Eugene RG exclusive: Phil Knight walked away from paying for Hayward Field renovations last year, Worlds weren't coming to US

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  • LetsRun.com
    your benevolent dictator
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 5:29pm CDT
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    Great read from Austin Meek in Eugene Register Guard that shows what was going on behind the scenes with the infighting surrounding the stadium renovations at Hayward Field.

    It got to the point where Phil Knight i May 2017 said "I walk away. I’m not doing this" and that in his mind meant the renovations wouldn't get done and the Worlds wouldn't come to the US.

    http://www.registerguard.com/sports/20180601/knight-vision-nike-cofounder-phil-knight-breaks-his-silence-on-hayward-field?start=1

    Article talks about Nike designer Tinker Hatfield getting pushed aside, and Phil's fixer, Howard Slusher, coming back in and the project getting going again. Discussion also on debate whether to keep East Grandstands.

    My main takeways:
    1) Shows what we suspected all along- Phil Knight was the backstop of this thing. Without his money, there are no Worlds in 2021 in the US. I think technically the financial guarantees for Worlds are guaranteed by the Uof O Foundation but if the stadium isn't built, obviously the Worlds aren't coming here, so those promises don't mean much.

    2) This is a public stadium at a public university. The process should be way more open. Phil could easily say publicly "I'm not giving any money unless XYZ are done" but lets have that talk in the open. U of O tried to act like everything was fine, when it was obvious it wasn't.

    My main question:
    It says cost estimates spiraled from $75 million to $125 million and that was problematic for Phil Knight. What article doesn't say is how Phil now is fine with a project that is supposed to cost $200 million.

    -Weldon
  • Robert Mueller, Federal Bureau of Special Investigators
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 5:36pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    F.Y.I. the Register-Guard is a part of the the Nike public relations department.
  • Dr No
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 6:21pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    why doesn't Knight just buy the whole school ?
  • Les
    registered
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 6:52pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    LetsRun.com wrote:

    Great read from Austin Meek in Eugene Register Guard that shows what was going on behind the scenes with the infighting surrounding the stadium renovations at Hayward Field.

    It got to the point where Phil Knight i May 2017 said "I walk away. I’m not doing this" and that in his mind meant the renovations wouldn't get done and the Worlds wouldn't come to the US.

    http://www.registerguard.com/sports/20180601/knight-vision-nike-cofounder-phil-knight-breaks-his-silence-on-hayward-field?start=1

    Article talks about Nike designer Tinker Hatfield getting pushed aside, and Phil's fixer, Howard Slusher, coming back in and the project getting going again. Discussion also on debate whether to keep East Grandstands.

    My main takeways:
    1) Shows what we suspected all along- Phil Knight was the backstop of this thing. Without his money, there are no Worlds in 2021 in the US. I think technically the financial guarantees for Worlds are guaranteed by the Uof O Foundation but if the stadium isn't built, obviously the Worlds aren't coming here, so those promises don't mean much.

    2) This is a public stadium at a public university. The process should be way more open. Phil could easily say publicly "I'm not giving any money unless XYZ are done" but lets have that talk in the open. U of O tried to act like everything was fine, when it was obvious it wasn't.

    My main question:
    It says cost estimates spiraled from $75 million to $125 million and that was problematic for Phil Knight. What article doesn't say is how Phil now is fine with a project that is supposed to cost $200 million.

    -Weldon


    I imagine if the cost of the $200M stadium increased 67% to $335M like the original plan did, Knight wouldn't be happy either. The difference being the $200M project is HIS project. That makes all the difference
  • flagpdisciple
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 7:04pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    What say you, nikeman???
  • vivalarepublica
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 7:10pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    Pull Worlds from Eugene and give it to a country that can actually make this happen. Britain, Germany, Japan, and the like. This juat seems like more of a mess with more that comes out.
  • Phil's accountant
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 10:26pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    LetsRun.com wrote:

    My main question:
    It says cost estimates spiraled from $75 million to $125 million and that was problematic for Phil Knight. What article doesn't say is how Phil now is fine with a project that is supposed to cost $200 million.

    -Weldon


    Phil likes the $200 million better because he thinks the $125 will have had out of control ongoing maintenence and other preservation related construction increases, while the $200 million will get a better stadium at a long term lower cost due to less costs of upkeep and more predictable construction costs. Personally I think Phil's design is awesome, and was the right move.

    Better off to build a new replicate of the grandstand elsewhere in Oregon if the history is to be maintained,.
  • For the Love of the Sport
    2 years ago 06/01/2018 11:18pm CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    Totally. Carson, Inglewood, Torrance, Cerrittos, Fresno, Sacramento, Walnut, Stanford, Eugene... everyone is on a building boom towards #2028LosAngeles which will be USC's 3rd Summer Olympic Games.
  • Roast Duck Under Glass
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 12:14am CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
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    Tinker Hatfield comes off sounding like a whiny, entitled little girl.
  • The Same again we seen it 100s of times before
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 12:51am CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    In small towns it's all about the little straw boss like Phil Knight who has his Oregonian and Register-Guard provide vanity promotional pieces.
  • Not Actually Rotting
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 7:55am CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    Guys, stop buying into the BS that the East Granstand is such terrible condition. And also I’s love a Letsrun take on Hatfield’s claims that the new stadium design will hinder performance:

    http://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2018/06/tinker_hatfield_goes_public_bl.html
  • Going, going, gone
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 8:31am CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    This is irreplaceable history.

    Probably the one venue in North America all runners would like to experience at least once. from pros to those barely able to crawl.

    Don't it always seem to go
    That you don't know what you've got
    'Till it's gone

    Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

    Save the East Grandstand. It is the soul of the sport.
  • John Utah
    registered
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 8:59am CDT
    re: LetsRun.com
    Forum Index
    The way I read the article was that the $200 m was the cost of the total project and $75m was Phil’s share.

    Either the costs for the total project were going up, along with Phil’s % share, or they were asking Phil to contribute a greater % for some reason (trouble with fundraising).

    Lastly, say what you want about Phil and Tinker, but both of those dudes actually ran and jumped for Oregon at Hayward. Phil is not just some random rich guy. He lived Hayward. He knows what’s it’s all about more than perhaps anyone. One may not like his conclusion, but one cannot criticize him for being some rich outsider who doesn’t get it. That’s not usually the case in these things.

    By the way, I read Shoe Dog and didn’t come away totally loving Phil. He was a great businessman, obviously. But a Strange dude.
  • wejo
    cofounder
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 9:10am CDT
    re: Not Actually Rotting
    Forum Index
    It most likely isn't a coincidence both these stories broke yesterday. They've decided to fight it out in the media. The only problem is Knight has the money. Does anything get done without his blessing?

    He could just say, "you guys fund this one on your own". Or do they know he'd come around?

    I'd like to see actual renditions of what this will look like a) for Trials and b) for normal events.

    Hatfield says the East Grandstand will only have 1200 seats. How are they going to have a 30,000 seat stadium for the Trials if that's the case?

    Interesting that the "design" released doesn't show much of East Grandstand
    http://cdn.letsrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HF-Renderings-1-120x68.jpg

    I've been in the East Grandstand once in my life I think. I remember thinking it was a bit more rinky dinky than I thought although it is pretty iconic. Is the West Grandstand way newer? How come know one gives a *** about it. Way more people sit on that side than the East Side. The East side gives everyone a nice view to look at with the hills behind it.
  • el segundo
    registered
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 10:31am CDT
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    All due respect wejo, the East Stand is incredible piece of history and and a great place to watch a meet like Pre or NCAAs. Not much to debate on that.
  • OldDualMeetsRule
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 10:46am CDT
    re: el segundo
    Forum Index
    Unless you have experienced the awe of competing at Oregon - especially back in the Golden era of Track and Field (80’s and earlier) you can not know what it means to keep this legendary facility intact! It is special people! In our sport that is rare! I would rather skip the World Champs being held at ORegon than tear down this historic place. Luckily I got to experience this place several times in the 80’s in dual meets.
  • pop_pop!_v2.2.1
    registered
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 11:10am CDT
    re: For the Love of the Sport
    Forum Index
    For the Love of the Sport wrote:

    Totally. Carson, Inglewood, Torrance, Cerrittos, Fresno, Sacramento, Walnut, Stanford, Eugene... everyone is on a building boom towards #2028LosAngeles which will be USC's 3rd Summer Olympic Games.


    None of those places you mentioned have enough public money that can disappear into bribes and the right contacts to bribe the IAAF.

    Phil, on the other hand, knows who to call and can pay the bribes without controversy.
  • pop_pop!_v2.2.1
    registered
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 11:10am CDT
    re: Dr No
    Forum Index
    Dr No wrote:

    why doesn't Knight just buy the whole school ?


    Why? The only thing that he cares about are a couple of D1 sports programs.
  • SomeThings
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 11:21am CDT
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    Wejo, were you down in the first few rows, so close to the runners you could almost touch them? Were you sitting during an exciting distance race when everyone stomped on the boards in unison?

    I may be a tad “rinky dinky” compared to flashy new facilities, but it provides an experience unlike any other stadium.

    And yes - the west grandstand is way newer. It is fine, but doesn’t have the same soul.
  • Yes, it is magic
    2 years ago 06/02/2018 12:25pm CDT
    re: el segundo
    Forum Index
    el segundo wrote:

    All due respect wejo, the East Stand is incredible piece of history and and a great place to watch a meet like Pre or NCAAs. Not much to debate on that.


    I'm very surprised Wejo has only been there once. The east grandstand is a place that is not rivaled by any facility in the country, and possibly, the world. It is basically an intimate spectator amphitheater.

    My personal (not that it matters) take on the east grandstand, is if it is to be demolished, a modern replica should replace it. Literally, near exact specs.

    Hayward Field is a top-5 athletics facility on planet earth... and it can easily be argued that it is #1.