Wednesday, March 31, 2021

The House that Waffles Built

Welcome World!

As the international track and field/athletics world celebrates the opening - or re-opening - of Eugene's Hayward Field, I am posting several photos I have taken of Hayward Field in its differing iterations since 2014. Also posted is Bill Bowerman's statement from 1973 in which he thanks sponsors for the rebuilding of the West Grandstand. Yes, we have been down this road before!

In addition, in the left and right columns you'll find
treasures from my collection of track and field memorabilia which I acquired during my years at the University of Oregon in the early 1970s. There is a direct connection between the waffle-soled shoes you see here and the construction of the new Hayward Field. Without those shoes, is there a new stadium?

I began running in Bill Bowerman's beginning running class in the fall of '71 and saved everything: 28 pairs of shoes, including a pair from the waffle iron, and over 220 items, including programs, posters, t-shirts, autographs, and Blue Ribbon Sports and Nike memorabilia. I'll be adding to these columns steadily as the Olympic Trials (2021) and then the World Championships (2022) approach. In the meantime, I hope these treasures help to get you charged up for track and field again!

Underway

Waiting for Opening Day

Almost There!

1975 thank you note from Bill Bowerman to sponsors 
for their support of the rebuilding of the West Grandstand.
From the program for the Oregon Twilight Meet
April 26, 1975
See program cover in left column.

Oregon Daily Emerald
May 18, 1973


The Venerable East Grandstand

July 21, 2014, 11:20 pm
The night before the beginning of the World Junior Championships


Photo credits

Memorabilia from the Cullen Collection 
(left and right-hand columns):
 Devan Kirk

Hayward Field: Mark Cullen

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

5 comments:

  1. If you want to shoot my Pre shoes or posters you know where to find me! Your site is fantastic!

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  2. Great stuff as always.
    I believe the photo captioned "The then-new West Grandstand 1975-2019" is actually an image of the East Grandstand.

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  4. Great things you’ve always shared with us. Just keep writing this kind of posts.The time which was wasted in traveling for tuition now it can be used for studies.Thanks Franko

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