Autzen Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Autzen Stadium | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Leo Harris Parkway Eugene, OR 97401 |
| Broke ground | 1967 |
| Opened | September 23, 1967 |
| Owner | University of Oregon |
| Operator | University of Oregon |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Construction cost | $2.5 million USD |
| Tenants | |
| University of Oregon Ducks (NCAA) (1967-Present) | |
| Seats | |
| 53,800 | |
Autzen Stadium is a stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Located north of the University of Oregon campus, it is primarily used for football, and is the home of the Oregon Ducks. After several expansions, it now seats approximately 53,800, yet average attendance for Oregon Football games is closer to 60,000.
The stadium is tucked between the Willamette River and Coburg Hills. The uniquely shaped bowl blends in with the wooded Eugene landscape. Students typically arrive to the game walking on a 1/8th-mile scenic footbridge over the Willamette. The stadium is also one of the few NCAA Division I-A stadiums that are oriented (approximately) east-west. The majority are oriented north-south.
The stadium is named for Thomas J. Autzen, of Portland. His foundation, the Autzen Foundation, gave the university $250,000 for construction of the facility. The first game played at Autzen Stadium was on September 23, 1967. Colorado defeated Oregon, 17-13. The first win in the stadium was on October 21, when Idaho was defeated 31-6. That was the only victory for Oregon at Autzen Stadium that year. The playing surface is named for Rich Brooks, the coach who took the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 1995. He currently is the head coach at Kentucky (coincidentally, another school whose stadium is oriented east-west). In 2002, a $90 million facelift and expansion added seating and luxury boxes to the south sideline, bringing capacity up to its current size.
The stadium alternates with Reser Stadium at Oregon State University in hosting the Civil War game between Oregon and Oregon State.
Autzen Stadium also plays host to other events, such as the Oregon 6A, 5A, 4A high school championship football games and marching band competitions. It is currently the largest sporting arena in the state of Oregon.
Autzen was named in 2006 Sporting News as "The most intimidating college football stadium in the country," thus, giving it the nickname "Autzen Zoo"
[edit] External link
| Football Stadiums of the Pacific Ten Conference |
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| Arizona Stadium (Arizona) • Autzen Stadium (Oregon) • Husky Stadium (Washington) • Martin Stadium (Washington State) • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Southern California) • California Memorial Stadium (California) • Reser Stadium (Oregon State) • Rose Bowl (UCLA) • Stanford Stadium (Stanford) • Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona State) |
