In order for the 2008 Olympic Trials to be held in Eugene, the Eugene Local Organizing Committee had to commit to a high performance meet beginning this year.
That wasn’t a problem. In fact, it was taken one step further and Monday night the designs of the futuristic Hayward Field were unveiled, a night before the Road to Eugene ’08 meet kicks off.
The new logo features “Eugene” and “08” prominently, with a design of the Hayward Field East grandstands in front of trees and the sun – characteristics depicting not only Hayward Field but the city of Eugene as well.
“I really felt that the Olympic Trials should be (seen as) a true regional event which brings sport, art, music and the Eugene-Springfield regional culture all together,” said Tinker Hatfield, a designer for Nike, in a press release. “I love the old east grandstand and can still remember how the structure packed full of the best track fans in the world would shake and rumble when Pre or Leann Warren would push the pace. It’s an iconic shape and fits the bill as the star symbol for the Trials. The grandstand represents the history and great tradition of track and field in Eugene.”
Before an audience of approximately 200 invited guests at the unveiling, Hatfield voiced the story of when Nike co-founder Phil Knight told him to create an innovative design that will bring the Trials to Eugene. Knight said that Hatfield, “Help them get the Trials.” Hatfield said he thought beyond the Trials, which he wanted to use as a springboard to benefit the sport as well as the local community.
The designs are still being worked out, but an indoor track will be one of the key additions to the renovated Hayward Field.
The renovation is scheduled to begin the day after the Prefontaine Classic next spring and finish by Oct. 1, co-chairman of the Eugene Local Organizing Committee and Oregon director of track and field Vin Lananna said.
“The renovation will begin the last day of the track and field season at the University of Oregon,” Lananna said. “They will wrap up with the facility itself, the track resurfacing, the infield, the plan is to be done by Oct. 1, 2007.”
Co-chairman of the Eugene Local Organizing Committee Greg Erwin said, “The state has approved spending up to $7.39 million. We are not exactly sure what the actual cost will be for the project, but the University has the ability to spend to that level. Probably in the next several months we will have a better idea of exactly what the ultimate project will cost.”
Eugene has previously hosted the Olympic Trials in 1972, 1976 and 1980, but the goal for the 2008 Trials is to have the best Olympic Trials ever and to put on the best track meet in the country.
The Eugene Local Organizing Committee is planning on having one or two concerts during the Trials, which they hope will bring 20,000-30,000 spectators into Autzen Stadium to make the event more than just a track meet.
The Road to Eugene ’08 meet, slated to begin at approximately 6:25 p.m. today with the women’s pole vault, has brought elite athletes to the area. There will be 25 events, including a kid’s half-lapper guided by members of the Oregon football team, that will make up the two-hour meet.
It will be broadcast live online at ESPN360 and rebroadcast on ESPN2 Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
There will also be prizes given away between each event, including five pairs of University of Oregon track and field season tickets, five pairs of tickets to the 2007 Prefontaine Classic and a pair of individual tickets to each of the eight 2008 Olympic Trials sessions.
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