Envisioning the Future of the Portland Expo

Summary
A recent facilities assessment determined that the Portland Expo will require approximately $30 million in repairs over 15 years to maintain its current usefulness.

The City Council plans to consider repairing or rebuilding the facility in the future. In the meantime, we are collecting additional information - including the potential scope and cost of a rebuild - to inform that decision.

Background
The James A. Banks Sr. Portland Exposition Building, which most of us know as the Expo, has long been a cornerstone of Portland’s history, evolving over the past century to serve a variety of purposes for our community. From hosting thrilling basketball games and conventions to providing concert experiences and emergency shelter during times of need, the Expo has been much more than just a building—it’s a gathering place that embodies the spirit of Portland.

However, after 110 years of service, the facility is now the oldest operating municipal arena in the United States, and will require significant investment to continue operating and meet modern safety and accessibility standards. A recent assessment estimated that this work may cost more than $30 million, prompting the City to examine its future.

Resident feedback will play an important role in shaping how we preserve the Expo’s legacy while ensuring it meets the needs of current and future generations.

Building History
The Portland Expo was built in 1915 at a cost of $81,000, and it is currently the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States, behind Matthews Arena in Boston. The building was designed by architect Frederick Tompson, who also designed the Portland Armory (now the Regency Hotel), The Castle at Deering Oaks, Masonic Temple, Deering High School and other prominent Portland buildings.

The building was built adjacent to what was historically an intertidal zone that stretched from Back Cove, through Deering Oaks, and behind what is now Hadlock Field and Fitzpatrick Stadiums. The site was originally part of Portland’s “Poor Farm”and Almshouse, which served as a shelter and service center for the needy.

The building has served as a public gathering space for many politicians and public speakers over the years, from Babe Ruth to Barack Obama, and musicians and bands such as Phish, The Beach Boys, James Brown, Dolly Parton, Janice Joplin, and Queen have all performed in it.

How Portland Uses the Expo Today
Today, the building serves as the home arena for the Maine Celtics, the G-League team for the Boston Celtics; home court for Portland High School and various Middle School sports; a convention and trade show venue; a concert venue; and various other events such as boxing, wrestling, roller derby and other community and cultural events. Since 2020, the arena has served three times as an emergency shelter.

2025 Facility Needs Assessment
In 2024, the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department commissioned a facility needs assessment. The subsequent report, prepared by Roth IAMS, included a comprehensive list of both recommended and necessary repairs and improvements, projected to cost over $30 million. The most urgent repairs and replacements, which are recommended to be addressed within the next 10 years, are projected to cost $14 million.

In response to guidance provided by the City Council in executive session in September 2025, staff plan to explore the costs of rebuilding the Expo. The City plans to contract with a firm through a competitive process to determine the potential scope and cost, as well as to engage the Portland community in envisioning the future of this facility.

Other Potential Uses
The parcel that the Expo sits within is zoned as Recreation Open Space (ROS), and is also surrounded by other City parcels that have significant federal restrictions limiting the use exclusively to outdoor recreation. This means that as the project progresses, the site will have constraints as to what type of future development can occur here, and will likely be limited to existing public arena uses, outdoor recreation uses, and related support uses such as parking and driveways.