Can you name one stadium in college football where you can watch a motorcycle race across the field? If you guessed Autzen Stadium, you are correct! Renowned as one of the most intimidating venues in college football, each game begins with the Oregon Duck mascot leading the Oregon Ducks onto the field while riding on the back of a roaring Harley Davidson.
The Oregon Ducks have called Autzen Stadium home for more than half a century. From 1919 until 1967, the Ducks played at 15,000 seat Hayward Field. By the 1960s, as the football program became more successful, it became apparent that a new stadium was needed. Oregon athletic director Leo Harris, along with Thomas J. Autzen, whom the stadium was named after, spearheaded the project. Autzen contributed $250,000 toward the construction of the new facility. By the 1967 season, the $2.5 million Autzen Stadium was completed with a seating capacity of approximately 41,000. The Ducks played their first game at Autzen Stadium on September 23, 1967, against Colorado, but suffered a loss in their inaugural game at their new home. The stadium originally featured a natural grass playing field, but the grass was replaced with AstroTurf before the 1969 season.
For more than a decade, Autzen Stadium underwent few changes. In 1982, the Barkers Stadium Club was added in the east end zone. A three story building was constructed on the north side of the stadium in 1989, containing 381 club seats and 12 luxury seats. A new press box was also constructed prior to the 1989 season. The biggest expansion in the stadium’s history came before the start of the 2002 season, when 12,000 seats were added along the south rim. The project also expanded the press box and added 32 luxury suites. A cantilevered roof was constructed as part of the expansion, providing additional protection for fans from Oregon’s frequent rain. In 2008, a 33 foot by 85 foot HD video scoreboard was installed in the west end zone. Prior to the 2020 season, the Ducks installed another massive videoboard in the east end zone. Measuring 47 feet by 26 feet, it is one of the largest videoboards in college football.
Today, Autzen Stadium has a seating capacity of 54,000 and is widely regarded as one of the most intimidating environments in college football. The stadium’s steep seating configuration and passionate fans create an atmosphere that produces tremendous crowd noise. Combined with the famous Oregon Duck mascot and the unique tradition of riding a Harley Davidson onto the field, Autzen Stadium remains one of the most recognizable and entertaining venues in college football.
