Eugene is TrackTown; everyone knows it. The town hosting the U.S. Olympic trials for the fifth time in a row only further cements its legacy worldwide.

“We are thrilled once again to be the home of the U.S. Olympic trials,” UO President John Karl Scholz said in a Sept. 21, 2023 press release. “We call it Hayward Magic. It not only inspires breathtaking performances of current and future Olympians, but it also fosters meaningful partnerships in research and teaching and energizes fans, alumni and friends the world over.”

What “Hayward Magic” doesn’t account for is the inevitable strain and stress that will come with packed hotels and tourism spots. 

“Although it was only just announced last Thursday,” a Citrus Magazine article said, “it has been assumed long enough by anyone who needs to be there that they [have] already booked all of the good, refundable Airbnbs.”

The strain of few affordable housing options is an irrefutable problem.  

“Whoa, that could be bad,” UO student Matthew Licurse said of the conflicting issue.

“It’s hard for my parents to come visit during parents weekend,” UO student Quinnlyn Turnbull said. “I can’t even imagine if there are families and track fans coming to Eugene; it’ll be awful.”

Commencement will no doubt bring thousands of families to town, and that’s on any given year without a U.S. Olympic event happening. 

The Hayward Inn and almost all Eugene hotels have no available rooms remaining. 

Local shops like Hiron’s have already begun selling supplies such as backpacks for the inevitable rush that comes to town just as students are leaving. 

And while UO students’ opinions of the qualifiers range from “there are qualifiers happening?” to “huh?”, the rest of Eugene is doing its best to prepare.  

“There’s out-of-towners everywhere,” Eugene resident Jill Cole said with a laugh. “I do own an Airbnb which is nice when crazy stuff like that happens.” 

Only making matters more hectic, UO’s commencement ceremony is on June 17, four days before the Olympic Trials begin.

“To ensure operational continuity, the UO will engage in an internal planning process and will work closely with TrackTown USA, which serves as the local organizing committee,” Around the O said in a release announcing the Trials.

Ticket prices have now been announced with tickets for day one of the event starting at $38 on Ticketmaster. Two days later, the cheapest tickets available are $68 apiece. 

“That’s definitely a lot,” Cole said. “But I do understand the luster of seeing these athletes do their thing.” 

Highlighting the event will be six-time World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Noah Lyles. An almost sure thing to qualify, Lyles was named last year’s World Athletics Male Track Athlete of the Year.

Alongside him will be two-time World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson, who will first be in Eugene for the Prefontaine Classic on May 25. 

The qualifiers also serve as the National Championship for track, so the athletes will be competing against each other in a tremendously high-stakes fashion.

Minimal other announcements have been made available, despite the event being a little more than a month away. 

And even once commencement is in the past, there will still be thousands of people trekking to Eugene during a typically slow season when college students are gone. 

You got this, Eugene, and even if it’s hectic, the event is only… nine days long.