Memorial Coliseum Book

I’ve reviewed proofs and the book is headed to the printer! Building Portland’s Memorial Coliseum: a Mid-Century Political Firestorm is due out to the public in April. Cover sneak peak coming next month…

thats all, folks! back to the publisher it goes, see you in April

copy edits are in, I’m working on it wall-to-wall this weekend so we can get it out in the world in April

Memorial Coliseum. Jan 4, 2026.

nine months ago as we started editing my book on Memorial Coliseum. it’ll be out four months from now…

Building Portland’s Memorial Coliseum: a Mid-Century Political Firestorm will be published by @ArcadiaPub April 14, 2026! Can’t wait to have this out in the world. I’ve been working on it since January 2014!

it’s official, Building Portland’s Memorial Coliseum: a Mid-Century Political Firestorm is in the production schedule at @ArcadiaPub! don’t have a specific date yet but expecting spring 2026. stay tuned

ten years ago today, October 16, 2015

70 years ago today Portland’s Exposition-Recreation Commission selected Delta Park as the site for what we now know as Memorial Coliseum. My book on the site selection process will be out in the spring. Until then, here’s a primer I wrote back in 2017. mikeaorr.medium.com/portland-memor…

never know what you’ll find at an archive this is from a city councilman’s house party in 1953

still diggin

yesterday was a process out loud day. today is a writing day. tomorrow is a research day at the city archive. book is done, article is just getting started. this story is so interesting and lands on so many different levels.

What could’ve been: Memorial Rosearena

Help Put Portland Ahead! via Portland City Archive, 1954 AD/22455