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Until this season, if you wanted to see college basketball downtown, you entered Portland State University's Stott Center, a bunkerlike sensory deprivation chamber—all white walls, no windows—that made up for in intimacy what it lacked in charm: It seated only about 1,500 but was rarely full.
Fortunately for hoops fans, PSU spent $52 million to double the gym's capacity, add new training facilities, offices and modern concession stands, with craft beer and local ice cream, transforming the building into Viking Pavilion.
An eye-pleasing combination of giant windows and Northwest timber, the new building looms over the South Park Blocks like a brightly lit ship. The Lady Viks reacted to their new home with their best season in years (15-4 thus far), and while the men's team has slumped to a 9-12 record after a postseason run in 2018, their run-and-gun style is bringing in 1,168 fans a game—the first time in a decade average attendance has topped 1,000.
"We have had an overwhelmingly positive response on the new arena from all of our fans, boosters, alums that have come back," says associate athletic director Mike Lund. "It is something we are very proud of and think turned out even better than we hoped."
1. Because we're not afraid of public displays of affection…
2. Because women are in charge…
3. Because our local theater scene tells true, inspiring Oregon stories…
4. Because Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd make even Blazer losses fun…
5. Because we're still No. 1 in semi-factual superlatives…
6. Because we have a sixth quadrant now…
7. Because the hottest rapper in the game is obsessed with us…
8. Because Oregon is gradually getting more diverse, and in unexpected ways…
9. Because we can work it out…
10. Because we helped jump-start the movement that's changing the tech
industry…
11. Because if you want to, you can dance to…
12. Because we're so sex positive, you can take a class on…
13. Because we're working to become a bike haven again…
14. Because after walking across Antarctica, I can still come back
to my favorite dive bar…
15. Because the Blazers' game-day posters are the coolest collectibles in sports…
16. Because our airport is Beervana…
17. Because our fake fast food beats the real thing…
18. Because the Big Pipe is keeping poop out of the river…
19. Because we're making an effort to diversify the cannabis industry…
20. Because we finally have a virtual reality playland…
21. Because we have nicer weather than Hawaii (no, really)…
22. Because Basic Rights Oregon is fighting for LGTBQ+ rights—and winning…
23. Because Portland State's gym just underwent an awesome makeover…
24. …and the courthouse is getting one, too.
25. Because our hotel bars are some of the best bars in the city…
26. Because you'll spend less time in jail here than the national average…
27. Because we make some of the best guitar pedals in the biz…
28. Because our Curry is better than that other Curry…