Autzen Stadium
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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 University of Oregon. After several expansions, it now seats approximately 54,000.
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, Oregon. 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. University of Colorado defeated Oregon, 17-13. The first win in the stadium was on October 21, when University of 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 Game in 1995. He currently is the head coach at University of Kentucky. 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 4-A high school championship football game, and marching band competitions. It is currently the largest sporting arena in the state of Oregon. However, Oregon State's Reser Stadium, is currently undergoing an expansion, and should become the largest, with approximately 1,000 more seats, when completed.
