Autzen Stadium

Interstate 105, Coburg Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Centennial Boulevard frame the stadium district. Traffic controls restrict normal movement near kickoff, and postgame routes send cars away from the complex. Use the entrance printed on the parking pass rather than routing to the stadium address.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  From I-5, use I-105 and the assigned approach; from downtown, approach via Coburg Road or Country Club Road only when the current traffic map permits it. Police and event staff override ordinary navigation instructions.
• Parking
  Autzen car and RV lots are reserved through season parking passes allocated by donor priority. The lots are not a dependable place to search for public inventory on arrival.
• Parking
  Lots open six hours before kickoff, but never before 7 a.m. Cars receive a 9-by-20-foot space and RVs an 18-by-40-foot space; vehicles and tailgate equipment must remain inside those dimensions.
• Parking
  Day-of accessible parking is the principal exception. Enter through Entry 5 with a DMV-issued placard or plate; the latest posted rate is $40, and spaces are first come, first served.
• Parking
  Private lots and businesses around MLK Boulevard may sell spaces independently. Confirm authorization, payment terms and closing time before leaving a vehicle.
• Parking
  Downtown and campus garages can work when event restrictions permit, followed by the river walk. Do not park in neighborhood permit zones or ordinary university spaces without checking the football-day rules.

Public Transit

• Autzen Express
  The special Lane Transit District park-and-ride service begins three hours before kickoff, with buses generally every 10–20 minutes from the announced sites. The latest posted football fare was $8 in advance or $10 on gameday, paid online; verify the 2026 locations and price before purchase.
• Accessible buses serve every Autzen Express location, although a wait may occur while an accessible vehicle completes another run. Return trips operate at halftime and immediately after the game, continuing for approximately 60 minutes after the final whistle.
• Walking from the university is a defining approach. Cross the Willamette on the Dave and Lynn Frohnmayer Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, then follow the paths through Alton Baker Park. Allow about 25–35 minutes from central campus.
• Downtown visitors can join the riverfront paths near the Market District or use local LTD service toward campus before walking. Regular routes may detour around the stadium district.
• Bicycle parking is available near the complex. Eugene's paths make cycling unusually practical, but bring a lock and lights and expect dense pedestrian traffic after dark.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use the current designated rideshare area outside the immediate Autzen traffic perimeter, not a stadium gate. Temporary closures can move the exact pickup point.
• A drop near campus, Oakway Center or the edge of Alton Baker Park followed by a walk is often faster than entering Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard traffic.
• After the game, walk toward campus, downtown or Oakway before requesting a vehicle. Cellular congestion and outbound controls can produce long waits beside the stadium.
• Drivers cannot enter reserved lots without the proper pass. Do not ask for pickup in an active bus lane, bicycle path or controlled intersection.

Plan to arrive four or five hours early. The stadium grounds, Moshofsky Center, Essig Field and river approach provide enough activity that a visitor need not have a private tailgate invitation.

Tailgating

• Reserved Autzen lots open six hours before kickoff, no earlier than 7 a.m. Tailgating must fit within the marked parking space; occupying an adjacent stall or travel lane is prohibited.
• Keep grills attended, dispose of coals as directed and respect restrictions on open flames. Oregon is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus, including areas around Autzen.
• RV operations follow a separate pass and arrival plan. Confirm Friday access and Sunday departure requirements for the specific season rather than assuming ordinary car-lot hours.
• Moshofsky Center
  The indoor practice facility beside Autzen becomes “the Mo,” an all-weather pregame hall with live music, televisions, food, drinks and sponsor activities. Access and hours can vary by ticket or event setup.
• Essig Field
  Across MLK Boulevard, this free family-friendly gathering traditionally opens four hours before kickoff with food vendors, a full bar, entertainment, tented seating and large screens.
• Mallard Park
  Reserved hospitality tents provide catered group tailgates near the stadium. Packages are useful for visitors who want a guaranteed footprint but must be booked in advance.
• Pack rain layers rather than an umbrella for stadium use. Oregon weather can move rapidly from drizzle to sun, and open umbrellas are not allowed in the seating and aisle areas.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• The Cooler
  The closest established sports bar to Autzen has served gameday crowds since 1968. Its televisions, pub menu and patio make it convenient, but proximity produces lines.
• McMenamins North Bank
  A riverside pub west of the stadium offers burgers, Northwest beer and a patio. It pairs naturally with a walk through Alton Baker Park.
• Wild Duck Cafe
  Across Franklin Boulevard from Matthew Knight Arena, this Oregon-themed sports restaurant serves burgers, salads and Hawaiian-influenced dishes near campus.
• Track Town Pizza
  A longtime university-area favorite filled with Oregon sports memorabilia. It is especially good for families and groups willing to eat before joining the bridge walk.
• Rennie's Landing
  The multi-level campus bar near 13th Avenue supplies a student-heavy atmosphere and classic pub food. Expect a younger, louder crowd later in the day.
• The Bier Stein
  South of downtown, this spacious pub combines an extensive beer list with sandwiches, wings and beer-cheese soup. It is better as a pre-drive or postgame stop than a stadium-adjacent option.

• March to Victory
  Roughly two hours before kickoff, the team, coaches, cheerleaders, Green Garter Band and The Duck move through the Moshofsky Center toward the locker room. Exact timing is announced by game.
• The Duck's motorcycle entrance
  Oregon's mascot rides onto Rich Brooks Field on a motorcycle, leading or accompanying the team through smoke. Be in the bowl well before the final pregame countdown.
• “Mighty Oregon”
  The Oregon Marching Band plays the fight song as fans clap and sing. The melody recurs after scores and during the team's entrance.
• “Shout”
  Autzen's fourth-quarter singalong uses the Isley Brothers song associated locally with *National Lampoon's Animal House*, filmed in Eugene. The videoboard sequence turns the break into a full-bowl dance.
• The Pick
  Kenny Wheaton's 97-yard interception return against Washington in 1994 appears in the pregame video, ending with the radio call “Kenny Wheaton's gonna score!” The crowd recites the final line.
• “Coming Home”
  Oregon has used the Mat Kearney song and a cinematic stadium video to connect team, university and state. Pregame presentation evolves, but the themes of home and Oregon landscape remain.
• O hand sign
  Fans form an O overhead for photos, touchdowns and the stadium chant. It is the simplest way for a visitor to join the crowd without learning a long cheer.
• Uniform reveal culture
  Nike's relationship with Oregon makes the weekly combination part of the spectacle. Fans may wear green, yellow, black or a designated theme color rather than one universal home uniform.

• Sunken earthen bowl
  Skidmore, Owings & Merrill shaped an artificial crater and used excavated soil to support the original seating. The design reduced construction cost and created Autzen's intimate acoustics.
• Large Oregon O
  The east-end videoboard structure incorporates a monumental yellow O, making it the visual anchor from inside the bowl.
• Rich Brooks Field
  The playing field honors the coach who led Oregon from 1977 through the 1994 season and the Rose Bowl berth that changed the program's trajectory.
• Win the Day beam
  Players touch the tunnel beam before taking the field. Public access is normally limited, but the phrase remains one of the program's recognizable visual motifs.
• Casanova Center and Hatfield-Dowlin Complex
  The adjoining football buildings reflect Oregon's transformation into a facilities innovator. Their trophy and public areas may have limited gameday access.
• Alton Baker Park setting
  Trees, river paths and the pedestrian bridge create an arrival unlike a conventional campus parking sea. In autumn, the approach is one of the best parts of the visit.
• Animal House connection
  Autzen portrayed fictional Faber College's football stadium in the 1978 film, tying the venue to a piece of American comedy history.

History & Notable Moments

• Autzen opened September 23, 1967, when No. 18 Colorado defeated Oregon 17-13. Oregon earned its first stadium victory against Idaho on October 21.
• The original 41,078-seat structure cost approximately $2.5 million and was named for Portland lumberman and philanthropist Thomas J. Autzen.
• In 1994, Wheaton's interception against Washington secured a 31-20 win and helped launch Oregon's run to the Rose Bowl. “The Pick” remains the stadium's defining football play.
• A major south-side expansion completed in 2002 for approximately $90 million added 12,000 seats, 32 suites, wider concourses, restrooms, concessions and the club, raising capacity to 54,000.
• Oregon defeated No. 4 USC 47-20 on Halloween night in 2009, a national-stage victory during the program's rise under Chip Kelly.
• Autzen hosted the first Pac-12 Championship Game in 2011, when Oregon defeated UCLA 49-31.
• The Grateful Dead played 10 Autzen concerts between 1974 and 1994, and Dead & Company returned in 2018.
• A record 60,129 attended Oregon's 32-31 win over No. 2 Ohio State on October 12, 2024, the Ducks' first Big Ten season.

Autzen is a continuous oval bowl with north and south premium structures. Most general seats are benches, and the steep grade enhances sightlines while making aisles strenuous. The south side is taller and supplies more shade; the north side receives more direct sun.

• Sideline lower bowl
  Sections near midfield provide the best conventional view. Low rows are close to the teams but may be blocked by personnel and equipment.
• End zones and corners
  These seats emphasize crowd noise and offer better value. Upper rows show play development while remaining much closer than comparable rows in a 100,000-seat venue.
• Student seating
  The student section is loud, standing-oriented and alcohol-free. Visitors should not expect a seated view near its boundary.
• OCCU Club
  South-side club tickets combine chairback seating with an indoor hospitality room, upgraded food, a full bar and dedicated amenities. Verify inclusions on resale.
• Charter Box
  The north-side shared premium area has open-air stadium seats, a full bar, concessions, televisions, restrooms and elevator access.
• Suites and preferred seats
  North and south suites host groups, while selected south sideline seats provide wider chairbacks, armrests and cup holders.
• Accessibility
  Accessible seating, companion positions, elevators and guest assistance are available. Arrange ticket exchanges in advance and confirm the current accessible gate because event routing can change.

Autzen offers standard stadium food, Northwest beverages and rotating local vendors on the main concourse, in the Moshofsky Center and in premium areas. Specific brands and locations change, so use the gameday map for the current lineup.

• Core stands sell hot dogs, sausages, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, pizza, candy, soda and water. Portable carts help fill gaps between permanent locations.
• Oregon has featured regional flavors including Hawaiian-style chicken, specialty wings, loaded fries and local food trucks. Treat older menu lists as examples rather than guaranteed 2026 inventory.
• Beer and wine are sold at stands throughout the stadium to guests 21 and older. Alcohol may not be consumed in student seating, and outside alcohol is prohibited.
• The OCCU Club and Charter Box have dedicated food and full-bar service. Premium access does not automatically mean all food or beverages are included.
• Eat before the quarter break. The historic bowl has limited circulation at peak times, and popular locations can develop long lines.
• Guests with allergies should ask a supervisor about ingredients and cross-contact. Medical or dietary items may require inspection under the exception process.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches is permitted per person. A one-gallon clear plastic storage bag is an alternative.
• A small clutch or purse may accompany the clear bag for privacy. Check Oregon's current policy for the exact clutch limit before arriving.
• Necessary medical bags and items receive separate inspection. Contact guest services in advance when the need is complex or the item is unusual.
• Backpacks, large purses, coolers and noncompliant opaque bags are prohibited. There is no reason to risk returning an item across the river; bring only essentials.
• Open umbrellas are prohibited in seating and aisle areas. Seat cushions may not exceed 17.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches deep, with a back no higher than 19 inches and cushion no thicker than four inches.
• Outside alcohol, weapons, smoking and tobacco products are prohibited. All guests and items are subject to screening, and leaving the stadium ends admission because there is no re-entry.