New University of Oregon Arena

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = New University of Oregon Arena
nickname =


caption =
location = Eugene, Oregon
broke_ground =
opened = 2010 "(projected)"
owner = National Championship Properties, (Subsidiary of University of Oregon)
operator =
construction_cost = $200 million (USD)
architect = TVA Architects
Ellerbe Becket
former_names =
tenants = Oregon Ducks (NCAA) (2010-present)
seating_capacity = 12,500 - 13,000

The New University of Oregon Arena is a description of a planned 12,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The new arena will be the home of the University of Oregon Ducks basketball teams and will replace McArthur Court. It is scheduled to be built on the east side of campus at the corner of Franklin Blvd. and Villard St. The prominent location on the corner of campus means that the building will act as a gateway to campus as people arrive from I-5. If all goes according to plan, the arena will be complete for the 2010-2011 basketball season.

The new arena is projected to cost $200 million [http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/1202091913307490.xml&coll=7 UO sports arena: Creative financing or a dubious IOU? - OregonLive.com ] ] and is being designed as collaboration between TVA Architects of Portland, Oregon and Ellerbe Becket of Kansas City, Missouri. [ [http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2008/01/newlook_arena.html New-look arena - OregonLive.com: Behind The Ducks Beat ] ]

Criticism

tatewide Criticism

The projected construction cost of $200 million will make it the most expensive on campus basketball arena in the United States, and financing has been secured through state-backed 30-year bondsref|oregonian02042008. The university has been criticized for overstating the income estimates. [ [http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2008/02/11/News/Arena.Report.Shows.Early.Skepticism-3200971.shtml Arena report shows early skepticism] , Oregon Daily Emerald 02-11-2008]

Community Criticism

There is also concern from the community about the lack of parking space as well as trash disposal during events. [ [http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2008/01/30/News/Arena.Project.Raises.Concern.In.Community-3176444.shtml Arena project raises concern in community] , Oregon Daily Emerald 01-30-2008] According to University spokesman Greg Rikhoff, the University did not originally plan to add any new parking for the 12,500 seat Arena. The first proposals instead included only street parking and remote park and ride shuttle service for spectators. The most recent proposal adds parking spaces on University land, but UO Spokesman Rickhoff candidly states “When the time comes for the university to do something different, of course it will impact whatever parking agreement we have at the time and that parking would have to be replaced." A legal appeal mounted by Fairmount Neighbors forced the university to obtain a city conditional use permit in order to build the 12,500 seat basketball arena. Hearings official Anne Corcoran Briggs overturned a decision by the city planning director and found that the arena was not an extension of the university and did require a conditional use permit. That ruling forces the University to provide a transportation plan, a community impact statement and address other neighborhood concerns about the new use of the property in an open forum. The University is appealing the decision, but it is unknown whether that appeal will impact the planned project schedule. [ [http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=121095&sid=1&fid=1] , The Register Guard 07-03-2008] "It wasn't a personal vendetta against the university arena," said Sue Jakabosky, co-chairwoman of the Fairmount Neighbors group. "Part of it was the principle that we felt in this case the planning process was being circumvented. [ [http://www.kval.com/sports/college/19546794.html] , KVAL.com 06-04-2008]

On-Campus Criticism

Students have expressed concern about the proximity of the planned arena to on-campus student housing, listing site specific concerns such as physical security, noise, and the out of place scale of building in an academically focused residential area. [ [http://rha.uoregon.edu/wiki.cgi?ArenaResolution Residence Hall Association Arena Resolution] ]

The planning process for the arena has been strictly defined as a private matter by the university administration. [ [http://www.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/dirsen034/Frohnmayer10Nov03.pdf Letter to Carole Daly, Chair Campus Planning Committee from the University President Dave Frohnmayer ] , November 10, 2003] This has frustrated students and faculty alike.

References

External links

* [http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1200630326117940.xml&coll=7 UO arena closer to final OK]
* [http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=51230&sid=5&fid=1 Arena clears key hurdle]
* [http://rha.uoregon.edu/wiki.cgi?ArenaInformation Student group arena information page]