McArthur Court is everything that is right about college sports.
The place has no luxury boxes, caters to the students, and you can’t find a drop of alcohol in the entire place. (Of course, serving alcoholic beverages is banned by the NCAA, but it’s kind of ironic considering that “Budweiser” advertisements adorn the third-level seating area.)
As the venerable 75-year-old Mac Court hosts its first, and likely its last, Pacific-10 Conference Tournament this weekend, the specter of a newer, more modern arena has reared its ugly head. I mean, isn’t it kind of a neat thing to say that Oregon has one of the most revered gymnasiums and playing facilities in all of the college world?
It’s definitely been a treat to be able to see some great basketball played at the Pit since I arrived at the University last year.
But discussing a new building is kind of an inevitable thing in this day and age. This is something that, in a perfect world, no one wants to talk about. Corporate sponsorships and luxury boxes are the name of the game today, and undoubtedly will become the sole focus of a new arena, whether those discussions are a year or 20 years from now.
And that’s a shame. The new buildings across the country sparkle like a diamond in sunlight, but there really is no personality to them. Some of the greatest places to watch a game — like Stanford’s Maples Pavilion or Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium — are neither the biggest nor the most plush. But, boy, can they pack the fans in.
The Pit is definitely one of those buildings. The players love standing on the Oregon “O” at half-court, and the fans, well, let’s just say, they are some of the most intense on the West Coast. What other school can lay claim to a nickname like the “Pit Crew,” much less take pride in it?
So now there is discussion about a new building that would seat 16,000. Of course, with a capacity like that, the place would be a multi-purpose facility and could host more than just basketball.
But 16,000? Is that really necessary? Is there really a need to attract the Britney Spears and ‘NSYNCs of the world?
Absolutely not.
And to say that Oregon basketball could continually pack in 16,000 per game is foolish talk. The Pit holds a little more than 9,000 fans and has sold out just six of 16 men’s home games this season.
But unlike football, basketball is not of religious stature to the people of Eugene. Sure, when the teams are successful, the fans will come out in droves. But what happens when the Ducks have a down year?
The city of Eugene could not support a 16,000 seat arena, but it could support a building, of say, 13,000. That number could be appropriate for the kind of attendance figures the Oregon basketball teams already receive. The women’s team, for example, fills more than half of Mac Court during their games, which is tops in the Pac-10. These figures would easily translate into an arena that size.
But whatever is decided, the Oregon Athletic Department needs to make sure that all teams get access to the new building.
University Vice President Dan Williams said Monday that fans will still be able to see “wrestling, volleyball and possibly women’s basketball” at McArthur Court if a new building is constructed.
I just have one question to that: Why wouldn’t every team that’s able to play indoors get the chance to compete at the new facility? Every athlete on campus deserves to get the same treatment as others on campus.
Just because volleyball doesn’t attract more than 1,000 fans a match doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from an improved facility
Of course, something like this would need to be discussed if a new arena is agreed upon, but that kind of talk needs to be dismissed. Each athlete has a right to the best things the University has to offer, and a new stadium would be one of those things.
The day is upon us when the unthinkable has begun to happen. It has been in the back of everyone’s mind for quite awhile now, but only recently has the presence of a new facility been discussed.
It’s tough, but we’re all just going to have to like it.
But whatever happens, remember the 75 years that McArthur Court has given the University. There will never be another place like it.