Portland City leaders gathered at the Expo to celebrate the official renaming of the building yesterday.

According to our news partners at CBS13, the downtown arena, which was built in 1914, is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in all of the United States.

However that wouldn’t be the case if it weren’t for James A. Banks whose name will now live on through the Expo.

Back in 1981, the city was struggling to reduce the deficit caused by the public operation of the Expo and there were reportedly plans to sell or demolish the building but Banks who was part of the Expo’s advisory board, rallied to save the Expo with more than $200,000 in renovations.

“It’s not about the buildings, it’s not about his name. It’s about Dad’s selfless commitment he had for others. His love to see others succeed,” says Jeff Banks, James Banks’ son.

The plan to rename the building after Banks was approved by the city council last year but the dedication ceremony had to wait until Saturday because of the pandemic.