Graduating seniors will have a limit of six guests at graduation this year due to limited seating at the new venue. 

Tualatin High School (TuHS) is hosting its graduation ceremony at the Viking Pavilion at Portland State University (PSU), marking a significant change from past years. Previously, the graduation ceremonies were held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum next to the Moda Center in Portland. The change came when the prices at the Coliseum doubled, forcing the district to pivot to a more budget-friendly option. 

The Viking Pavilion, opened in 2018, offers a more budget-conscious alternative with modern amenities and accessible transportation options. The new venue, located on PSU’s downtown campus, has about 5,000 fewer seats than the storied Coliseum. As a result, each graduating senior will only be given a maximum of six tickets for family and guests. 

“I’m not a big fan of the move. Since the Viking Pavilion is smaller, fewer family members can make it to my graduation,” Javier Diaz, a senior at TuHS, said.

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum has long been a landmark venue in Portland. It has hosted everything from Portland Trail Blazers and Winterhawks games to concerts, graduations and community events, making it a familiar and nostalgic location for many Tualatin families. But many high schools in the region, including those in Portland Public School District, have moved their commencement ceremonies to the new space at PSU.

The Viking Pavilion will be the new standard for Tualatin High School’s graduation ceremonies in the future. It might not be as familiar as the Memorial Coliseum, but it’s a nice, updated venue that will give students and families an experience they can remember forever.