If you’re coming from out of town, where do you stay?
The downtown area of Eugene has really blossomed over the past few years, so if you’re looking to be “in it” and enjoy all of the fine dining and artsy aspects of the city, then I would suggest finding a spot in the 5th Street area, either at “Inn at the Fifth,” “The Gordon Hotel,” or “The Graduate.” While those places might run a little more on the expensive side because of their proximity to Autzen Stadium and how new they are, the experience is excellent, as it’s next to a ton of great restaurants, and arguably the nicest Nike store you will have ever stepped foot in.
If you’re looking for a more scenic place to stay, then I can’t recommend “Valley River Inn” enough. Beautiful hotel right on the Willamette River, and one of the best restaurants in town, “Sweetwaters” on location.
Where are you going for your morning coffee?
There are a few places I recommend here. If you want to get the true “Eugene” feel, I would recommend “Farmers Union Coffee Roasters,” right downtown near 5th Street. It’s been a staple in town for a long time now. You can also never go wrong with a trip to Studio One Cafe, which is down the block from Hayward Field — an absolute must-see if you’re coming to Eugene for the first time.
If I’m being honest, though, I’d say you should go to “Sip.” It’s a champagne-and-dessert bar in downtown Eugene, but it's also a cute, cozy little coffee shop with great breakfast and sandwiches.
What’s for breakfast?
You’ve heard of IHOP, but have you heard of TOPH? The Original Pancake House is a beloved breakfast spot on campus in Eugene, and it has all of the Oregon Ducks flavor you could ever ask for, with a ton of signed memorabilia and artifacts throughout the building. It’s virtually a museum of Oregon sports, and a favorite spot of past Duck athletes in town.
Local destinations and landmarks?
You have a little time before you tailgate. Where do you go to spend a little time while you’re in town? Are there any landmarks you want to see for nostalgia’s sake, or maybe any shops you want to pop into? Bonus points for any places that are a little off the beaten path — something only locals know about.
If you’re looking to spend some money and shop around, you’ll have a lot of fun in the 5th Street Public Market. There’s the Nike store, a Pendleton Wool store, and a Will Leather store there, among many, many other outlets.
I already mentioned a trip to Oregon’s campus to check out the new Hayward Field, which is one of the most spectacular sporting venues in the world. That is a must-see if you’re in town. For the real sports nerds, though, I would suggest a trip down Pre’s Trail to go check out “Pre’s Rock.” It is, sadly, the place where the legendary Steve Prefontaine crashed his car and died back in 1975, but it has since been turned into a shrine of sorts, with runners leaving gifts to the most excellent long-distance runner of his generation, be it race medals or running shoes. It’s a neat spectacle, and more meaningful if you know the history behind it.
Do you have any pregame traditions?
As far as gameday traditions go, there are a couple that really stick out in Eugene. The first of which is simply getting to Autzen Stadium. Many fans come from campus, which is on the opposite side of the Willamette River. This means that thousands of fans cross the “Autzen Footbridge,” offering everyone a beautiful view of the gorgeous scenery we have here in Eugene. “Over the river and through the woods, to Autzen Stadium we go!”
If you get to Autzen early enough, there is also the “March to Victory,” where Dan Lanning leads his team off the buses and through crowds of fans as they make their way through the Moshofsky Center and to the locker room, giving up high-fives along the way. It’s an incredible scene for all involved.
Tailgating time – where are you picking up your favorite tailgate provisions?
This is almost too ironic an answer, but I’m going to Provisions Market… It’s a great little place at the 5th Street Market with delicious snacks, sandwiches, cheeses, and everything you need to make your tailgate pop.
Where do you tailgate?
If you’re looking for a tailgate catered to you with drinks, food, and fun for all ages, then head over to the Moshofsky Center, Oregon’s indoor practice facility, where it’s a non-stop party throughout the game. However, if you want to tailgate on your own accord, there’s a vast landscape of parking lots with cars, RVs, pop-ups, heaters, TVs, and food for all.
Game time! Where are your seats? What do you wear to show your team love? Do you have any favorite traditions for games?
This is an interesting question to answer, since I watch all of the games from up in the press box, where no cheering is allowed, and team gear is prohibited. However, I grew up in Eugene, was a student at the University of Oregon, and have spent my fair share of games in the stands, so I am still qualified to answer.
It’s impossible to find a bad seat inside Autzen Stadium, for starters. One of the many things that makes Autzen special is its size. Rather than having an expansive arena with 100,000 fans in attendance, Autzen holds just south of 60,000, which means that even in the “nosebleeds,” you are still close to the action. My wife has season tickets in the East endzone, and has a great view from there.
As far as traditions for games, you’ve undoubtedly heard about “Shout!” before. At the end of every third quarter, fans dive into a full signing of Otis Day and the Knights’ iconic song from “Animal House,” filmed on the Oregon campus, and dance along with an on-screan video that features Duck legends in their own rendition of the iconic movie scene. It is one of the best traditions in all of college football.
What are you doing after the game?
If you’re looking to keep the party going after the game, then it’s not a far walk to “The Cooler,” which is the top gameday bar in town. It’s just about a 5 minute walk from Autzen, and it’s guaranteed to be packed until closing time. You can also venture back over the river to Oregons campus, where places like “Rennies,” “Max’s,” or “Webfoot” are sure to be popping.
What’s your favorite thing about game day in your college town?
I think the best thing about gameday in Eugene is that it shows how much of a college town this really is. Eugene may not be big with a ton of nightlife or things to do, like Los Angeles or Seattle, but it has a committed community that loves its Ducks. On days with a big game on the schedule, you can feel the energy throughout town from early in the morning until long after kickoff. There’s nothing like gameday in Eugene.
