Reser Stadium

Reser Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. It is the home of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 Conference, and opened 68 years ago in 1953 as Parker Stadium. It was renamed in 1999,[9][10] and its current seating capacity is 43,154.[11] The FieldTurf playing field runs northwest to southeast, at an approximate elevation of 240 feet (73 m) above sea level,[12] with the press box above the grandstand on the southwest sideline.

Reser Stadium
Hosting Arizona State in 2012
Corvallis
Location in Oregon
Corvallis
Location in the United States
Former namesParker Stadium
(1953–June 1999)
LocationOregon State University
2600 SW Western Blvd
Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates44.559°N 123.281°W / 44.559; -123.281
OwnerOregon State University
OperatorOregon State University
Capacity43,154 (2017–present)[1]
43,363 (2016)[2]
45,674 (2007–2015)[3]
43,300 (2005–2006)
35,362 (1990–2004)
40,593 (1967–1989)
33,000 (1965–1966)
28,000 (1958–1964)
25,000 (1953–1957)
SurfaceFieldTurf (2005–present)
AstroTurf (1999–2004)
All-Pro turf (1984–1998)
AstroTurf (1969–1983)
Natural grass (1953–1968)
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 1952
OpenedNovember 14, 1953[4][5]
Renovated2005, 2007
Expanded1958, 1965, 1967, 2005
Construction cost$1 million
($9.56 million in 2019[6])
$80 million (2005 renovation)
ArchitectMoffatt, Nichol & Taylor[7]
HNTB (renovations)
General contractorWall, Bertram and Sanford[8]
Tenants
Oregon State Beavers (NCAA) (1953–present)

History and use

From 1910 to 1953, the Beavers played their home games at Bell Field (now the site of the Dixon Recreation Center), and also played as many as four games a year at Multnomah Stadium in Portland.[10] In 1948, Oregon State president August L. Strand, athletic director Spec Keene, and Portland businessman Charles T. Parker (1885–1977)[13] met to plan a replacement for Bell Field. Parker, a 1907 alumnus,[10] kicked off the stadium fundraising campaign in 1949 and made significant contributions of his own.[10][14] In 1952, construction of the stadium began. For Parker's efforts and contributions, the stadium was named in his honor.[15] The first game was played on Homecoming, November 14, 1953, and the Beavers defeated Washington State 7–0.[4][10] At the time, it seated 28,000.[16]

Architectural Rendering of the proposed Parker Stadium, 1950

The stadium was renovated in 1958, 1965, and 1967, reaching a capacity of approximately 40,500 seats, but the architect's full intent never came to fruition. The roof over the main southwest grandstand was approved in 1988,[17][18] and with the completion of the original Valley Football Center behind the northwest end zone, capacity was reduced to 35,362 in 1990. The roof and new press box were completed in 1991.

Pat Reser

The stadium was renamed in June 1999 to honor Al and Pat Reser, owners of Reser's Fine Foods.[9][10] The couple both graduated from Oregon State in 1960,[19] and are major donors to the university and Beavers athletics,[9][11] though Al died at the age of 74 in 2010.[20] The Parker name is still honored at Parker Plaza,[9] located between Reser and Gill Coliseum, the site of many pregame activities.

The stadium is located on the southwest corner of the Oregon State campus at the intersection of SW 26th Street and SW Western Boulevard in Corvallis. In addition to football, intramural and club sports also use the facility occasionally.

Reser Stadium alternates with Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon in hosting the Oregon–Oregon State football rivalry. Since 1954, the games in even-numbered years have been played in Corvallis, odd-numbered in Eugene.

Playing surface

Through the 1968 season, the stadium's playing surface was natural grass. AstroTurf was installed in 1969,[21] and replaced in 1974 and 1977.[22][23] The brand was switched to All-Pro artificial turf in 1984,[24][25] which was in place for 15 seasons,[25] replaced in 1999 with AstroTurf 12/2000. Infilled FieldTurf debuted in 2005,[26] and was replaced prior to the 2012 season.[11]

Expansion and upgrades

Through the 2004 season, the official capacity of the stadium stood at 35,362. In 2003 the Raising Reser campaign was initiated, which resulted in an increase of seating capacity to 43,300 for the 2005 season by way of constructing a new grandstand along the northeast sideline, with plans to eventually reach 55,000 seats through three phases of renovation.[11][26] "Phase Two" of the Raising Reser project was completed between the 2006 and 2007 football seasons; it enclosed the horseshoe in the southeast end zone with continuous seating in the corners. This addition raised total seating capacity to 45,674 and included the 80-by-30-foot (24 m × 9 m) ProStar Digital VideoPlus Display screen.[11]

During the planned Phase Three, the upper level will extend through the southwest grandstand.

The north end zone is also home to the Valley Football Center, which houses a large weight room, offices and meeting facilities, reserved primarily for coaches and administrators within the football program. In December 2014, Victory Through Valley, an expansion to the stadium and Valley Football Center was announced as part of $42 million in upgrades. The renovations were scheduled to begin in Fall 2015 and were completed by the beginning of the 2016 football season. Victory Through Valley upgrades included a new auditorium, coaches offices, team room, locker room, rehab facilities, and hall of fame. The new additions and upgrades have helped with recruiting, competitiveness, and functionality.

Attendance records
The renovated East Side entrance
Rank Date Opponent Result Attendance
1November 24, 2012#5 OregonL, 48–2447,249[27]
2October 6, 2012Washington StateW, 19–646,579[28]
3December 4, 2010#1 OregonL, 37–2046,469[29]
4November 29, 2008#19 OregonL, 65–3846,319[29]
5November 3, 2012Arizona StateW, 36–2645,979[30]
6November 15, 2008CaliforniaW, 34–2945,969[29]
7October 20, 2012UtahW, 21–745,796[31]
8November 29, 2014#2 OregonL, 47–1945,722
9November 10, 2007WashingtonW, 29–2345,629[29]
10October 30, 2010CaliforniaW, 35–745,439[29]

Non-athletic uses

Apart from use from the Athletic Department, Reser Stadium is occasionally also used for various non-athletic events, particularly events such as commencement, held every June. This has allowed the stadium to hold notable speakers such as astronaut John Glenn[32] and former First Lady Michelle Obama.[33]

Reser Stadium in September 2008, looking south
Panoramic view from the southeast end zone during the night game against Washington in November 2007
Newly renovated East Grandstand (far end zone) prior to the win over top-ranked USC in September 2008

See also

References
  1. "Game 5: Oregon State vs. Washington" (PDF). Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. September 26, 2017. p. 3. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  2. Day, James (June 6, 2016). "A Bid to Stay Competitive". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  3. "Reser Stadium". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  4. Cornacchia, Pete (November 15, 1953). "Oregon State Defeats Cougars 7–0". The Register-Guard. Eugene. p. 1C. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  5. "Chronological history of Oregon State University: 1950 to 1959". Oregon State University. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  6. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  7. "Oregon State University Archives: Facilities Services Records" (PDF). Oregon State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  8. Carlson, Kip (November 12, 2003). "Happy Anniversary". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  9. Rodman, Bob (June 15, 1999). "It's Reser Stadium Now, OSU Fans". The Register-Guard. Eugene. p. 1D. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  10. Edmonston, Jr., George (2003). "Up Close and Personal: Happy Birthday Parker (Reser) Stadium". OSU Alumni Association. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. "Reser Stadium". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  12. "44.559, -123.281". Acme Mapper. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  13. "Charles Taylor Parker". Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  14. "Parker Stadium Renamed Reser Stadium" (Press release). Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. June 14, 1999. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  15. "Bird's Eye View". The Register-Guard. Eugene. November 13, 1953. p. 2B.
  16. "Reser Stadium". StadiumDB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  17. "New Roof for Parker Approved". The Register-Guard. Eugene. January 29, 1988. p. 2C.
  18. Bellamy, Ron (January 26, 1988). "Beavers Just Buying Time". The Register-Guard. Eugene. p. 1D.
  19. "Al & Pat Reser". Oregon State University Libraries. digital collections, yearbook photos. 1960. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  20. Duin, Steve (April 13, 2010). "Al Reser Dies at 74". The Oregonian. Portland. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  21. Uhrhammer, Jerry (July 27, 1969). "Tomorrow We Roll Out the Green Carpet". The Register-Guard. Eugene. Emerald Empire. p. 13.
  22. "OSU Getting New Carpet for Parker". The Register-Guard. Eugene. July 10, 1974. p. 3C.
  23. "New Rug Scheduled for Parker Stadium". The Register-Guard. Eugene. UPI. July 1, 1977. p. 2D.
  24. "Oregon State's Parker Stadium to Get New Turf". The Register-Guard. Eugene. August 8, 1984. p. 2E.
  25. "OSU Officials Reject Plan for All-Grass Field". The Register-Guard. Eugene. Associated Press. January 28, 1999. p. 5D.
  26. Rodman, Bob (June 27, 2005). "Moving on Up". The Register-Guard. Eugene. p. E1.
  27. "Oregon State–Oregon Post-Game Notes". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. November 24, 2012. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  28. "Oregon State–Washington State Post-Game Notes". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  29. "2012 Oregon State Football Media Guide – Year-By-Year Results" (PDF). Oregon State Athletics. p. 101. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  30. "Oregon State–Arizona State Post-Game Notes". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. November 3, 2012. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  31. "Oregon State–Utah Post-Game Notes". Oregon State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. October 20, 2012. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  32. "John Glenn on Board as OSU Commencement Speaker". Oregon State University News & Research Communications. March 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  33. Cooper, Jonathan (June 17, 2012). "Michelle Obama Speaks at Oregon State University Commencement". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
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