Reser Stadium

Reser Stadium
Former names	Parker Stadium (1953–1998)
Location	Oregon State University 2600 SW Western Blvd Corvallis, Oregon United States
Coordinates	44°33′34″N 123°16′53″W
Broke ground	1952
Opened	November 14, 1953
Renovated	2005, 2007
Expanded	1958, 1965, 1967, 2005
Owner	Oregon State University
Operator	Oregon State University
Surface	FieldTurf - (2005–present) AstroTurf - (1969–2004) Natural grass - (1953–1968)
Construction cost	$1 million ($8.69 million in 2012 dollars) $80 million (2005 renovation)
Architect	Moffatt, Nichol & Taylor HNTB (renovations)
Capacity	45,674 - (2007–present ) 43,300 - (2005–2006) 35,362 - (1990–2004) 40,593 - (1967–1989) 33,000 - (1965–1966) 28,000 - (1958–1964) 25,000 - (1953–1957)
Tenants
Oregon State Beavers (NCAA) (1953–present)

Reser Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, United States on the campus of Oregon State University. It is the home of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference. Originally opened in 1953 as Parker Stadium, the stadium was renamed in 1999, and its current seating capacity is 45,674. The FieldTurf playing field runs northwest to southeast, at an elevation of 240 feet (73 m)^{[citation needed]} above sea level, 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 (now Jeld-Wen Field) in Portland.

In 1948, Oregon State president August L. Strand, athletic director Spec Keene, and Portland businessman Charles T. Parker met to plan a replacement for Bell Field. In 1949, Parker kicked off the stadium fundraising campaign and made significant contributions of his own. In 1952, construction of the stadium began. For Parker's efforts and contributions, the completed stadium was named in his honor, and the first game was played on Homecoming, November 14, 1953, with the Beavers defeating Washington State 7-0.

The stadium was renamed in 1999 to honor Al and Pat Reser, owners of Reser's Fine Foods. The couple both graduated from Oregon State in 1960 and are major donors to Beavers athletics and OSU, though Al died at the age of 74 in 2010. The Parker name is still honored at Parker Plaza, 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.

Expansion and upgrades

The renovated East Side entrance

Through the 2004 season, the official capacity of the stadium stood at 35,362. In 2003 the Raising Reser campaign increased the seating capacity to 43,300 in 2005 with the addition of a new grandstand along the northeast sideline, with plans to reach 55,000 through three phases of renovation.

"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 x 30 ft. (24 x 9 m) ProStar Digital VideoPlus Display screen.

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

Through the 1968 season, the stadium's playing surface was natural grass. AstroTurf was installed in 1969, and replaced roughly every decade. In 1999 the surface was replaced with AstroTurf 12/2000; infilled FieldTurf was installed in 2005. It is scheduled to be replaced again after the 2011 Football Season.

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.

Reser Stadium attendance records

1. OSU vs. Oregon, 2010 - 46,469
2. OSU vs. Oregon, 2008 – 46,319
3. OSU vs. California, 2008 – 45,969
4. OSU vs. Washington, 2007 – 45,629
5. OSU vs. California, 2010 - 45,439
6. OSU vs. Arizona State, 2010 – 45,409
7. OSU vs. Washington State, 2010 - 45,389
8. OSU vs. Louisville, 2010 – 45,379
9. OSU vs. Washington State, 2008 – 45,289
10. OSU vs. Washington, 2009 - 45,274

Gallery

Panoramic Shot of Reser Stadium during a night game.

Newly renovated East Grandstand of Reser Stadium.

External links

• Media related to Reser Stadium at Wikimedia Commons
• Reser Stadium - Oregon State Beavers
• World Stadiums.com - photos - Reser Stadium
• 06 OSU vs Oregon Highlights at Reser Stadium on mreplay.com