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Take a tour of the University of Oregon's new $270 million Nike track stadium that rivals top football programs
Take a tour of the University of Oregon's new $270 million Nike track stadium that rivals top football programs
Jackson ThompsonMar 30, 2021, 22:53 IST
via Uoregon.edu
The University of Oregon renovated its historic track and field stadium Hayward Field.
Renovations reportedly cost over $270 million.
The new features include an underground museum and a 10-story tower.
The University of Oregon's Hayward Field is 100 years old but is set to show off a new modern look after a renovation that is estimated to have cost $270 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The project was funded entirely by private donations, led by Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Penny Knight. The funding also included gifts from more than 50 donors, and will give Oregon's track a field athletes the premier facility in the country for their sport.
Here's a look at the facility's luxurious layout and design. Many of the images are from a rendering produced before the stadium was opened.
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The original Hayward Field opened in 1919 as a football stadium repurposed from a cow pasture. It has hosted multiple NCAA Championships and Olympic trials over the years.
Michael Heiman/Getty Images
Construction on the new renovations began in the summer of 2018. The renovations debuted last summer but fans have not yet been allowed to attend events since renovations completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
via Uoregon.edu
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However, Oregon's track and field teams have put their newly-renovated facility to good use in the meantime.
The university contracted and Hoffman Construction and SRG Partnership for the renovations.
via Uoregon.edu
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The renovations expanded the seating in the stadium from 10,500 to 12,650 in permanent seating with expandable seating up to 25,000.
via Uoregon.edu
The renovations also expanded the track from eight lanes to nine.
via Uoregon.edu
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The renovations' main objective was to create a 'theater-like' experience for spectators, with unobstructed sightlines throughout the venue and improved acoustics.
via Uoregon.edu
The new 10-story Landmark Tower is modeled after an Olympic torch. It features a lobby filled with interpretive exhibits and multiple levels for viewing with a top-story observation deck.
via Uoregon.edu
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Like a torch, the tower even lights up and was recently lit to celebrate Oregon's 2021 Indoor NCAA Championship.
Last year the university lit the tower up in blue lights to honor front-line health care workers.
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The stadium's roof is held up by support beams made from wood from Oregon's local forests. Wood is a central theme to the renovations as it represents a prominent part of the state's identity.
via Uoregon.edu
The new facility will even play host to Oregon's academics, as the university's Department of Human Physiology will move into the northwest corner of the stadium's practice facility level. The northwest corner features new offices, conference rooms, and labs.
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Underneath the exterior, the new Hayward Field also has a new indoor facility, complete with training rooms, locker rooms, and lounges.
via Uoregon.edu
It even has a barber shop.
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Oregon has turned their track and field gear into true spectacles with the facility's new equipment room.