SCS Announces conceptual vision for Civic Stadium

Report recommends multipurpose campus for sports, entertainment and recreation

EUGENE – G2 Strategic, an international sports consulting firm hired by Save Civic Stadium, has delivered a report that lays out a conceptual framework for how Eugene’s historic Civic Stadium and the surrounding site can host an economically viable mix of events to serve youth and the community at large.

The report recommends that Civic Stadium be rehabilitated and converted from a baseball stadium into a multipurpose venue anchored by a professional soccer team that would be funded by a local private investment group. The renovation of the stadium itself would be publicly financed.

“Soccer is the anchor to this plan,” said Marshall Glickman, CEO of G2 Strategic. Cities like Portland, Vancouver, Seattle and Toronto are all moving up to Major League Soccer, he said, creating an opportunity to bring a United Soccer League Pro Division team to Eugene. “But this is not only a soccer project. Soccer has the potential to drive an economic model that will allow a dynamic range of additional activities to utilize this site – including youth sports, community recreation, outdoor concerts, festivals and more.”

The report also envisions the site as an ideal location for a new south-side YMCA and makes a strong case for the YMCA joining as a partner in the redevelopment, finance strategy and, once built, joint use and operation of the facilities. “We look forward to beginning a dialogue with the YMCA’s staff and board,” said SCS Vice President Jonathan Brandt.

The full report has been provided to the YMCA – as well as KidSports, the City of Eugene, the Shedd, the 4J School District, community leaders and potential investors – to elicit feedback and begin a dialogue in an effort to advance the project, and prepare to respond to a Request For Proposals expected to be issued in the fall by 4J, the owner of the Civic Stadium property.

In addition to a plan for how the 10.2-acre site might be configured, the report provides a thorough analysis of possible uses, a staged plan for funding and development and a 15-year operating profit-and-loss forecast.

Ron Turner, a principal of Gensler, one of the world’s leading architectural firms, assisted G2 in the preparation of the report. “Overall, we think rehabilitation of the grandstand, together with additional new buildings, can activate the site year-round,” Turner said. “This is a very special redevelopment opportunity that can be a model of sustainability, historic preservation and economic success.”

SCS engaged G2 in response to a February 17, 2010 decision by 4J to allow a 90-day timeframe for a feasibility study to help inform the school board’s next steps in determining the disposition of the property. In retaining G2, however, SCS was not seeking a typical consultant’s report.

“We wanted expert guidance and advice on what would be economically viable and what might be the highest and best use of the site, while incorporating the rehabilitation of the historic Civic grandstand” said Brandt.

“We are very pleased with the report, especially as it relates to the fundamental objective of providing 4J with an economic solution that achieves their objectives. But the report is also so much more,” Brandt added. “It’s ambitious and aspirational, providing a vision that goes far beyond saving the stadium structure to create a sports and recreation campus that is potentially transformative.”

G2 will be presenting its recommendations at a fact-finding meeting scheduled by 4J on May19, 2010, regarding the Civic Stadium property.

Save Civic Stadium does not represent the G2 report as either definitive or conclusive. “Advancing this project will require extensive input and discussion,” said Brandt. “We are eager to receive feedback and evolving the plan collaboratively to suit community and investor needs.”

To accommodate soccer as the anchor tenant, Civic Stadium will no longer be configured for professional baseball and SCS acknowledges this as a loss. “Most of the SCS board and its supporters love baseball, so giving up professional baseball at Civic has been a challenge,” said Brandt.

However, SCS accepts G2’s analysis that baseball as an anchor tenant is no longer economically viable at Civic because Eugene already has two teams: the Eugene Emeralds and the UO Ducks, both of which now play at UO’s new PK Park. With respect to soccer, however, SCS has received enthusiastic responses from the community and potential investors interested in bringing a professional soccer franchise to Eugene – an opportunity that would provide the economic backbone for future site revenues.

The G2 report recommends that the Civic Stadium rehabilitation project be managed by a private group willing to invest sufficient capital to refine the specifics of the plan, advance the design, conduct technical studies, address transportation management and finance options and retain additional resources to advance the project. Ultimately, the report recommends that private investors redevelop and operate the site, under agreements with 4J and the City. Over the course of the next several months, SCS will work to recruit private parties interested in the opportunity, with the aim of responding to the RFP that 4J is expected to issue in fall, 2010. Renovation of the stadium would potentially be supported by a general obligation bond.

G2’s CEO, Marshall Glickman, is the former president of the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Arena Corporation and the founder and CEO of the company that renovated Portland’s Civic Stadium, now known as PGE Park. In producing this report, G2 collaborated with Gensler, one of the world’s leading architectural firms, KPFF Engineering and Turner Construction.

Save Civic Stadium is a Eugene non-profit dedicated to organizing and leading community involvement in the effort to preserve the historic Eugene Civic Stadium.