Should the Ducks Host More Events in Portland?

A few years ago the University of Oregon acquired a home for their Portland Campus, the former Concordia University campus in northeast Portland. I personally have a connection to this campus, as I received my Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Concordia University in 2015, and as an Oregon alum as well, I find it strange that the University of Oregon now owns the campus of the school from which I received my master’s. I like the added green and yellow in the neighborhood for sure.

Our own Mr. FishDuck took a break from his study at the Best Offshore Sportsbooks and Betting Sites for 2025 to recall prior Portland Duck events with me, and ponder the future possibilities. He agrees some synergies are there, and feels that connecting with those in Portland metro area–is a good idea for both scholastic and athletic reasons.

Concordia University was a Division III school and their facilities weren’t designed to hold large crowds. The best way to describe the capacity of Concordia’s facilities is to relate them to a large high school in the Portland area. The basketball arena, or gym, is certainly on par with a high school of around 2,000 students. There isn’t a football field, but there is a nice soccer field and baseball diamond with a fair amount of seating.

These sports facilities are the most awkward part of this acquisition for the University of Oregon, as they take up large areas of the campus but all of Oregon’s sports teams are located in Eugene while the Portland campus houses their Portland library branch and their other Portland programs — none of which need sports facilities.

The Concordia campus did have some dorms, though it appears most of those have been gutted and are in the process of being repurposed. The older buildings are getting a significant face lift, at least the interiors, as I have seen some of the proposed designs on my walks through the campus.

As for the sports facilities, should Oregon make use of some of these grounds and host some home games for the appropriate sports for the Portland-based Duck fans? As it stands right now the field is being used by an ultimate frisbee league, and that’s great for the community, though it could on occasion be so much more for Portland-based Duck fans.

The University of Oregon Portland Campus field. Not too big, but big enough for some special events.
(Photo by David Marsh)

I would imagine that the fan turnout for a soccer, baseball, or softball game at the Portland campus could be comparable to the draw in Eugene, if not higher due to the novelty of it, and all it would need is a bit of advertising and fanfare. Portland-based fans are less likely to go to a soccer or baseball game in Eugene due to the distance, but put a few in Portland and the Ducks would draw a crowd.

Basketball for both men’s and women’s teams are out of the question at the Portland Campus, the Concordia facilities are far too small and even the old Mac Court is much larger.

A football a game is out of the question, but what about a practice for the fans?

Under Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal the Ducks held a spring practice with a scrimmage, though it always felt light on the scrimmage, in the Portland area. In 2017, Taggart took the Ducks to Jesuit High Schools where Duck fans filled the stands to watch the Ducks practice. Then in 2018, Cristobal brought the Ducks to newly-renovated Franklin High School for a practice. 2019 was the last year of this practice and the Ducks didn’t go to a high school but held their practice in Hillsborough stadium. In all three locations, concessions became a part of the event and they were fun events for Duck fans to see their team.

Dan Lanning hasn’t been open to having any open practices for fans, but if he were to open up one or two practices and bring one to the Portland Campus, it would draw a significant crowd. Practice would have some limitations on the Portland campus, namely the field is set up as a soccer field and not a football field — but a one-off football practice shouldn’t be the end game of this facility.

Oregon had to pay for the use of Jesuit, Franklin and Hillsborough Stadium. In the case of the Portland Campus, they already own the land.

It might need some re-branding and maybe some new turf (which would be expensive — far more expensive than renting a high school for the day), but if it becomes a regular occurrence it would pay for itself in due time. That even assumes they don’t charge some sort of admission fee or sell concessions for their events.

The renovations of the new Portland Campus for the University of Oregon are still in their earlier phases. Many of the parking lots are still fenced off for construction workers only. The library is open, though the library was by far the newest and nicest building when it was Concordia University.

But for Portland Duck fans, how would you feel about the Ducks hosting some events in our backyard from time to time? It feels like an opportunity just waiting to happen.

David Marsh
Portland, Oregon
Top Photo By: David Marsh 

Natalie Liebhaber, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in technology in SLC, Utah.

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David Marsh

David Marsh is a high school social studies teacher in Portland, Oregon. As a teacher he is known for telling puns to his students who sometimes laugh out of sympathy, and being both eccentric about history and the Ducks.

David graduated from the University of Oregon in 2012 with Majors in: Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, and Geography. David began following Ducks Football after being in a car accident in 2012; finding football something new and exciting to learn about during this difficult time in his life. Now, he cannot see life without Oregon football.