Hayward Field

Hayward was built 102 years ago in 1919 to replace Kincaid Field, and was intended to primarily serve the school's football program.[7][8][9] During halftime of the season opener that year, the venue was named for track coach Hayward; he was busy working as the team's trainer during the break, and did not know of the honor until the following day.[4] In 1921, a six-lane cinder track was constructed around the football field.[8] Renowned architect Ellis F. Lawrence designed the west grandstand, which opened in 1925.[10] A natural grass field was first installed at Hayward Field in 1937; the surface was previously a mixture of dirt and sawdust.[11][12][13] That field surface was not unique in the Northwest in the Pacific Coast Conference: Bell Field in Corvallis, Multnomah Stadium in Portland, and Husky Stadium in Seattle made similar transitions to natural grass in this period of time.[12]

For most of its existence as a football venue, it was notorious for its poor playing conditions in rainy weather. Despite several improvement efforts, the field didn't drain very well even after the switch to grass, and often turned to mud.

In 1949, a 28-row grandstand in the south end zone was constructed; with temporary bleachers in adjacent corners, the venue's capacity was raised to 22,500 for football.[14] Even with these changes, by the 1960s, the football team had long since outgrown Hayward Field, which was one of the smallest stadiums in the University Division (forerunner of Division I). Only 9,000 tickets were available to the general public. While nearly every seat was protected from the elements, it had little else going for it. It was in such poor condition that coaches deliberately steered prospective recruits away from it on their visits to Eugene.[15]

As a result, outside of the Civil War game with Oregon State, the Ducks played their higher-attended home games (in practice, nearly all of their conference games) at Portland's Multnomah Stadium, 110 miles (180 km) away. Athletic director Leo Harris chafed at making the Ducks make the two-hour trip to Portland three times a year, and pressed for a new stadium on land just north of campus. School president Arthur Flemming was initially skeptical of the project, and asked Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to evaluate whether it was feasible to build the stadium on the northern site, expand Hayward Field to up to 40,000 seats (believed to be the minimum capacity for moving the entire home slate to Eugene), or build a new stadium on Hayward Field's footprint. The study definitively ruled out Hayward Field as the site for a new or renovated football stadium. SOM believed that city officials would never sign off on expanding Hayward Field since it hadn't been built to code, and there was no room to build a new stadium on Hayward's footprint.[15]

As a result, Hayward Field's final varsity football game was played in 1966, a one-point loss to Washington State on November 5.[2][16] Its replacement, Autzen Stadium, opened in September 1967,[17] and Hayward Field became a facility solely for track and field,[8] except for a few freshman team football games.[18]

The track was widened to eight lanes late in the summer of 1969 and converted to an all-weather surface that autumn.[19][20] Its first synthetic track was Pro-Turf,[20] a urethane and sand composite which led to a hard and fast surface; it produced many world records and gained a reputation as the world's fastest track.[21] Light in color, it was resurfaced with the same in 1976.[22]

Decayed and in disrepair,[23][24][25][26][27] the original west grandstand was built in 1925 and its roof added in 1938.[28] It was demolished in September 1973,[29][30] and the finish line (for most events) was moved to the track's northeast corner for the 1974 season.[31] The new west grandstand, also made of wood with a capacity of 4,300 spectators, was ready for use in March 1975.[32] The Prefontaine Classic originated as the "Hayward Field Restoration Meet" in 1973,[27][33] to help raise funds for a new west grandstand.[34][35][36]

The track was converted to metric in the summer of 1987, its lap length changed from 440 yards (402.336 m) to 400 meters, a reduction of 2.336 m (7 ft 8 in). The geometry of the track was changed to the international configuration, with shorter straights and longer turns. This widening of the infield required the relocation of the 300-foot (90 m), 500-ton east grandstand, which was raised and moved 35 ft 9.5 in (10.91 m) east in March.[37] The surface was again Pro-Turf, but with different surface properties; a textured top layer and a reddish color.[22] In addition, a 200 m warmup track was added to the southwest of the main track, along with a new hammer throw area and a weight room facility. A state-of-the-art scoreboard was added in 1991, which gave unofficial times and competitors' placings just seconds after race completion.[8] This project was completed with a great deal of help from the Oregon Track Club as well as the efforts of many others. Bill McChesney SR who is the father of the Oregon 5K record holder and 1980 Olympian, Bill McChesney, was president of the OTC at the time and was one of the key members of the community that made this project possible.

Spectators watch the 110 m hurdles

After a donation in 1990 by Bill Bowerman (1911–1999),[38] UO's longtime track coach (1948–1973), the 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m²) Bowerman Building was added to the northwest of the track, housing locker rooms, U of O track memorabilia and the university's International Institute for Sport and Human Performance.[8] Bowerman began a public jogging program at Hayward Field in 1963 after a visit to New Zealand, inspired by coach Arthur Lydiard.[39]

A major renovation in 2004 added a new entrance named Powell Plaza. It also moved the practice track, expanded it to 400 meters, and replaced the aging fencing bordering the complex. After Hayward Field was awarded the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, it underwent additional renovations in 2007. Eight light poles were installed for televised night events, and the crowned infield was removed and reconfigured. A walkway was added behind the west grandstand, and a new scoreboard was installed, thanks to a donation by alumnus Phil Knight and Nike.[8]

On April 17, 2018, it was announced that from the summer of 2018 to 2020, Hayward field would undergo a major renovation. The renovation would demolish both current grandstands and establish a new stadium around the track with a capacity of 12,900, expandable to nearly 30,000 for major events.

Hayward Field in 2007

Hayward Field has hosted USATF championships in 1986, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, and 2015 and the Olympic trials in 1972, 1976, 1980, 2008, 2012, and 2016. It has been the site of numerous NCAA championships, USATF Elite Running Circuit events, and the annual Nike Prefontaine Classic.[40] The Olympic trials are scheduled to return in 2021 in the new stadium.[6]

The World Junior Championships, now known as the World U20 Championships, were held at Hayward Field in 2014, and the World Athletics Championships are scheduled for the new stadium in 2022.[41]

Hayward Field appeared in a fictionalized staging of the Olympic trials for the 1982 film Personal Best, in the 1998 biography of Steve Prefontaine Without Limits, and Alexi Pappas's Tracktown (2016). It was in the background of the ROTC drill scene of Animal House (1978).[42]

The start of the 200 m
at the 2006 Prefontaine Classic

Oregon Ducks who competed at Hayward Field

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hayward Field.

• University of Oregon Athletics: Hayward Field
• Hayward Field, Architecture of the Univ. of Oregon