The University and its supporters hope the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials will push the track and field program back to its previous level of prominence, and they’ll be fundraising millions to ensure it happens.
USA Track & Field awarded the trials to Eugene, host of the 1970, 1976 and 1980 trials, on Friday over 2000 and 2004 host Sacramento. The event, which runs from June 27 to July 6, 2008, is expected to bring several thousand people and an estimated $20 million to the Eugene area.
Planned renovations for Hayward Field will cost an estimated $2 million to $2.5 million, Athletic Director Bill Moos said at a press conference Wednesday with
representatives from Northwest Event Management and the Oregon Track Club. The groups worked with the athletics department to secure the trials.
Fundraising efforts should cover the costs of the Hayward renovations and added amenities, expanded seating, a resurfaced track, an expanded press box and additional lights, Moos said.
“We don’t have an account right now that’s full to the brim with resources to pay for these things, but we have, I think, a pretty good record of fundraising,” Moos said.
The site selection committee chose Eugene because of its commitment to the sport and because of the passion displayed by those involved in the bidding process, USA Track & Field Chief Executive Officer Craig Masback said at the conference via telephone.
Eugene’s bid package also offered more money for the event than Sacramento’s, Masback said. The difference was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,
Masback said, emphasizing that money was not the deciding factor in which city was awarded the trials.
“Money doesn’t hurt. I’d be naive to say that it didn’t,” he said. “But it was the quality of the ideas more than the quantity of money (that secured the trials for Eugene).”
The athletics department spent just $50,000 during the bid process, Moos said, the rest came from the supporting groups and other donors.
The presentation to the USA Track & Field site selection committee included a video promoting the storied history of Hayward Field, featuring interviews with track and field stars such as Maurice Green and Jackie Joyner-Kersee discussing memories of competing at Hayward.
It was only natural that the University and others involved in the bid process would turn to Nike for help with the video presentation, Moos said.
“There are no finer marketers – I believe – in certainly the sports industry than Nike, and we have a very good relationship with them here at the University of Oregon,” Moos said.
Moos said Nike has not pledged financial support “of any significance” for the actual event.
He would not say whether future contributions from Nike are expected but commented that “we’ve got to find several million dollars, so we’re going to be out hitting the sidewalk.”
“We didn’t secure this bid based on any pledges by Nike or any one or two or three individuals,” Moos said.
Transportation shouldn’t be a problem, as buses will shuttle athletes to and from airports, Tom Jordan of Northwest Event Management said.
Those involved are confident that housing athletes and fans will not be as difficult as some may think.
“We think these are issues that are going to be addressed to the satisfaction of every single athlete and hopefully spectator that comes here,” Jordan said.
Masback said organizing a marketing campaign that focuses on the national and international market rather than on just Oregon is one of the most important things to do right now. He expects everything to come together well.
“I think that the great thing is you’re not talking about a group there in Eugene that’s never put on a track meet,” he said.
Eugene gears up for 2008 Olympic trials
Daily Emerald
October 19, 2005
Oregon Track Club President Greg Erwin, right, praises Oregon track and field coach and Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna, left, and Athletic Director Bill Moos for their involvement in securing the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials.
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