Path Cleared For Univ. Of Oregon To Build New Basketball Arena

A 12-day window for appeals of the Univ. of Oregon (UO) basketball arena project's conditional-use permit closed yesterday, clearing the way for workers to begin work on the $200M replacement for 82-year-old McArthur Court, according to Rachel Bachman of the Portland OREGONIAN. UO Senior Associate AD Jim Bartko said that the arena's construction timeline is "about 24 months, meaning Oregon is looking at a November 2010 opening if all goes as planned." UO does have "permission to do limited excavation but needs premits to do more extensive work." An independent hearing official issued the conditional-use permit earlier this month, but UO "still needs to acquire specific building permits." City of Eugene Permit Review Manager Fred McVey said that UO officials "can apply for a foundation permit as soon as today and they could have that permit in as soon as two weeks." Though the arena project has been "marked by false starts, funding failures and controversy," Bartko said that some construction costs have "actually declined in the past year, so 'in a weird way, the delay may help us.'" Bartko added that officials "anticipate releasing ticket prices for the 12,500-seat arena the week of Dec. 1" (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/20).

New $200M Univ. of Oregon Basketball 12,500-Seat Arena Given Go-Ahead, November 2010 Opening Planned