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Efforts are underway to bring a United Soccer Leagues soccer team to Eugene and Civic Stadium. Please show your support by clicking on this link to the new Facebook page and “like it.” Thank you. We’ll keep you informed of our progress.
The clean up scheduled for Saturday, January 21, has been canceled.
Save Civic Stadium (SCS) is disappointed with 4J’s decision to reject Rick Wright’s short term lease offer. It was one solicited by the district and one that offered a great deal of short term benefit to the district. With this rejection, the schools lose an un-budgeted cash injection of $250,000, which is ironic given the clear impression that financial considerations chiefly govern 4J’s decisions about the site. We understand and respect the reasoning behind that rejection; the unwillingness to give an implicit advantage in future negotiations, among others. But despite that advantage, the school board would still retain decision making authority. And clearly it is in no one’s best interests to take three years to fully develop a plan.
Since June, when the RFP process was complete, SCS has been working together with the Eugene Family Y with coordination and support by Rick Wright of the Market of Choice grocery chain. We have been working to create a joint plan to redevelop the property. The site is large enough to accommodate the stadium complex plus the facilities wanted by the Y. With the rejection of Wright’s offer by 4J, development of this joint proposal has been abandoned.
It is our hope that the school district has not set its mind on recommending sale of the stadium to the highest bidder. During the recent RFP process, the great outburst of community emotion made it clear what direction the public wants taken. Thousands of people, especially neighbors who are most impacted, feel that the stadium site must continue to be a non-commercial place. It is important to remember the site was given to the district for $1 in the 1930’s. The stadium was built by the community through donations and public contributions. The school district has a moral obligation to make sure it continues to be used for the public’s benefit if it is no longer needed.
In our opinion, an approach by the district that is strictly financial is a mistake, both morally and from a public relations standpoint. There are compelling reasons why the school district should use a different set of criteria to develop their disposition strategy.
With one year budget deficits in the tens of millions of dollars, and future deficits likely if nothing changes, the amount received in a one time 10 acre property sale is relatively insignificant. As conceded by the district, revenues must increase in order to reduce these deficits. That revenue must come from tax payers. For them to be willing to pay more in taxes, the school district’s image must be positive. Its attitudes must be in sync with the public’s attitudes regarding relevant issues. People must have confidence in district leadership. We recently experienced the public outcry that resulted from district staff’s recommendation to allow the site to become a Fred Meyer shopping center. Even though it might have been the most financially prudent, the public adamantly felt it should not be permitted.
The school district is a public body; essentially the public owns Civic Stadium. Citizens are the school district’s stockholders and rather than cash dividends, they want their interests reflected in district decisions. If the district attempts again to allow a shopping center on this public site, many voters may turn on the district and refuse to support future tax, bond and board member elections.
Save Civic Stadium seeks to meet with 4J to share more details about what we intend to do. We are working tirelessly on our business plan and are actually in negotiations with an existing USL soccer team franchise holder that is looking to expand and is interested in bringing a team to Eugene. That team would play at Civic Stadium if we acquire and renovate it.
Except for a summit meeting two months ago, the school district has not sought our input. Decisions have been made with input from staff, the private sector and others who are looking out for their own best interests. We have been working for almost five years as volunteers interested in providing what’s best for the public. We feel we deserve to be a party to the process. Working with SCS, the Y, and Rick Wright will benefit the school district and the community more in the long run than will selling or leasing the site to the highest bidder, regardless of their intended use.
Here are some conceptual pictures of our original vision for the future potential of Civic Stadium.
In light of its place on the National Register of Historic Places and its decades of serving as a popular community venue, Civic Stadium is treasured by the entire Eugene community and the adjacent Friendly neighborhood.
Save Civic Stadium (SCS) is a Eugene non-profit leading a community effort to preserve historic Eugene Civic Stadium. The stadium and the surrounding 10.2 acres are owned by the 4J School District, who has decided to dispose of the property.
SCS has developed a plan to preserve the stadium grandstand and transform the property into a vibrant community resource and public space. The project is focused on the rehabilitation of the historic stadium and its conversion into a multipurpose venue anchored by a professional soccer team with facilities for youth sports, family recreation and entertainment.
The complex will offer facilities for youth development organizations and other non-profit groups, school and club teams, as well as opportunity for additional economic development in the form of retail, housing and a restaurant.
Construction segments will be undertaken and financed separately, based on financing considerations.
The project will include the use of green and sustainable design, materials, operating practices and energy use.The complex will be available, at cost, for youth organizations, schools, city adult leagues, and local sports organizations for football, volleyball, lacrosse and baseball.
Along the east sideline of the soccer pitch, this will provide approximately 2,000 seats with concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, broadcast booths, camera platforms, hospitality seating, press box, and a public concourse.
The grass field will be replaced with Field Turf which meets professional soccer league requirements. Improved drainage will be engineered. An electronic scoreboard will be installed. New field lighting will also be added.
The historic grandstand will be refurbished to include structural improvements, new seating, and restoration of its original exterior appearance.
This 22,000 square foot multi-purpose indoor sports and recreation facility can be used by the entire community for multiple sports and training.
At the north end of the soccer pitch, there will be a 5,000 sq. ft., 2-level restaurant/club with a stair-stepped outdoor dining terrace overlooking the north goal and a small conference/private dining room. The lower level would have restrooms and a team retail store.
This 12,000 square foot two story structure will include the box office, kitchen/commissary, cart/kiosk storage and team/venue offices.