Portland State Has Big Plans for Stott Center Improvements

Portland State added a big video screen in their arena, the Stott Center, last year, and it appears that more big things will be on the way.

The Portland State administration hopes to change that with recently unveiled plans for a dramatic $44 million makeover that would transform the dated home of Vikings athletics into a striking, multipurpose venue highlighted by a 82-foot-high glass entry facing the Park Blocks.

Tentatively dubbed "Viking Pavilion," the plans call for replacing the eastern half of the building on Southwest Hall Street with a large concourse and a three-story arena that looks onto the Park Blocks. With seating for 4,700 for sports and 5,500 for performances, the new arena would more than triple the capacity of the current facility (1,500). The plans would leave the current gym intact at the rear of the facility and add a substantial amount of space for students, academics and physical education.

Once it is completed, that will certainly do a lot to inject life into the program. It should allow them to be consistent and a contender every year in the Big Sky.

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