Portland's Rose Garden Arena
The Rose Garden is no more - at least in name. The Portland Trail Blazers announced Tuesday the sale of the naming rights to their team's arena.
Five years after a failed attempt to sell the naming rights, the Blazers have struck a deal with Portland-based insurance provider, Moda Health.
And what was once known as the Rose Garden Arena is now known as "Moda Center."
The ten-year agreement includes plans to enliven Portland's Rose Quarter, where the arena is located. Blazers President and CEO Chris McGowan says the goal is to make the Rose Quarter a cultural hub for arts and innovation.
McGowan says the deal with Moda Health also enables the organization to invest more in its fans and its facility. And he says it will ultimately create a more competitive team.
"The Rose Garden is definitely not going away. It's definitely going to be a part of our history and heritage," he said.
"Evidence of that? At the request of Blazers owner Paul Allen, a rose will be incorporated into the new logo.
"The Rose Garden put us on the map, Moda Center is going to take us into the future."
This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.
