University President Dave Frohnmayer announced Saturday that
Howe Field, which currently accomodates Oregon softball, will be
the new home of Oregon basketball.
The announcement, which is the second step in the process of
erecting a new arena, came at McArthur Court and included athletic
director Bill Moos, men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent, women’s
basketball head coach Bev Smith, and Dan Williams, University vice
president for administration.
“We consider this to be a green letter day and a landmark for the
University of Oregon,” Frohnmayer said.
The site is located at the corner of University Street and East
18th Avenue, directly next door to McArthur Court. Oregon officials
hope to begin construction begin no later than
July 2004, and the new arena is expected to be operable in time for
Fall term, 2006.
In addition to the new arena, a parking complex and a training
center are expected to be erected. According to Williams, the
University does not have any concrete plans as to where each will
be located; However, officials announced that nearby Hayward Field
will be untouched and that parking issues–a chief concern of the
surrounding community–will be addressed.
Dallas-based HKS Sports & Entertainment and Thompson Vaivoda
Architects will work together on the project. Williams reiterated
that it is too early in the process to determine how
land will be used and just how much it will cost to construct the
site.
He did, however, say it should cost between $90 and $130 million to
finish the project. A small group of donors–led by Phil and Penny
Knight and Pat Kilkenny–have provided the funding.
“What people need to remember is that this is a process,” Williams
said. “You don’t start this with all the answers.”
Frohnmayer outlined four advantages to using Howe Field as the
site, including the field’s proximity to campus, the ability to
integrate the new arena to McArthur Court, the fact it is
owned by the University and the possibility to resolve parking
issues in the area.
“Actually, for the first time it will help us address some of the
parking issues that affect the larger publics of the University for
all kinds of purposes,” Frohnmayer said.
While not saying how the University will address those concerns,
Williams said he hopes the facility will integrate with a parking
structure of some kind. A parking garage is another
possibility.
In 1998, the University did a survey regarding the possibility of
putting a garage on campus. It found six possible sites, including
one located at East 18th Avenue and Onyx Street next
to Howe Field.
According to those findings, the site could accommodate a two-level
garage and add approximately 670 parking spaces.
Howe Field has been home to Oregon softball since 1987. It was
built in 1936 as a baseball facility but was converted to a
softball field more than 50 years later.
The softball facility will have to be moved from its current
location, although a new site has yet to be announced. Moos said he
hopes to start working on finding that site immediately, adding
that the softball team will have to find a place to play during the
arena’s construction.
“The relocation of the softball facility has been addressed
already,” Moos said. “We would like to start on that project as
soon as possible after the upcoming softball season, so it will be
ready for the following spring. We will probably utilize another
facility at a high school or somewhere for the non-traditional
season in fall.”
In April 2003, the University selected seven sites as potential
homes for the new arena. Those included Williams’ Bakery, the new
federal courthouse and land near the Willamette River in Glenwood,
among others.
Built in 1926, McArthur Court hosted its first game on Jan. 14,
1927. The court is still expected to host Oregon volleyball and
wrestling once the new arena is finished, and plans also
call for student use.
“I only hope we embrace Mac Court,” Kent said. “There is a part of
me that is saddened because of what this (place) means to the
community and the University. We have been able to use this
building in a very positive way.
“We have an opportunity now to build a new arena and I can tell you
that, already, just the thought of the opportunity to go on the
road and talk about this to incoming recruits, to sell them
on the possibilities of what’s coming down the road, has already
greatly enhanced not only our basketball program but our recruiting
as well.”