garden Tavern has a long tap list, a food-cart pod and a covered, heated rooftop, and it’s a short walk north of the arena.
Metropolitan Tavern is the rooftop bar at Hotel Eastlund, and its happy hour fills fast before concerts, so get there early.
Grand Central Bowl has bowling, an arcade and a sports bar in Southeast Portland, and it’s an easy stop before or after a game.
Best Restaurants in the Area
OX Restaurant serves Argentine-style wood-fired steaks on MLK Boulevard, about a mile north of the arena. It’s a splurge and worth booking ahead.
Eem is a Thai-barbecue mashup on N Williams Avenue with serious cocktails. It doesn’t take reservations, so expect a wait at dinner.
Canard is a casual French spot on East Burnside known for its steam burgers and foie gras dumplings.
Screen Door Eastside serves Southern comfort food, especially fried chicken and brunch, with long lines on weekends.
Nong’s Khao Man Gai is a quick, affordable Thai chicken-and-rice spot that’s perfect before a game.
Why You Should Go
Moda Center isn’t the newest arena in the NBA, and it doesn’t pretend to be. What it has is harder to build: decades of Rip City history, a crowd that still turns an ordinary weeknight into an event, and a WNBA team that filled the building from day one. Go on a winter Friday when the rain is coming down and the MAX platforms are full of red and black, then walk past the lights of the old Coliseum on your way in. By the time the lights go down and 19,000 people shout “Rip City,” you’ll understand why this city has loved its basketball team so loudly for so long.
Check out Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park in Seattle for you Seahawks and Mariners fans. A
lso Autzen Stadium in Eugene is a great gameday spot as they continue to be a College Football power in the Big 10.
Also check our NBA Arenas, the Chase Center in SF, The Delta Center in Utah and Ball Arena in Denver are all good regional spots for a game.
Thanks for Reading!
Written by Brad Richards, Founder of Gameday Guides. This guide includes insights from personal visits as well as updated info from team sources, fan forums, and stadium policies. We aim to help you plan with confidence — enjoy your gameday.