Reser Stadium

Reser Stadium

Hosting Arizona State in 2012
Former names Parker Stadium
(1953 – June 1999)
Location Oregon State University
2600 SW Western Blvd
Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates 44°33′32″N 123°16′52″W / 44.559°N 123.281°W / 44.559; -123.281Coordinates: 44°33′32″N 123°16′52″W / 44.559°N 123.281°W / 44.559; -123.281
Owner Oregon State University
Operator Oregon State University
Capacity 44,160 (2016-present)
45,674 (2007–2015)[1]
43,300 (2005–2006)
35,362 (1990–2004)
40,593 (1967–1989)
33,000 (1965–1966)
28,000 (1958–1964)
25,000 (1953–1957)
Surface FieldTurf (2005–present)
AstroTurf (1999–2004)
All-Pro turf (1984–1998)
AstroTurf (1969–1983)
Natural grass (1953–1968)
Construction
Broke ground September 1952
Opened November 14, 1953 [2][3]
Renovated 2005, 2007
Expanded 1958, 1965, 1967, 2005
Construction cost US$1 million
($8.86 million in 2016 dollars[4])
$80 million (2005 renovation)
Architect Moffatt, Nichol & Taylor[5]
HNTB (renovations)
General contractor Wall, Bertram and Sanford[6]
Tenants
Oregon State Beavers (NCAA)
(1953–present)

Reser Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. It is the home of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 Conference, and opened 63 years ago in 1953 as Parker Stadium. It was renamed in 1999,[7][8] and its current seating capacity is 44,160.[9] The FieldTurf playing field runs northwest to southeast, at an approximate elevation of 240 feet (73 m) above sea level,[10] with the press box above the grandstand on the southwest sideline.

History and use

From 1910 to 1953, the Beavers played their home games at Bell Field (now the site of the Dixon Recreation Center), and also played as many as four games a year at Multnomah Stadium in Portland.[8] In 1948, Oregon State president August L. Strand, athletic director Spec Keene, and Portland businessman Charles T. Parker (1885–1977)[11] met to plan a replacement for Bell Field. Parker, a 1907 alumnus,[8] kicked off the stadium fundraising campaign in 1949 and made significant contributions of his own.[8][12] In 1952, construction of the stadium began. For Parker's efforts and contributions, the stadium was named in his honor.[13] The first game was played on Homecoming, November 14, 1953, and the Beavers defeated Washington State 7–0.[2][8] At that time the stadium was able to hold 28,000 people.[14]

Architectural Rendering of the proposed Parker Stadium, 1950

The stadium was renovated in 1958, 1965, and 1967, reaching a capacity of approximately 40,500 seats, but the architect's full intent never came to fruition. The roof over the main southwest grandstand was approved in 1988,[15][16] and with the completion of the original Valley Football Center behind the northwest end zone, capacity was reduced to 35,362 in 1990. The roof and new press box were completed in 1991.

The stadium was renamed in June 1999 to honor Al and Pat Reser, owners of Reser's Fine Foods.[7][8] The couple both graduated from Oregon State in 1960,[17] and are major donors to the university and Beavers athletics,[7][9] though Al died at the age of 74 in 2010.[18] The Parker name is still honored at Parker Plaza,[7] located between Reser and Gill Coliseum, the site of many pregame activities.

The stadium is located on the southwest corner of the Oregon State campus at the intersection of SW 26th Street and SW Western Boulevard in Corvallis. In addition to football, intramural and club sports also use the facility occasionally.

Reser Stadium alternates with Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon in hosting the Civil War game. Since 1954, the games in even-numbered years have been played in Corvallis, odd-numbered in Eugene.

Playing surface

Through the 1968 season, the stadium's playing surface was natural grass. AstroTurf was installed in 1969,[19] and replaced in 1974 and 1977.[20][21] The brand was switched to All-Pro artificial turf in 1984,[22][23] which was in place for 15 seasons,[23] replaced in 1999 with AstroTurf 12/2000. Infilled FieldTurf debuted in 2005,[24] and was replaced prior to the 2012 season.[9]

Expansion and upgrades

Through the 2004 season, the official capacity of the stadium stood at 35,362. In 2003 the Raising Reser campaign was initiated, which resulted in an increase of seating capacity to 43,300 for the 2005 season by way of constructing a new grandstand along the northeast sideline, with plans to eventually reach 55,000 seats through three phases of renovation.[9][24] "Phase Two" of the Raising Reser project was completed between the 2006 and 2007 football seasons; it enclosed the horseshoe in the southeast end zone with continuous seating in the corners. This addition raised total seating capacity to 45,674 and included the 80-by-30-foot (24 m × 9 m) ProStar Digital VideoPlus Display screen.[9]

During the planned Phase Three, the upper level will extend through the southwest grandstand.

The north end zone is also home to the Valley Football Center, which houses a large weight room, offices and meeting facilities, reserved primarily for coaches and administrators within the football program. In December 2014, Victory Through Valley, an expansion to the stadium and Valley Football Center was announced as part of $42 million in upgrades. The renovations are scheduled to begin in Fall 2015 and be completed by the beginning of the 2016 football season. Victory Through Valley upgrades include a new auditorium, coaches offices, team room, locker room, rehab facilities, and hall of fame. The new additions and upgrades will help with recruiting, competitiveness, and functionality.

Attendance records

The renovated East Side entrance
1. #16 OSU vs. #5 Oregon (November 24, 2012) – 47,249[25]
2. #14 OSU vs. Washington State (October 6, 2012) – 46,579[26]
3. OSU vs. #1 Oregon (December 4, 2010) – 46,469[27]
4. #17 OSU vs. #19 Oregon (November 29, 2008) – 46,319[27]
5. #11 OSU vs. Arizona State (November 3, 2012) – 45,979[28]
6. #23 OSU vs. California (November 15, 2008) – 45,969[27]
7. #8 OSU vs. Utah(October 20, 2012) – 45,796[29]
8.OSU vs #2 Oregon (November 29, 2014)- 45,722
9.OSU vs. Washington (November 10, 2007) – 45,629[27]
10.OSU vs. California (October 30, 2010) – 45,439[27]

Non-athletic uses

Apart from use from the Athletic Department, Reser Stadium is occasionally also used for various non-athletic events, particularly events such as commencement, held every June. This has allowed the stadium to hold notable speakers such as astronaut John Glenn[30] and First Lady Michelle Obama.[31]

Reser Stadium in September 2008, looking south
Panoramic view from the southeast end zone during the night game against Washington in November 2007
Newly renovated East Grandstand (far end zone) prior to the win over top-ranked USC in September 2008

References

  1. ↑ "Reser Stadium". osubeavers.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Cornacchia, Pete (November 15, 1953). "Oregon State defeats Cougars 7–0". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1C.
  3. ↑ "Chronological history of Oregon State University: 1950 to 1959". Oregon State University. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  4. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Oregon State University Archives: Facilities Services Records" (PDF). Oregon State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  6. ↑ Carlson, Kip (November 12, 2003). "Happy Anniversary". Oregon State Sports Information. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Rodman, Bob (June 15, 1999). "It's Reser Stadium now, OSU fans". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1D.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Edmonston, George, Jr. (2003). "Up Close and Personal: Happy Birthday Parker (Reser) Stadium". OSU Alumni Association. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reser Stadium". Oregon State Athletics. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ "44.559, -123.281". Acme Mapper. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Charles Taylor Parker". Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Parker Stadium Renamed Reser Stadium" (Press release). Oregon State Athletics. June 14, 1999. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Bird's eye view". Eugene Register-Guard. (photo). November 13, 1953. p. 2B.
  14. ↑ "Reser Stadium". StadiumDB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "New roof for Parker approved". Eugene Register-Guard. January 29, 1988. p. 2C.
  16. ↑ Bellamy, Ron (January 26, 1988). "Beavers just buying time". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1D.
  17. ↑ "Al & Pat Reser". Oregon State University Libraries. digital collections, yearbook photos. 1960. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  18. ↑ Duin, Steve (April 13, 2010). "Al Reser Dies at 74". The Oregonian. Portland. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ Uhrhammer, Jerry (July 27, 1969). "Tomorrow we roll out the green carpet". Eugene Register-Guard. (Emerald Empire). p. 13.
  20. ↑ "OSU getting new carpet for Parker". Eugene Register-Guard. July 10, 1974. p. 3C.
  21. ↑ "New rug scheduled for Parker Stadium". Eugene Register-Guard. UPI. July 1, 1977. p. 2D.
  22. ↑ "Oregon State's Parker Stadium to get new turf". Eugene Register-Guard. August 8, 1984. p. 2E.
  23. 1 2 "OSU officials reject plan for all-grass field". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. January 28, 1999. p. 5D.
  24. 1 2 Rodman, Bob (June 27, 2005). "Moving on up". Eugene Register-Guard. p. E1.
  25. ↑ http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112412aab.html
  26. ↑ Pac-12 Oregon Broadcast of game and https://www.facebook.com/OregonStateBeavers/posts/10151110805148127
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "2012 Oregon State Football Media Guide – Year-By-Year Results" (PDF). Oregon State Athletics. p. 101. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  28. ↑ http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/110412aaa.html
  29. ↑ http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/102112aai.html
  30. ↑ "John Glenn on Board as OSU Commencement Speaker". Oregon State University News & Research Communications. March 2004. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  31. ↑ Cooper, Jonathan (June 17, 2012). "Michelle Obama Speaks at Oregon State University Commencement". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
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