So, my cousin Monica works as a designer at Nike, and today she and her co-workers came to visit the campus and take the Nike heritage tour. They visited monuments such as Hayward field and the Bowerman building to learn about Nike’s beginning here at the University when co-founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman teamed up to start what would become the world’s largest athletic show company.
They also got to visit other sites like Autzen Stadium, the Casanova and Moshofsky Centers and Matthew Knight Arena. Fortunately, I was able to meet up with her and walk through the arena with the tour.
They started at the front steps of Matthew Knight Arena, facing Franklin Blvd., and walked a guided tour through each level of the arena. The tour guide stopped occasionally to explain a particular design in the construction, or quotes and names emblazoned on the walls.
The men’s basketball team had court time when they toured the actual bowl, so everyone had to be quiet. (I got a salty look for commenting too loudly that E.J. Singler had cut his hair since I saw him last.)
It was interesting to see the arena empty, as it looks much larger on game day with people pouring out all ends. The lower levels were all but deserted besides athletes and athletic staff including Coach Dana Altman and crew.
They walked through the club level, and into the Founder’s Club (opposite the McArthur Club), a lavish private suite with food and drink for those who paid contribution to the construction of the arena. There is a wall with all their names in honor of their endowment.
Further on in the tour, everyone got to see the athlete training facilities, including two full size practice courts, weight room, nutrition bar and hydro-therapy room — complete with hot tubs for training and injury recovery.
From what I’ve seen of the Rose Garden, Matthew Knight Arena dwarfs its amenities available to both the public and the athletes who call it home, which makes sense with the amount of money that the University and donors have invested in it.
Last year, the athletic department saw budget shortfalls on its predictions for the arena’s revenue which led to questions about whether or not the school would have to dip into the the Phil Knight endowed Legacy Fund. Will the arena pull in enough revenue this year to avoid having to tap its reserve? Or will football make enough to subsidize their losses?
A good basketball season from both the men’s and women’s teams could really help and the possibility of more outside events like  Cirque du Soleil and other concerts are promising. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out before any judgments can be made about the arena’s future.