Oregon has a lot going for it when it comes to watching top-notch athletes. No fewer than six players have made the basketball Hall of Fame playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, while the city’s two professional soccer squads, the Thorns and the Timbers, have won top contests time after time. Track and field is a big deal at Hayward Field in Eugene, where the 2024 Olympic Team Trials will be held in June for the fifth consecutive time, this one ahead of the Summer Games in Paris. And come June, Formula E — the all-electric version of Formula One — zooms into the Portland International Raceway for its lone USA stop on the circuit.
Here’s a guide to catching some of the action at these events and many others.
Enjoy Live Basketball in Oregon
For basketball fans, March Madness is one of the most exciting times in the sports calendar. In 2024, Oregon State University, based in Corvallis, plays host to six of the women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 match-ups at the Moda Center in Portland. To find tickets and dates, go here.
The 20,000-seat arena is also home to the Portland Trail Blazers, the professional men’s team that’s been battling it out on the court since 1970. Those “Rip City” shirts and bumper stickers you see around Portland (and the state) are a reference to a Blazer game-winning swish shot against the Lakers in 1971.
The Blazers 2024 season — which began in October and runs through April — comes with all the ups and downs that make catching a game a fun outing. To see one live, head straight to the team’s NBA site, where you’ll find everything from single-game tickets to group tickets and special prices for active-duty military, veterans, first responders, educators and more. You can use this map to help find the seats that are right for you, and this schedule of where the team will be and when. Go early and grab some Korean chicken at Bap n’ Noodle and a pre-game cocktail at the Pendleton Whisky Bar.
Collegiate basketball is also a perennial favorite for fans, with the University of Oregon Ducks men’s team and women’s team — once led by the great Sabrina Ionescu — often winning at home in Eugene. Meanwhile, a short drive north in Corvallis, the OSU Beavers basketball squads keep fans coming back. Can’t make a match in person? The Sports Bra in Portland and Icarus Wings and Things in Salem are dedicated to showing as many women’s games as they can.
Portland Is Soccer City, USA
When it comes to professional soccer — which runs from March to October — Portland ranks as one of the top cities in the country for the most passionate fan base. The city’s men’s team, the Timbers, sold out every home game between 2011 and 2020 in the now 25,000-seat Providence Park. The Timbers Army, the club’s core group of supporters, beats on drums, chants and keeps the energy high. For tickets you can head to the team’s homepage, and get an overview of the stadium with an online map.
The city’s all-female squad, the electric Portland Thorns, are a force to behold, having won every major trophy. Stars like Sophia Smith and Crystal Dunn play double-duty for the United States national team, as well. The Thorns also play at Providence Park, where the Rose City Riveters booster club cheers on the team with extra flair. Nearby parking can be tricky; instead, opt to take the city’s public transit. For a list of partner pubs that air the games, go here.
Football and Baseball in the Beaver State
If you like your football American-style, you certainly aren’t alone in Oregon. While it’s true that the University of Oregon has had more splashy success in recent years than rival Oregon State, both programs have legions of dedicated fans. In August 2024, the U of O Ducks make their entrance into the now 18-team Big Ten conference. To watch them at the 54,000-seat Autzen Stadium in Eugene, GoDucks.com has bundles as well as single-game tickets, plus a schedule. Beaver Athletics has similar options for OSU fans wanting to see a Beavers game in 35,500-seat Reser Stadium in Corvallis, along with information on parking.
If you want to watch the game elsewhere, in Corvallis Sky High Brewing is just the place. With a rooftop open during warmer months, great beer and plenty of TVs, this spot sits in the heart of Beaver territory. If you’re in Eugene, give 6th Street Restaurant and Sports Bar a try for Ducks games.
Fans of arena football are in luck: The Arena Football League is making a comeback in 2024 and Oregon’s capital city of Salem is the new home to the Oregon Blackbears, part of the Arena Football League. Starting April 2024, fans can catch the fast-paced action on a field that is the quarter of the size of a traditional football field. The team is owned by University of Oregon alum (and New York Giants linebacker) Kayvon Thibodeaux. Find tickets here.
Oregon may not have a Major League Baseball team (yet) but it does have plenty of stadiums filled with fiery young athletes playing for collegiate leagues and farm teams hoping to win a shot in the big leagues. The Portland Pickles hit it out of the park with legions of dedicated fans at Walker Stadium in Portland’s Lents Park. The Eugene Emeralds (or just “Ems” to locals) play in the minor leagues at PK Park, with players often getting tapped by the San Francisco Giants.
Cheer on Hockey and Roller Derby Teams
The Portland Winterhawks, one of the most successful junior ice hockey teams on the continent, hit the ice at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum from September to March as part of the Western Hockey League, a division of the Canadian Hockey League. You can find tickets and a schedule here. Portland also hosts the Rose City Rollers, a roller-derby league with more than 400 roller skaters divided across four home teams, including an internationally ranked travel team and a recreational program with skaters from 7 to 60 years old. With most games being played at Oaks Park in Southeast Portland, you can catch the action through June. Find the schedule here.
