Today Portland’s iconic outdoor stadium is called Providence Park, but over the years its name has changed several times since its inception in 1893. Originally Multnomah Field, this Portland landmark has seen a lot of change in its 125-year run. Check out these historic pictures to take a walk through the history of our famed stadium in Goose Hollow.
Today the park bears the Providence Park marquee, the most recent name change from the former Jeld-Wen Field in 2014.
TMimages PDX / Flickr
The original fields and grandstands were called Multnomah Field, but when the stadium was built in 1926, the name of the park became Multnomah Civic Stadium.
Wesley Andrews Inc / Wikipedia This postcard from the 1930s depicts the original stadium, which was used for college football games, cricket games, and greyhound racing.
The stadium was built for $500,000 by the Multnomah Athletic Club.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia It remained under the same ownership until the Multnomah Athletic Club sold the stadium to the City of Portland in 1966 for $2.1 million.
During this time, the stadium hosted seven Civil War games between University of Oregon and Oregon State University, and was the site of nearly all the big games that Oregon and Oregon State played up until the 1960s when larger campus stadiums were built.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia
Because of its capacity the stadium was able to host large events like the Portland Rose Festival Coronation and a visit to the city by president Warren G. Harding.
Oregon Historical Society / Wikipedia
While football was a major crowd favorite, the legendary Elvis also graced the stage here to perform one of the first ever outdoor stadium rock concerts in history.
Oregon Historical Society / Wikipedia
By the 1950s, the Portland Beavers were using the stadium, as their original field had been condemned.
Unknown / Wikipedia
When the stadium was sold to the city in 1966, it was renamed Civic Stadium.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia
The stadium notably hosted the North American Soccer League Soccer Bowl ‘77, a match between the New York Cosmos and the Seattle Sounders, and the last match of soccer great Pele.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia
After a few more name changes - PGE Park, Jeld-Wen Field, and now Providence Park - our city’s stadium has quite the history.
Eric Prado / Flickr Today the stadium is home to some of our most beloved teams: the Timbers, the Thorns, and the Portland State University Vikings football team.
Have you been to Providence Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
TMimages PDX / Flickr
Wesley Andrews Inc / Wikipedia
This postcard from the 1930s depicts the original stadium, which was used for college football games, cricket games, and greyhound racing.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia
It remained under the same ownership until the Multnomah Athletic Club sold the stadium to the City of Portland in 1966 for $2.1 million.
City of Portland Archives / Wikipedia
Oregon Historical Society / Wikipedia
Unknown / Wikipedia
Eric Prado / Flickr
Today the stadium is home to some of our most beloved teams: the Timbers, the Thorns, and the Portland State University Vikings football team.
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