Famous, awesome, infamous, notorious – depending on who one may ask, any of these terms could be used to describe the University’s indoor arena, McArthur Court, a.k.a. “The Pit.” But in a couple years, no matter who you ask, it could be described in one word – gone.
While we don’t necessarily advocate a new arena, there are some issues that University officials need to keep in mind as they decide not only the shape that the new facility will take, but also as they decide what will happen to Mac Court. Though Mac Court is currently being portrayed as an aged building that doesn’t meet the financial needs of the athletic department nor provide adequate space and amenities for fans, there is real value in the building that must be taken into consideration.
First, there are generations of fans who know that there will never be another basketball arena that will provide such intimidating atmosphere: Thousands of Duck fans undulating with such concentrated excitement as to shake the opponent’s basket, to the point of being threatened with a technical foul. The Pit has a mystique about it that brings Oregon fans together while invoking anxiety in opposing teams. This ambiance will be lost when the games move to the new facility.
Second, there is the additional sentimental history that is built directly into Mac Court and directly into its presence in the community. It was built in 1926, with student funds, and the University and community celebrated the burning of the mortgage papers in 1932, only six years after it opened for play. Now, 81 years later, the façade and architecture of the building are easily recognizable and lend themselves to the overall atmosphere of the University of Oregon campus. A decision to take Mac Court down in the name of progress must be weighed carefully.
However a careful consideration does not mean that in the end the decision to tear Mac Court down should not be made. Given the serious steps the University has recently taken toward realizing a new arena on Franklin, the fate of Mac Court has to be realistically approached. If, and when, a new facility is realized, Mac Court should not be maintained as a separate sports arena because its redundancy will outweigh any sentimental value that it would retain.
Change is necessary in a market economy, and the University needs to position itself for long-term prosperity. If the facility has outlived its usefulness and is not capable of meeting the financial needs of the athletic department now, it will not do so when a new replacement has been built. Instead of keeping the building as is, it should be completely renovated into academic space.
If the cost of renovating the entire building is inhibitive and razing it completely would be more cost effective, the University should require that demolition and construction plans incorporate the original Mac Court façade into the new academic building in order to capitalize on its historic and sentimental value. Also the same arena floor could be moved to the new facility to help offer fans some nostalgia as they adjust to a great new home.
As the University promotes and plans the new home for Duck basketball, it needs to really consider what will be the fate of the current nest and how to proactively balance change with legacy.
Legacy of Mac Court should be preserved
Daily Emerald
October 18, 2007
Patrick Finney
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