.gif)
Civic Stadium (Eugene)
Encyclopedia
Civic Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium
in Eugene
, Oregon
, owned by the Eugene School District
.
in 1938, it became the home of the Eugene Emeralds
minor league
baseball team in 1969, who previously played at Bethel Park. The Emeralds moved up to the Pacific Coast League
(AAA) in 1969 for five seasons, then returned to the Class A Northwest League
in 1974, and played in the stadium through 2009. (High school football moved to the University of Oregon's
Autzen Stadium
in 1969, following the installation of artificial turf
.) Prior to the departure of the Emeralds in 2009, Civic Stadium was one of the ten oldest minor league baseball facilities in the United States. The stadium has a seating capacity
of 6,800 and is located near East 20th Avenue and Willamette Street; adjacent to South Eugene High School
, whose varsity baseball team uses the stadium for its home field.
Civic Stadium was built in 1938 through a public-private partnership between the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
, Eugene School District 4J and the federal Works Progress Administration
. In October 2008 at the age of 70, Civic Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
The lighted playing field at Civic Stadium is oriented in an unorthodox configuration, with the batter and catcher facing southeast, resulting in difficult visual conditions for the fielders on the left side of the diamond for games played near sunset. (The recommended orientation of a baseball diamond is east-northeast.)
's year-old PK Park for the 2010 season. The Emeralds cited Civic Stadium's need of substantial renovations, major problems with irrigation and electrical systems, as well as broken seats, and estimated that modernization could cost as much as $15 million. The Emeralds played their last game at Civic Stadium on Thursday, September 4, 2009, a 5-3 loss to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
. Following the game, fans collected pieces of the outfield turf as souvenirs.
community campaign in support of restoring the historic stadium, while also attempting to locate alternative tenants for the facility.
With the future of the stadium in flux, it is one of ten entries on the Historic Preservation League of Oregon
's Most Endangered Places in Oregon 2011 list.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, owned by the Eugene School District
Eugene School District
Eugene School District is a public school district in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is one of two school districts that serve the city of Eugene.-Demographics:...
.
History
Originally built for high school football and baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in 1938, it became the home of the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
baseball team in 1969, who previously played at Bethel Park. The Emeralds moved up to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(AAA) in 1969 for five seasons, then returned to the Class A Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
in 1974, and played in the stadium through 2009. (High school football moved to the University of Oregon's
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
Autzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium
Autzen Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Located north of the University of Oregon campus, it is the home field of the Oregon Ducks of the Pacific-12 Conference. Opened in 1967, the stadium has undergone several expansions...
in 1969, following the installation of artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
.) Prior to the departure of the Emeralds in 2009, Civic Stadium was one of the ten oldest minor league baseball facilities in the United States. The stadium has a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 6,800 and is located near East 20th Avenue and Willamette Street; adjacent to South Eugene High School
South Eugene High School
South Eugene High School is a public high school located in Eugene, Oregon, United States.-History:It was founded as Eugene High School around 1900, and was located at Willamette Street and West 11th Avenue in a brick building that later served as Eugene's city hall. In 1915, Eugene High moved to a...
, whose varsity baseball team uses the stadium for its home field.
Civic Stadium was built in 1938 through a public-private partnership between the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, Eugene School District 4J and the federal Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
. In October 2008 at the age of 70, Civic Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The lighted playing field at Civic Stadium is oriented in an unorthodox configuration, with the batter and catcher facing southeast, resulting in difficult visual conditions for the fielders on the left side of the diamond for games played near sunset. (The recommended orientation of a baseball diamond is east-northeast.)
Emeralds' decision to relocate
In August 2009, the Emeralds announced their relocation to UOUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
's year-old PK Park for the 2010 season. The Emeralds cited Civic Stadium's need of substantial renovations, major problems with irrigation and electrical systems, as well as broken seats, and estimated that modernization could cost as much as $15 million. The Emeralds played their last game at Civic Stadium on Thursday, September 4, 2009, a 5-3 loss to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
. Following the game, fans collected pieces of the outfield turf as souvenirs.
Future uses
The school district has designated it a surplus property, although the district has not made a decision on whether to sell the facility. As recently as 2007, the school district examined options to redevelop all or part of the stadium property, most likely as medium-density residential units. A local community group, Save Civic Stadium, has begun a grassrootsGrassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
community campaign in support of restoring the historic stadium, while also attempting to locate alternative tenants for the facility.
With the future of the stadium in flux, it is one of ten entries on the Historic Preservation League of Oregon
Historic Preservation League of Oregon
The Historic Preservation League of Oregon is a 501 nonprofit corporation with a mission to “Preserve, Reuse, and Pass Forward Oregon’s Historic Resources to Ensure Livable, Sustainable Communities." Formed in Eugene, Oregon, in 1976, the HPLO was officially incorporated in 1977 and relocated to...
's Most Endangered Places in Oregon 2011 list.
External links
- Save Civic Stadium.org - History of Civic Stadium