Documents Show Discrepancy In Projected Cost Of UO Arena

Cost Of Proposed Univ. Of Oregon Arena Continues To Rise

Documents obtained under public records laws revealed the Univ. of Oregon (UO) estimated last year that it would take $213.5M, including land costs, to pay for a new arena, which is “substantially more than the $160[M] estimate used recently by university officials,” according to Greg Bolt of the Eugene REGISTER-GUARD. UO VP/Advancement Allan Price said that the lower price was an “estimate based only on costs directly related to construction.” Bolt noted UO has “struggled to get its arena project restarted after UO President Dave Frohnmayer pulled the plug on an earlier effort three years ago.” Frohnmayer said at the time that the “cost had become too high — an estimated $180[M] not including a parking garage.” That “would have been the most expensive college arena ever.” UO is now seeking a 12,500-seat arena, down from 14,000 in the earlier design. But Price “cautioned that ... the numbers will continue to change” due to rising construction costs and changes in design. Bolt noted as with the earlier effort, “most of the private money again is expected to come from a small number of donors,” including Nike Chair Phil Knight, who is “widely expected to provide the bulk of the private funding” (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 2/25).