Moda Center

Moda Center, a multi-purpose arena in Portland, Oregon, best known as the home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Also known as the Rose Garden, it’s where high-stakes basketball, concerts, and major events draw tens of thousands each year. While it’s not in Africa, its name pops up in global sports coverage because African athletes, coaches, and teams often play there during international tours, exhibition games, or NBA preseason events. When a Nigerian prospect faces off against a Trail Blazers starter, or a South African basketball team trains in Portland before a global tournament, Moda Center becomes part of Africa’s sports story—even if it’s halfway across the world.

Moda Center isn’t just a building. It’s a sports stadium, a venue designed for live audience experiences with seating for over 20,000 and top-tier lighting and sound systems. It’s also a event venue, a space that hosts everything from ice hockey to comedy shows and political rallies. That’s why you’ll find articles here mentioning it—not because it’s African, but because African sports figures show up there. When a player from Ghana gets drafted and plays his first road game in Portland, or when a Senegalese coach joins an NBA staff and works out at Moda Center, that’s real connection. The global game doesn’t stop at borders, and neither does the news that covers it.

What you’ll find in this collection are stories where Moda Center plays a role—whether it’s a player from Lagos stepping onto its court, a coach from Cape Town analyzing its defensive schemes, or a fan in Johannesburg watching a game live from afar and wondering what it’s like to be there. These aren’t just about the arena itself. They’re about the people, the moments, and the pathways that link African talent to the biggest stages in the world. You won’t find fluff here. Just real connections, real games, and real stories that cross continents.