We just got back from Eugene where it became apparent that a lot of people are not happy with the new stadium plans for the structure that is being built to replace Historic Hayward Field and to host the 2021 World Championships. Many of the locals are opposed or at least concerned and they have many different reasons for their opposition but the one thing that nearly all of them have in common is the fact that they want to see the East Grandstand remain.
It appears that may be the first thing to go as we have received a photo from a source - our "boots on the ground" that still are in Eugene - indicating that the East Grandstand may already be coming down.
http://www.letsrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Hayward-East-tear-down-e1528745365326-768x1024.jpg
With no dog in the fight - we aren't opposed to a new stadium or set on seeing the old structure stay - we will say this.
1) We think the secretive nature of the process is a joke.
Apparently, the University of Oregon is following its traditional playbook that it uses when it builds big sports related things and is leasing Hayward Field to a foundation controlled by Phil Knight for a nominal fee of like $1. The foundation then in turn does what it wants with the venue, which normally entails building a stadium, and then gives it back to the University as a gift. The whole point of this to avoid public oversight and input which normally would be required if it was a project being done by a public university. Just looking at the current Mt. Sac situation, we understand why people would want to limit public input but to totally shut the public out and not give them even the most minimal of information is wrong.
2) In terms of the actual stadium, we think the public has a right to know some very basic facts
i) Will the permanent seats at the track stadium be covered?
Anyone who has been to a meet in Eugene realizes this is necessity for local home meets.
ii)How is the stadium going to look when there are 12,000 permanent seats there and not the 30,000 they are using for Worlds?
The fact that the photos don't differentiate between the temporary and permanent stadium is ridiculous. Can someone tell us for sure if the photo below is for the 30,000 seat venue (we assume it is) or the 12,000 one?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7Iu1DNBr3JcVijGbxPZ24C7CtO-YEIUxFBp37PrpOH_sCMNWh
What will the 12,000 version look like and won't 12,000 permanent seats be too many?
The magic of Hayward Field likely will disappear at average meets if there are nearly ten thousands empty seats. The average home attendance at Oregon home meets in recent years is just over 4,000 and that may be dropping. We were told today the U of O gave out 4,000 free tickets to NCAAs (2,000 to kids and 2,000 to their parents) as ticket sales were so anemic.
Thus there appears to be no reason to have a stadium with 12,000 permanent seats considering the current stadium only has a little more than 8,000.
A source in Oregon that we talked to today said they he believe the new design will include some way to cover all of the extra seats to make it look like the new stadium has a decent crowd. Ok, that's a good idea, but can we see how that is going to look? What's wrong with showing us how the permanent stadium will look?
What thoughts do you have?
Historic Hayward Field may soon be a thing of the past - Demolition of East Grandstands may have already begun
Report Thread
-
-
Good. Can't happen soon enough. I would pay for the privilege of driving the wrecking ball and just smashing the thing to pieces, or at least watching.
-
Splash page up:
http://www.letsrun.com/splash-page/east-grandstand-hayward/ -
LetsRun.com wrote: What thoughts do you have?
My only concerns are selfish...and probably impractical. (A) I hate to see an historical venue like Hayward Field essentially go by the wayside, even in the name of progress and profit. It just seems disrespectful, in a way. (B) I now have to officially regret never having seen a meet there; I will never have the chance again.
If any of you are procrastinators like me, think about Point B the next time you're tempted to postpone doing something you really want to do. -
rip
-
LetsRun.com wrote:
A source in Oregon that we talked to today said they he believe the new design will include some way to cover all of the extra seats to make it look like the new stadium has a decent crowd.
Its called a tarp. Check out NASCAR coverage for what they have to do now that tickets sales are way down. -
I love seeing meets at Hayward.
At the same time I'm not necessarily opposed to knocking down the East Grandstand, but I'd like to know why it needs to be knocked down and what we're going to get in place.
My #1 priority is 1) The new stadium ensure Eugene remains Tracktown. That likely means having a stadium that has the ability to expand and doesn't look empty when 4000 or less show up. If track was as popular as we pretend it is in Eugene, we wouldn't have this problem. We could just build one stadium and use it for all meets.
2) Before a new stadium is built, we should see plans for what it looks like. a) What will the permanent structure look like? and b) what will the Worlds/Olympic Trials structure look like
I feel we don't have that. Considering this is a public university that's a shame.
3) I've got no problem with Phil Knight saying, "I'll only give the $$$ to the stadium if it looks like XYZ." But we don't even have that. We have that happening but through back channels without Mr. Knight stepping forward and accepting the responsibility. It would be much better if they just showed us detailed drawings of what the stadium will look like. Mr. Knight will donate a stadium if it looks like this. Take the necessary input that is required from public projects in Oregon and that's that. -
https://twitter.com/ClaraBenitezTV/status/1006256268758007808
Only way to stop it is with a lawsuit and I bet they still don't stop it ultimately if this process was deemed legal for some of the other projects at Oregon. -
Our source on the inside has written with an update, "They have had to beef up security around Hayward and keep the main gates shut (the ones next to the West grandstand/Bowerman are usually always open during the day) due to some early morning protesters."
-
You're all missing the big picture. This is the tipping point for T&F. Tearing down Hayward and putting up something new and able to handle the Worlds and future is part of that. The Worlds won't be in Eugene without this new place, so that's needed. A future where track isn't so niche would require a bigger place, so there's another element. You either prepare for the future, or let it leave you behind.
Des Moines, Iowa, anyone?
University of Kansas built a dedicated track place, and as soon as the cornfields around it give way to anything else, it will be quite a nice venue. It will snag events (should there be any).
Hayward reminds me of the old motordromes all around this country. Not too many of those left now, right? They gave way to the future. That's all this is. There will still be a 400m track there. It will be better. If track survives, it will be a nice place. Those who outlive us will find it suitable.
These, not so much:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/532fae45e4b0c530c24b888a/t/56c624620442623ed8cf1c96/1455826025956/ -
Wonder who handled that Penske account? Were they Penske material?
-
So they are going to take the entire grandstand down one board at a time and load them into a moving truck?
I don't think this is how "demolitions" are carried out. -
Boring, insignificant, small town politics don't matter to track fans. When the new Hayward venue is done it'll just be another new West Coast track to go along with new tracks at Murdock (El Camino), Mt Sac, LA Coliseum, Veterans (Buchannan High School), etc.
-
slowgo wrote:
So they are going to take the entire grandstand down one board at a time and load them into a moving truck?
I don't think this is how "demolitions" are carried out.
My first thought when I saw this was that they are going to auction off the benches at some point. -
FFF wrote:
You're all missing the big picture. This is the tipping point for T&F. Tearing down Hayward and putting up something new and able to handle the Worlds and future is part of that. The Worlds won't be in Eugene without this new place, so that's needed. A future where track isn't so niche would require a bigger place, so there's another element. You either prepare for the future, or let it leave you behind.
I get what you are saying but consider the alternatives.
1) There is a design that keeps the East Gransdtands and still gets to 30k to host Worlds.
2) By getting Worlds to Eugene, might you be killing off track in Eugene and track in the US?
What to I mean? Well what makes Eugene special is the local fans - the 4k that will show up for any meet. If you anger them, then it's just another nice stadium.
Secondly, I think the $200 million venue might end up making track even more niche - which seems to be fear. I've said for years that it is stupid that nearly every major meet is held in Eugene. It's not good for the sport. But after Grandpa Phil drops $200 million on this stadium, there will be even more pressure from Nike - USATF's main sponsor - to put more things in Eugene once this is done so even more more meets will be there. -
This is a sad day for the sport of track and field.
-
Bucket List Fail wrote:
LetsRun.com wrote: What thoughts do you have?
My only concerns are selfish...and probably impractical. (A) I hate to see an historical venue like Hayward Field essentially go by the wayside, even in the name of progress and profit. It just seems disrespectful, in a way. (B) I now have to officially regret never having seen a meet there; I will never have the chance again.
If any of you are procrastinators like me, think about Point B the next time you're tempted to postpone doing something you really want to do.
Well Said. Me too. -
are they going to auction off the stands? Would be awesome to have a piece of that history.
-
I wish they could keep the east grandstand and put some sort of track museum or Eugene track HOF there. So many great races and competitors have raced there over the years and it is an iconic symbol of USA track and field.
-
log jammin' wrote:
are they going to auction off the stands? Would be awesome to have a piece of that history.
I'd pay a couple hundred for a section of East grandstand bench seat.
