Autzen Stadium - History

History

Prior to 1967, the Ducks typically played only three games a year on campus at Hayward Field; the higher-attended games (against schools like Washington and USC) were played 110 miles (180 km) north in Portland at the larger Multnomah Stadium. With the recognition that the football team had outgrown the campus facility and with popular support to bring all the home games to Eugene, Oregon athletic director Leo Harris led a campaign to build a new stadium on 90 acres (0.36 km2) that the school had acquired for the purpose in the 1950s on his recommendation.

The stadium, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, was built within an artificial landfill (over the refuse) to eliminate the need for multilevel ramps. As a result, construction took just nine months and cost approximately $2.5 million. $250,000 was contributed by the Autzen Foundation, headed by the son of Portland lumberman and philanthropist Thomas J. Autzen, for whom the stadium was named. Ironically, Thomas J. Autzen is actually an alumnus of Oregon State University. The foundation's donation to the University of Oregon was linked to his son's attendance at the school during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

On September 23, 1967, Oregon hosted Colorado in the first game played at Autzen Stadium, a 17-13 loss. Oregon won their first game in the new facility on October 21 over Idaho 31–6 in their only home victory of the season. The facility opened with a natural grass playing field; artificial turf was installed for its third season in 1969.

The stadium alternates with Reser Stadium at Oregon State as host of the Civil War, the annual rivalry game.

Autzen hosted the inaugural Pac-12 Conference Championship game on December 2, 2011 as the Pac-12 North champion Ducks defeated the Pac-12 South champion UCLA Bruins.