Hello again, everyone! We can finally read an article about a new baseball park under construction in Oregon, even if it isn't for MLB in PDX. New home for the Ducks' revived baseball program, and the Eugene Emeralds in 2010. From the Register-Guard:

READ THE REGISTER-GUARD ARTICLE HERE

Kilkenny christens Oregon's new stadium
By Steve Mims

The Register-Guard

Published: August 16, 2008 12:00AM

The new University of Oregon baseball stadium will be officially named P.K. Park, after the school's athletic director Pat Kilkenny.

Yet the man who has donated $4 million of the nearly $11 million raised for Oregon's new facility said he hopes his initials signify much more than his legacy at the stadium.

"I was kind of excited about the P.K. because I think it can represent a lot of different elements of the history and culture of the game," Kilkenny said Friday afternoon following a groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium located on the Autzen Stadium east parking lot.

"I think people over time won't think about an individual, they will think about P.K. Park. Given what the Knight family has done, the Kirsch and Krause history and past players, it feels right to me. It feels good."

Kilkenny said P.K can represent Phil and Penny Knight, whom he called "benefactors that are beyond words."

He wants the ˜P' to signify the past players and the ˜K' to honor former coaches Don Kirsch and Mel Krause.

Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer revealed during the groundbreaking ceremony that the stadium would be named after Kilkenny, who announced last summer that baseball would return to Oregon in 2009 after being dropped in 1981.

"(Kilkenny) is self-effacing, not one to seek his name in lights," Frohnmayer said. "This is because other people "” friends, colleagues, and supporters "” said this is the most fitting and appropriate thing to do."

Oregon baseball coach George Horton echoed those comments.

"What a great and fitting honor for it to be named P.K. Park in honor of Pat Kilkenny for his generous gift from the Kilkenny family and his passion towards the rebirth of Oregon baseball," Horton said. "It is a very deserving name for what I think will be one of the best baseball facilities in the country."

Kilkenny moved the machinery Friday that lifted the first pile of dirt where the pitching mound will sit, and site work and demolition are expected to begin immediately.

Major construction is set to begin in the next two weeks and Horton said he expects to have his team on the field in time for the first spring practice on Feb. 1.

The design process is ongoing and there are conceptual drawings but no final design yet of the finished product.

It is expected to cost between $15-18 million and nearly $11 million has been "raised or committed to date from private donors and the university's partnership with IMG for the operation of the program and the construction of the P.K. Park", according to an Oregon press release that states the goal is to raise $20 million over seven years for the program.

"We still have a little more work to do in terms of fundraising," Kilkenny said. "I don't sense that we won't get our goal but it is a funny economic time now. There are lots of competing forces, but a lot of people care and it seems like we have the wind at our back a little bit right now. We announced baseball one year, one month, and two days ago so that is a lot of work done."

The stadium will be built in two phases, with the first phase completed in time for the 2009 home opener against NCAA champion Fresno State on Feb. 27. That phase will include the playing surface and temporary bleachers that will be similar to those used at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Construction on the second phase that will include the permanent stadium structure featuring the main seating areas, sky suites, locker rooms, scoreboard, and concourse will begin immediately following the baseball season.

The permanent stadium is expected to seat around 4,000 and will resemble stadiums built at LSU and Penn State by DLR Group "” which is serving as the architect of the second phase "” according to Oregon senior associate athletic director Joe Giansante.

"If you look at those parks, you get a pretty good idea of the intimate, classic baseball environment we are trying to create," Giansante said.

Giansante said there will be plenty of open space in the park where more bleachers can be brought in to boost attendance during postseason games as well as minor-league games when the Eugene Emeralds are scheduled to begin play at the stadium in the summer of 2010.

Giansante said that nearly 1,450 season tickets have been sold for the upcoming season and fewer than 100 remain, but that could change if the Ducks elect to bring in more temporary bleachers for this season.

"We're going to have to make some tough decisions on getting more bleachers, which we didn't think we'd have to do, but the demand is so great that we might have to do that," Giansante said.

The plan is for a capacity of nearly 2,000 this spring when season-ticket holders are combined with the 300 free student tickets and complimentary tickets for players and the athletic department.

Oregon begins fall practice on Sept. 15, although it is uncertain where those practices will be held.

"We're contemplating different high schools in the area," Horton said.

"We thought we had a solution with Marist High School but there are some conflicts with the soccer program so we are still working on that. Hopefully by the end of next week, we will know."

Perfect! If Staples Center can handle 4 tenants (2 NBA teams, an NHL team, and an Arena FB team), then I'm sure this new park can handle the Ducks, Ems, and Bevos! ...I want my MLS in PDX!!

What's good for the Oregon Ducks is what's good for America. As a Patriot, I can only say:
GO DUCKS.

My prediction:

Oregon: 83
Dawgs: 04

CMM, you are a great American--a scholar and a poet...are you going to the Ducks/Fuskies game? (I am going--probably my only game [in person at Autzen] in '08)...you are right about the inevitable result of the game--in fact, the Fuskies' only chance is if UW somehow invents a ray gun to shrinky dink the mighty Ducks into 24 inch tall football players...even then, my money would be on the Mini-Ducks!

Too funny. Yeah, I plan on going. but will likely need to get a ticket thru Craig's List or some other more reputable outlet other than a scalper.

Yes, the Fuskies are a most heinous lot, although a much more humbled heinous lot these days. Last year I got up to Seattle to watch that behind the shed butt kicking. Our defense choked several times in that game, mostly our cornerbacks biting too soon and giving up the longball. That won't happen this year, as our secondary is much more experienced. Only thing we'll have to do is keep Jake "The Snake----The Mistake By The Lake" Locker from escaping out of that pocket. That guys as hard to catch as a muddy pig on rollerskates.

James, if you're going to the game, we should catch up down there and wax philosophic on MLB/DUX/MLS/WIDMER/ETC.

Oregon State Baseball will always be better the Oregon baseball.

That sounds great, CMM--if you go and we can coordinate, that would be fun...if not, maybe we can meet up for a different Duck game on TV someplace...as a huge Quacker Backer, it's my duty to despise all things Husky, but I must admit Locker is one of the best players they've ever recruited/had--perfect for our team/scheme (Dennis Dixon 2.0)--clearly he should see the error of his ways and transfer south! ...or at least declare for the NFL draft early...like, now!...BTW, JonFarr, OSU baseball may always be better than UO baseball, but UO's Fencing will always be superior to OSU's!

Sounds good, James. Yes, Jake is an immensely talented athlete and QB. Imagine him running the spread this year for us. Would have loved to have seen it.