Design Issues Delay Hayward Field Renovation

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Construction is coming to Hayward Field. The only question is when according to Austin Meek of the Register Guard.

In preparation for hosting the 2021 IAAF World Championships, the iconic Hayward Field is set to receive an upgrade to satisfy the requirements for hosting an event of that magnitude, including expanding the seating of the stadium for 30,000 spectators.

The original plan had the ground breaking in late summer of last year, after the Tracktown Summer Series event at the end of July 2016. Those plans were delayed until June 2017, although it could now be late summer before shovels start digging.

Early speculation was that the money behind the project had not all come through. However, Paul Weinhold, CEO of the University of Oregon Foundation — the UO Foundation is overseeing the project — told the Register Guard the money is all accounted for.

The delay is because of design issues. Namely, finding the right balance of historic Hayward Field against the needs and style of a modern stadium.

"It's a very clear goal, that we want this to the best track and field venue in the United States and maybe even the world," Weinhold said. "It's caused a lot more pause on our designs to make sure we connect the history of the East Grandstand to the rest of the renovation, the West Grandstand, to capture it all."

The design group behind the project, made up of Tracktown USA's Vin Lananna, Nike's Tinker Hatfield, architect SRG Partnership and general contractor Hoffman Construction, is trying to figure out that balance.

No matter what the final design is, it will take money to complete. No official estimate has been made on the total cost of the project. A price tag of $70 million that has been circulated in media reports will likely be exceeded.

Making the entire project more complicated is the attempt to limit the impact on the Oregon track and field team.

Already, the project is expected to take place in two approximately 10-month phases. The first phase would focus on the East Grandstand and the south concourse area with an expected completion in May 2018, allowing for the stadium to host the OSAA Oregon State Championships, the Prefontaine Classic and the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The second phase would involve the demolition and rebuilding of the West Grandstand. Again, the construction would need to be finished by May 2019 to again allow the late spring meets to be held.

A 2019 completion appears to give plenty of time before the 2021 IAAF World Championships, however, the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, which have not yet been awarded, creates a more pressing deadline. The Trials would act as a dry run for the World Championships, should Eugene win the Trials bid.

"We're going to reconvene in another week of so and hopefully put the final stamp on it and say we're ready to go," Weinhold said.