Portland Trip 2026 – One evening, we decided to watch the Portland Trail Blazers play the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center. The only reference I had was going to Texas A&M games when I was in elementary school. Since we waited till the week of to purchase game tickets, our seats were in the second to last row in one of the highest sections of the stadium at about $35 each.

It’s safe to say that I was a little nervous of the effort it would take me and my family to get me safely in my assigned seat to enjoy the game. But I have learned time and time again that if there is a way, my family and I will find it.

On the day of the game, we (or should I say my mom) called guest services and requested a wheelchair escort to our seats. To avoid parking, all five of us (my parents, sister, my sister’s boyfriend, and myself) piled in an UBER that took us directly to the stadium.

Once we arrived, we got out at about a five-minute walk from the parking garage. Unclear on what entrance we should meet the wheelchair escort, we hung out near the garage parking lot, enjoying a light rain, after letting guest services know that we had arrived. After 10 minutes, we decided to head towards the main entrance on foot. With my sister on one side and her boyfriend on the other for support, we all took a short stroll to get as close as we could to the main entrance without going down any steps. Once we were there, we called guest services again with a more defined meeting place. In no time at all an employee raced out the door while pushing the chair.

After a quick stop at the restroom, we were all on our way to our seats. The group followed our guide as he pushed me to our assigned section. After taking the huge elevator to the upper levels, we passed concession stands, fan shops, and kid activities. This was a prime opportunity for me to do a bit of recon on snacks for later.

Once we got to our section, I stood up from the chair and prepared myself for the hike up the stairs. Immediately, I noticed that the upper sections seemed steep, a feature that helped me and my fellow fans enjoy the game once we were all safely seated. However, this feature wasn’t an asset while making the trek up the stairs. Step by step, my sister and I got closer to my destination. She, walking backwards in front of me as I took hold of her hands and the railing. Halfway through, my body started to waver and, of course, there was a break in the railing. Gravity was not on our side, and I needed a push forward. My sister’s boyfriend appeared behind me and helped my sister get me safely to my seat. A few minutes of rest and a couple sips of water, and I was ready to cheer for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Pro Tip: Get the seats closer to bottom of the stairs. Leave the workout for the players on the court.

The game was so much fun. I enjoyed getting the bird’s eye view because we were able to see all the action. One thing that was also helpful was that the tv screens showed a live closed captioning of what the announcer and referees were saying throughout the game. Since I had my hearing aids programmed to focus on the people close to me, there would be times when the announcer’s voice muffled. It was nice to be able to read what was happening as a backup.

The Trail Blazers won the game, 124 -114. Once the section emptied, we made the trek down where a wheelchair, where the same employee was waiting. He expertly navigated us to the elevators and out of the stadium where a line of UBERS were waiting to pick up their passengers. Moda Center made my family’s first NBA experience a success. We had a few challenges, but we worked through them. Who knows? I might go see the Dallas Mavericks next season – I’ll just get tickets in a more accessible row.