📍 Portland, Oregon
🏒 Home of the Portland Winterhawks

One of the most storied sports franchises in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Winterhawks are more than just your average hockey team. They are the embodiment of an organization that cares about their city, deep-rooted fanbase and the enduring history of the gleaming landmark that has been their home for a half century. Although they’re the southernmost member of their league and were Oregon’s only hockey team until 2021, the Winterhawks have played a meaningful role in both their state and the hockey world.

Hockey at The Glass Palace

Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which opened to the public in 1960, is notable for its striking glass exterior, earning it the nickname “The Glass Palace.” The building was originally the home of the Portland Buckaroos, a junior club that competed in the Western Hockey League. The ‘Roos skated here until 1975, and it was the Winterhawks who took up the mantle after relocating from Edmonton a year later. Although they had split their slate between the arena and the adjacent Moda Center for more than two decades, the Winterhawks still hold the distinction of having the league’s second-longest uninterrupted tenancy at the same venue – behind only the Brandon Wheat Kings – and the Coliseum itself remains the oldest venue in use in the WHL. Due to its architectural notability, the structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, cementing its permanency on the Portland sports scene.

Heightening the Fan Experience

Returning to the Glass Palace full-time in 2021, the Winterhawks have made significant strides to improve the gameday environment at their longtime home. Summertime renovations took place in 2024 and 2025, a 2-year process aimed at getting behind-the-scenes operations back up to code and applying a modern standard to the front-of-house fan experience. These upgrades included a complete replacement of the old chairbacks in the seating bowl, an entirely new sound system, reimagined restrooms – flashy, now, instead of just practical – and the addition of open-air suites thanks to the removal of several rows along the arena’s split-level walkway.

There have been several additional improvements made over the last few years, such as electronic advertisement boards around the entire rink instead of static prints, a mingle-worthy Bottle Shop complete with a full bar and a biergarten area located at ice level near the player benches.

The latter was actually added as an amenity as a result of a design quirk with the Coliseum’s seating structure. The slope of the bowl, built to accommodate basketball primarily, meant the first few rows sat too low behind the benches, leaving fans – sitting in what should’ve been some of the best seats in the house – frustrated with their obstructed view. These seats were prime courtside spots when the venue was still hosting the Portland Pilots and the NBA’s Trail Blazers, though the sport hasn’t regularly been played here since the latter moved next door to what is now the Moda Center in 1995.

Highlights of Gameday

The audio and visual elements of a Winterhawks game are what really shape the experience, with the pre-game ceremonies doing most of the heavy lifting. Before the player intros, fans are encouraged to participate in a coordinated light show made possible through an app on their phone. Each game, one lucky fan then blows up some “TNT” to the tune of “I Wanna Rock“, sending flames all around the ice-level screens on the boards to hype the crowd up for puck drop. Goals are punctuated by a muted horn – albeit an incredibly unique one – a recording of one of Portland’s Tri-Met light rail trains. Fans are encouraged to purchase and use a “Loud Cup” too, a recently-invented tumbler with a built-in horn that resembles the sound of a vuvuzela.

The Coliseum also has a wide variety of concessions that lie beyond just the basics. Boozy shave ice and spiked lemonade seem to be some of the more popular alcoholic options, while things like vegan bratwurst, pizza burgers and the hot dog of the month round out the actual comestibles.

History of the Winterhawks

The Winterhawks are a decorated franchise and one of the most successful in the entire Canadian Hockey League, with loads of hardware to back them up. The team was the first American squad to ever win the league’s Memorial Cup, claiming their first in franchise history in 1983. They’d repeat in 1998 and, with Spokane being the only other US-based champion, the Winterhawks remain the CHL’s most titled team south of the border.

In the WHL exclusively, the ‘Hawks have won three Ed Chynoweth Cups and have been crowned regular season champs on four occasions. The team’s successes are immortalized in the rafters of the Coliseum, alongside banners celebrating Hall of Fame members and the history written by their predecessor, the Buckaroos.

Hope for the Future

Although the Winterhawks have made great strides in extending the lifespan of their glorious home, Chief Operating Officer Jeff McGillis says the team has a few more exciting projects on the horizon that they hope to accomplish in 2026 and beyond. “[We’re] looking at getting a new jumbotron, a center-hung for next season…we’re replacing parts quite a bit. [We’re] also looking at some upgrades to the locker room and the gym, kind of on the player side.” Being a junior league, the WHL consists mainly of college-age kids who still have to find time to study and take their classes. That’s why, McGillis says, the Winterhawks are also “looking at putting in theater-style, auditorium-style seating in one of the conference rooms” to help further the education of their players.

Of course, the biggest thing being looked at is the replacement of the aging curtain system – original to the building – that keeps the Glass Palace from truly living up to its nickname. While the huge floor-to-ceiling glass exterior allows tons of natural light onto the area concourse by day and offers views of the Portland skyline by night, the rink itself has remained dark for a few years now. In years past, the team staged an annual Daylight Classic, allowing sunlight to seep into the event space through the windows that rim the top of the seating bowl. These games have been on a short hiatus because the curtains’ retraction is inconsistent and error-prone, but the organization is hopeful the system can be replaced in the near future and that the beloved Daylight Classic can return.

Between their investments in the player facilities and their commitment to consistently improving the fan experience, the team has done everything they can to promote the long-term viability of the historic venue. According to McGillis, “As long as the building is sound, then we would love to play here… it’s a great size for our league.” ■

Info Invasion

Transit: Take the yellow, red or blue lines on Tri-Met MAX Light Rail to the Rose Quarter
Nearby Venue(s): Moda Center, Chiles Center
In the Area: Pittock Mansion