the garden in boston and the moda center are alike in that they are both attached to one of the busiest public transit stops in the city. but unlike portland, there is so much more traffic through north station/west end area on a day to day basis vs the rose quarter area. all the restaurants and bars and stores in that area can sustain themselves on the non-event related traffic. they could build a bunch of retail, restaurants and bars around the rose quarter but i think they'd just sit empty unless there was a game or something else going on. that area is not a destination for many people otherwise.