When Oregon recruited Bryce Taylor, the Ducks told him that by now, his junior year, he'd be playing in the new basketball arena that would replace the beloved but antiquated McArthur Court.
When the Ducks redshirted forward Adam Zahn, now a senior, they consoled him with the reasoning that he'd get to play two years in a new arena, instead of only one
Of course Oregon will not be able to build a new basketball arena until a new Athletic Director is chosen who gets along with Phil Knight. The reason Bill Moos was cut lose from his contract with an almost 2 million dollar going away gift was he did not get along with Phil Knight and as a result the new basketball area was put on hold indefinitely. Bellemy in his column goes on to say:
The Ducks walked into the Galen Center for shooting practice Friday morning and were duly wowed. Coach Ernie Kent, who'd toured the building last summer, wished that Nike co-founder Phil Knight - hoped by Oregon to be the cornerstone donor for the UO's long-proposed new arena to replace the 80-year-old Mac Court - would see the place today.
Alas, Knight, who attended Oregon's loss at UCLA on Thursday, will miss today's sold-out contest between the Ducks and Trojans..... Jim Bartko, the former UO associate athletic director who was deeply involved in planning for Oregon's proposed arena and now holds a similar post at Cal, said the Galen Center "is very similar to what Oregon is going to be doing" in terms of trying to capture an intimate, collegiate atmosphere in a new arena.The Ducks have envisioned a 12,500-seat arena, in the $160 million range - well, as of last year - on the former site of Williams' Bakery, but the project is in limbo, at least until the university selects a new athletic director.
Oregon's arena would have less than half of the luxury suites of the Galen Center, but it would contain a single balcony, with the bowl sloped as steeply as code will allow to replicate the feel of Mac Court.
When it happens, that is.
While Oregon fiddles, the Trojans are burning with enthusiasm for the new arena, and what it means...... Around the league, other programs that Oregon is expected to compete with and defeat on the basketball court have invested millions upon millions in improvements to their arenas within the past decade....."If you're talking about the recruiting aspects of keeping up with everybody, we're falling behind," Kent said, inside the Galen Center on Friday. "As you can see, we're definitely falling behind. ... "
....As they play today, the Ducks and Trojans are tied for second in the Pac-10 standings. And yet, as you look around the Galen Center, you get the sense that, in the bigger picture, Oregon just fell behind.
Alas it is day 69 in the search for a new Athletic Director at Oregon. Yes, "While Oregon Fiddles"! To read all of Bellamy's column click on the title above for a link.
