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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/1986 Meeting M I NUT E S e Joint Eugene City Council/University of Oregon/Oregon Track Club Eugene Community Conference Center September 15, 1986 - 5: 00 p. m. PRESENT: Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Jeff Miller, Debra Ehrman,(5:15 p.m.-6:15p.m.), Cynthia Wooten, (5:40 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.) Eugene City Councilors; Dan Williams, University of Oregon Vice President for Administration; Gary Trigueiro, President, Oregon Track Club; Bill McChesney, Vice President, Oregon Track Club; Bob Bender, Secretary, Oregon Track Club; Dave Christiansen, Treasurer, Oregon Track Club; Tom Jordon, Board of Directors, Oregon Track Club; and Barbara Daugherty, President, Masters Club, Oregon Track Club. Eugene City Council President Richard Hansen called the meeting to order. 1. TRACK AND FIELD IN EUGENE Jane Holloway of the Eugene Parks and Recreation Department said the joint meeting of the Eugene City Councilors and representatives of the University of Oregon and the Oregon Track Club responded to the interest e of the councilors in track and field events in Eugene and the status of Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. A. Historic Perspective Gary Trigueiro, President of the Oregon Track Club, reviewed the history of track and field events in Eugene. He said the first big event was for the United States Olympic Team that was traveling to Melbourne, Australia, in 1956. Bi 11 Bowerman sold $50 pledges to many local busi nesses to underwrite the cost of bringing the team to Eugene. Soon, Mr. Bowerman brought jogging to the nation's attention. Later, Eugene hosted five NACC (National Collegiate Athletic Association) meets, three TAc (The Athletic Congress) championship meets, and three Olympic Trials. Mr. Trigueiro said Eugene is identified throughout the world with running and track and field events. He discussed the excellent publicity Eugene has recei ved because of track and field events and the world-class ath 1 etes who live here. He distributed copies of an article titled "Picking Them Up, Laying Them Down" by Frederick C. Klein that appeared in The Wall Street Journal. He said Nike, Athletics West, and "Running Magazine" brought much recognition to Eugene and provided about $1 million in salaries annually. However, they have left the city. He emphasized that cities can quickly lose their reputation as premier locations for track and field events. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council, University of Oregon, Oregon Track Club September 15, 1986 Page 1 B. Current Status of Hayward Field , . Dan Williams, University of Oregon Vice President for Administration, said track and field is very important to the University of Oregon but the financial problems of intercollegiate athletics are monumental. He said track and field at the University has had a deficit of over $400,000 for several years because attendance at meets has dropped. He sa i d Haywa rd Field needs to be renovated. The track should be 400 meters, it should be resurfaced, and the east grandstand shoul d be refurbished. The east grandstand wi 11 have to be moved to reconfigure the track. The renovations will cost over $1 million. Discussing the financial problems, Mr. Williams said $250,000 is available to move the east grandstand about 35 feet and it will be done in a week or two. Next summer the track will be reconfigured and resurfaced. He said the University has dedicated some reserves to the first phase of the renovation and the Oregon Track Club (OTC) has initiated a major fund- raising effort. He said the University has had much help from the OTC and the Eugene Public Works Department. C. Economic Impact of Track and Field Barbara Daugherty, President of the Masters Club of the Oregon Track Club, said track and field events contributed at least $2.4 million to the Eugene/Springfield economy last year. She distributed a page titled "Economic Impact of Track and Field on Eugene/Springfield Community." She said the Junior Olympics Track and Field and Cross Country Invitational brought in $75,000; the Track City Classic brought in $607,500; the Oregon e State Single A Track and Field Championships brought in $693,750; The Race and Butte to Butte brought in $75,000; the Prefontaine Classic brought in $75,000; the Hayward Masters Classic brought in $41,250; and the TAC National Track and Field Championships brought in $832,500. She noted that some of the events bring families who use the opportunity to shop here. Discussing possible future events, Ms. Daugherty said the 1987 National Masters Track and Field Championships will bring about $337,500 to the community, the NCAA championships will bring $900,000, the 1988 Olympic Trials would bring $2,100,000, and the 1989 World Veterans Games would bring $6,750,000. She said the city has been awarded the 1987 National Masters meet and the NCAA Championship meet. The final site selection for the 1989 World Veterans Games will be made in November 1987. She estimated that each dollar brought into the community results in a 2.7 IIripple effect.1I D. Future Opportunities and Challenges Mr. Trigueiro said people from outside the city will contribute $10 to $11 million from now to 1989 if the expected track and field events are held in Eugene. He emphasized that Hayward Field must be renovated if future events are to be held here and that the community benefits from the atheltic events held there. He said many of the athletes who bring Eugene e MINUTES--Eugene City Council, University of Oregon, Oregon Track Club September 15, 1986 Page 2 much publicity moved here because of Nike and Athletics West. He said new stars wi 11 not choose to live here unless Hayward Field is renovated e because injuries on the existing surface are getting unacceptably high. Mr. Trigueiro said he would like to talk to the council at another time about ways to promote track and field as an industry. -- Mr. Trigueiro said the OTC organized the 400 Meter Club and it has raised $140,000 in three weeks but a more sophisticated approach is needed. E. Comments, Questions, and Answers Tom Jordan, OTC Board of Directors member, said many other cities are bidding for athletic events now. He di scussed Indianapolis and Los Angeles. He said Eugene's community spirit must match the money that other cities have. Lewis Thorne and Bill McChesney, Vice President of the OTC, discussed the value of masters meets. Mr. McChesney said athletes want to corne to Eugene if Hayward Field can be renovated. Ms. Daugherty discussed Eugene's bid for the World Veterans Games. She said Eugene's weaknesses were the inadequacy of the airport, the lack of a secondary track, and the delay in starting the renovation of Hayward Field. Eugene's strengths were its hospitality, its desire for the games, and its climate. Dave Christiansen, Treasurer of the OTC, said Eugene must make progress in e renovating Hayward Field soon in order to be selected as the site of the World Veterans Games. He said $1 million must be raised. Mr. Will i ams said University officials real ize Hayward Field is a community facil ity. He sa i d the University's first responsibility, however, is to its undergraduate and intercollegiate track and field program. Answering a question from Councilor Hansen, Mr. Trigueiro said the OTC would like the City to contribute funds to the Hayward Field renovation, to convey to the community the importance of the renovation, to help make the community aware of the importance of track and field events, to assist in obtaining lottery or other funds, and to help make the changes to the east grandstand meet the City Code. Mr. Williams added that the Public Works Department recently approved several changes in the plans for the east grandstand. Replying to a question from Councilor Miller, Mr. Trigueiro said the OTC could use City help in raising funds for the renovation. He said businesses in the community need to be asked for funds. He emphasized that OTC members are volunteers. Responding to a comment from Councilor Ehrman, Mr. Jordan said the OTC would like to solicit and receive comparatively small amounts from many people. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council, University of Oregon, Oregon Track Club September 15, 1986 Page 3 Councilor Wooten said the council supports the GTe and the University and realizes the economic impact of track and field events. She suggested the . council endorse the fund raising for the renovation of Hayward Field. She said sports and the arts are important to the city's destination-point activities and should be included in the City's plans for destination- point activities~ She said Celebrate Eugene is a non-profit corporation - formed to raise funds for the Eugene Celebration and she will ask its Board of Directors to discuss ways to obtain corporate sponsorship with GTC members. Replying to a question from Councilor Ehrman, Mr. Trigueiro said Eugene's bid for the Olympic Trials is contingent on the City's ability to convince the committee that Hayward Field will be renovated before the 1988 trials. He said the Eugene bid included gate receipts of $1 million to balance expenses and the bids from Indianapolis and Los Angeles included $1 million from corporate sponsors to balance expenses. Answering questions from Councilor Miller, Mr. Williams said the University regularly solicits funds from a 1 umn i . Ci ty Manager Mi ke Gleason said the symbolism of community support for track and field events is very important. Evidence of support from the City Council, the mayor, the University, and the OTC will help in getting the events and in getting corporate sponsors. He suggested the support be organized much as the Metropolitan Partnership organizes efforts to recruit businesses. Ms. Schue suggested the councilors attract media attention during their consideration of ways to help. e Ms. Bascom said this meeting is the result of the councilors interest in and concern about track and field events and their desire to help in obtaining the events. Ms. Daugherty said corporate sponsors will be important when the City's bid for the World Veterans Games is presented. She distributed copies of "Worl d Games Report." She said the Visitors and Convention Bureau provided an excellent video which was used when the bid for the World Veterans Games was presented. Answering a question from Councilor Miller, Ms. Daugherty and Mr. Jordan said the bid for the World Games will be ratified and the bid for the 1988 Olympic Trials will be awarded in early December. Proof that the Hayward Field renovation is started will be needed at that time. Councilor Hansen asked the City staff to assist the University and the OTC in seeking State lottery funds for the renovation of Hayward Field. Ms. Wooten suggested a joint application for lottery funds might be made. Mr. Hansen suggested Mr. Gleason present the councilors with suggestions for assisting in the Hayward Field renovation on Wednesday, September 24, 1986. Mr. Hansen suggested a resolution be considered and the City Council as a group and the councilors and staff personally consider making a commitment to a meter of the new track surface. He also suggested the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and Vi s i tors and Convention Bureau officials assist the OTC in getting corporate sponsors. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council, University of Oregon, Oregon Track Club September 15, 1986 Page 4 Mr. Hansen adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. e ~~ Micheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mncc0915 e e MINUTES--Eugene City Council, University of Oregon, Oregon Track Club September 15, 1986 Page 5