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Civic Stadium (Eugene, Oregon)

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Coordinates: 44°02′12″N 123°05′28″W / 44.0367°N 123.0911°W / 44.0367; -123.0911
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Civic Stadium
Civic Stadium in July 2004
Map
Location2077 Willamette Street,
Eugene, Oregon 97405
 United States
Coordinates44°02′12″N 123°05′28″W / 44.0367°N 123.0911°W / 44.0367; -123.0911
OwnerEugene School District
Capacity6,800
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
OpenedOctober 28, 1938; 86 years ago (1938-10-28)
Construction cost$18,000
ArchitectWorks Progress Administration
Tenants
South Eugene High School
Eugene Emeralds
Northwest League (A) - (1974-2009)
Pacific Coast League (AAA) - (1969-1973)
Eugene Civic Stadium
Location2077 Willamette St., Eugene, Oregon
Built1938
NRHP reference No.08000183[1]
Added to NRHPOctober 6, 2008

Civic Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in Eugene, Oregon, owned by the Eugene School District. On Monday June 29, 2015 the stadium was involved in a major fire.[2]

History

Civic Stadium, the vacant stadium located near East 20th Avenue and Willamette Street,[3] adjacent to South Eugene High School, has a seating capacity of 6,800. The 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;[4] it has been owned by the Eugene School District since its construction.[5][6] In October 2008 at the age of 70, Civic Stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Originally built for high school football and baseball, in 1969 it became the home of the Eugene Emeralds minor league baseball team, which 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.[8] (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 active minor league baseball facilities in the United States.[9]

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.)[10]

Emeralds' decision to relocate

In August 2009, the Emeralds announced their relocation to the University of Oregon's 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.[11] 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.[12]

Future uses

The school district has designated it a surplus property, although the district has not made a decision on whether to sell it.[13] As recently as 2007, the school district examined options to redevelop all or part of the property, most likely as medium-density residential units.[14] A local group, Friends of Civic Stadium, has begun a grassroots campaign in support of restoring the historic venue while also attempting to find alternative tenants.[15]

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.[16]

On June 29, 2015, around 5:35 PM PDT, Civic Stadium was engulfed with flames and huge smoke clouds. Currently, the future practicality and longevity of the stadium is unknown.[17]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Eugene's Civic Stadium goes up in flames". kgw.com. KGW. 2015-06-29. Retrieved 2015-06-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Smith, Jeff (2009-06-19). "Eugene Emeralds say hello -- and prepare to say goodbye -- to Civic Stadium". OregonLive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-09-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Eugene Modernism 1935-65: Education. June, 2003
  5. ^ Natalie K. Perrin (June 2008). "Eugene Civic Stadium: History, Historic Structures Review, and Preservation Pitch" (PDF). University of Oregon, School of Architecture & Allied Arts: 17. Retrieved 2013-10-16. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Burns, Jes (2013-08-28). "Eugene 4J looks once again to off-load Civic Stadium". KLCC.org. KLCC. Retrieved 2013-10-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ "Eugene Civic Stadium listed in National Register of Historic Places". Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
  8. ^ Minor League Baseball.com - Eugene Emeralds - history - accessed 2011-07-23
  9. ^ Russo, Edward (2013-08-19). "Civic engineering: The future of Eugene's historic stadium is at issue — again". RegisterGuard.com. The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2013-10-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ MLB.com - playing field orientation - rule 1.04 - accessed 2011-07-23
  11. ^ Hill, Benjamin (2009-08-25). "Emeralds pick PK for new home". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-09-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Morrison, Dan (2009-09-04). "Ems play final game at Civic Stadium". KVAL. Retrieved 2009-09-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ LeBeau, Arrianee (2009-09-02). "What does the future hold for Civic Stadium?". KVAL. Retrieved 2009-09-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Board of Directors Meeting Minutes (PDF), School District 4J, Lane County, 2007-12-12, retrieved 2009-09-04
  15. ^ "Save Civic Stadium".
  16. ^ "Most Endangered Places 2011 - Civic Stadium". Historic Preservation League of Oregon. 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Historic Civic Stadium in Eugene, Oregon Engulfed in Flames".
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