McArthur Court has run its course as the arena of the University of Oregon. For all of its charm, history, and tendency to rattle opponents, there’s also its cramped seats, obstructed views, and general deterioration. Most people agree that Mac Court, though a well-loved legend, is a relic of college sports venues that stands out as an oddity among Oregon’s flashier modern facilities.
So on February 7, 2009, Oregon officials and celebrities made a ceremonious groundbreaking dig, officially marking the countdown to the opening of Matthew Knight Arena in January 2011. In a rare public appearance, Nike founder Phil Knight, whose $100 million donation to create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund was instrumental in green-lighting the project, had tears in his eyes as he talked about the arena that is named after his deceased son, who drowned in 2004 at the age of 34.
The building of a new arena has seen its share of delays throughout the decade, and the moment couldn’t have come soon enough for all of those involved in the project. Now that the construction is officially underway, it’s a relief for the university to see a giant hole in the ground next to Franklin Boulevard.
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“I know that sometimes—and this is a personal statement—getting this project going over the last 10 years is something akin to extracting molars with pliers but without anesthesia,” said University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer. “But what a great day to see it at its fruition.”
The timing, though, has drawn criticism. “President Frohnmayer and Pat Kilkenny don’t seem to know there’s a recession going on,” Knight joked at the groundbreaking ceremony. Although the $200 million price tag on the arena has been a source of consternation since its inception, the money has become a bigger target given the status of the economy. Oregon officials claim that the eventual financial windfall will be a boon to the area, though. They estimate that at least $300 million will go back into the local economy during the construction process. Once it’s complete, the arena is expected to create an additional $829,000 in new job salaries annually, and bring in more funds by renting out its space for concerts and other non-athletic events.
The recession, however, has benefited the construction process to some degree. The cost of resources, particularly steel, has dropped, and subcontractors are bidding less than they would have a few years ago.
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Still, the university is facing a considerable burden to pay back $200 million in state-backed bonds over the next 30 years. Selling out the 12,500-seat arena on a yearly basis is key to making sure the university and taxpayers don’t take a financial hit.
Athletic director Pat Kilkenny, who will be replaced by former Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti on July 1, has taken steps he hopes will ensure that the teams playing in the arena will still sell tickets, after both basketball team endured miserable seasons this year. He replaced women’s basketball coach Bev Smith with Paul Westhead, a former NBA and WNBA coach. Kilkenny also spent a couple of weeks deliberating on the future of men’s team coach Ernie Kent, while allegedly making offers to other prominent coaches for Kent’s position. Reports say that Kilkenny was turned down, and that he then coerced Kent to take on highly regarded assistant coach Mike Dunlap as an associate head coach in place of Kent’s long-time assistant Mark Hudson. If Kent fails to make the NCAA Tournament next season with a roster full of talented youngsters, it’s almost certain he won’t be coaching in the new arena.
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With the country’s most expensive college basketball venue on the horizon, there’s not much patience left to endure dismal seasons from any team on campus. Matthew Knight Arena is built to become a shining beacon of athletic theater and dominance, hoping to lure the country’s best recruits in all sports. It’s being billed as the gateway to the UO campus and is expected to secure the Ducks’ place in the national spotlight. Much of Oregon’s grand athletic ambitions hinge on its success.
But for all it’s promised to be, some members of the community are still attached to the aging building on University Street, warts and all. How will a giant arena hope to replicate the same intimacy and intensity that Mac Court exudes? To ensure the same crowd atmosphere, architects want the arena’s atmosphere to feel similar to Mac Court, but without the structural faults that blocked sight lines.
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There won’t be any fancy luxury boxes in this arena and no obstructed views—and the number of bathrooms spikes from four to 22. “It’s literally 12,500 people jammed as close to the floor as we could fit them so everybody can see,” says Jon Niemuth, design principal with Ellerbe Becket Architects.
“There was the constant desire to push the envelope,” says Matt Swain, the project manager at Hoffman Construction. “We’ve tried to get people into that Mac Court feel of being on top of the court. If they found a way to use pulleys and hangers, they would have suspended the fans over the top of the court and allowed them to shake the scoreboard themselves.”
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While the expected January 2011 completion date is dependent on the construction process going smoothly, and very quickly, Mac Court’s days are still numbered. The cost of maintaining the 82-year-old building continues to grow, as its seedier features, especially underground, don’t match modern facility standards. The hope is that Matthew Knight Arena elevates not just UO basketball but the entire athletic department, and Lane County as well. And with new incoming UO president Richard Lariviere starting on July 1 of this year, all eyes are looking to the future. There are a lot of ‘ifs’ involved, but if all goes according to plan, Oregon hopes the investment and the endeavor will pay off for everyone.
