Comments on: Next idea for Coliseum: a soundstage

By: del Monico

del Monico — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:59:56 +0000

Yes, let this group present their idea to the City. Their proposed use may not mesh with City goals to maintain the Coliseum as an easily accessed Portland public facility, but parts of the building (theaters) would allow that. More problematic would be tearing away most of the seating bowl, which is a primary form in this important work of mid-century architecture. Backstage functions shown stacked on the west side would also destroy the view from the Downtown side of the Bowl under Glass that is the basic identity of the Coliseum.

By: JD

JD — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:52:45 +0000

God forbid that Portland might take anything into a revenue-GENERATING direction!

“The mayor is very supportive of film, television and other media production in Portland, and he is certainly interested in projects that would further development of those industries as an economic driver in our city,” said Cary Clarke, the mayor’s arts and culture policy coordinator. “The proposal for a media complex and production facility in Portland is an exciting one, but the Veterans Memorial Coliseum is headed in a different direction and not available as a location for this kind of development.”

What direction is that, Cary? Something needing additional taxpayer revenue to support?

By: Brian Libby

Brian Libby — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:28:31 +0000

With all due respect to the people involved in this proposal, one can only treat this soundstage idea as a kind of joke. Portland has spent the last two years first rallying against an ill-conceived plan to demolish the building, then casting off a host of outlandish ideas for gutting the inside of this historic landmark, only to finally arrive at what should have been apparent all along: that Memorial Coliseum should continue as the multi-purpose arena it was designed to be. Even before its planned renovation, the building hosts even more events than the newer Rose Garden arena next door. It’s also a one-of-a-kind work of architecture: the world’s only arena with a 360-degree glass view. That a group of people would seek to waltz in and propose the interior of this masterpiece be gutted in the name of three sound stages is nothing short of outlandish. Thank goodness City leaders have not warmed to the idea, because if they did, it would re-ignite the local firestorm that exploded the last time people tried to mess with the Glass Palace. West Coast cities like Portland are short on built history compared to the East Coast, so it’s all the more important we protect our treasures such as Memorial Coliseum. It’s a shame that this idea was even taken seriously enough by the 91��Ƶ to merit dignifying it with reportage.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:08:35 +0000

What is a “self contained, fully integrated urban soundstage” and would this really be the largest in the entire world? If it is just a euphemism for concert hall you might want to tone down the hyperbole.

By: Aaron Douglas

Aaron Douglas — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:19:04 +0000

This is actually an old idea — it was studied many years ago by EcoNorthwest for the City or other governmental agency in a report that the state film office has. The government had the same response at that time.

By: dave

dave — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:07:14 +0000

Why not? The Winter Hawks could easily move into the Rose Garden full-time. We don’t need two arena right next to each other.