Autzen Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

The nearest airport is Eugene Airport (EUG), also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, about 8.3 miles from the stadium. A taxi or rideshare runs about 16 minutes and costs $35–$50 on a non-gameday — budget more time and money on kickoff day. Portland (PDX) is roughly 110 miles north if you're flying in from afar, but EUG is the obvious choice for a gameday trip.

For transit, Lane Transit District (LTD) is your friend. You can leave your car at one of LTD's free Park & Ride locations, board a bus to Eugene or Springfield Station, then transfer to the EmX bus rapid transit line. Get off at Agate Station and walk north across Franklin Boulevard and the Frohnmayer Footbridge to Autzen. An LTD Day Pass costs $3.50 for adults. This is genuinely the smartest move you can make — post-game traffic around the stadium is a mess, and the EmX gets you clear of it.

If you're driving, the University of Oregon recommends from I-5: take exit 194B onto OR-126 W/I-105 W, then take exit 2 for Coburg Road toward Downtown. Follow signs for the University of Oregon on Coburg Road, turn right onto Country Club Road, left to stay on Country Club Road, left onto Club Road, right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and right onto Leo Harris Parkway. For rideshare, request your car from downtown Eugene rather than the stadium perimeter — surge pricing kicks in fast after the final whistle.

The parking lot opens six hours before kickoff, but no earlier than 7 a.m. To park in UO's lots, you must either have a reserved parking pass or purchase an ADA parking pass on gameday. Non-ADA parking passes are sold through Ticketmaster alongside game tickets. Buy yours in advance — the lots near the stadium fill up fast.

Even two hours before kickoff, some of the parking lots near Autzen are already full. You can find parking for around $20 within a few blocks of the stadium on the north side, or look for free street parking in the neighborhoods on the east side of the stadium, around Kinsrow Avenue or Chevy Chase Street. Eugene Masonic Lodge 11 also sells single-game parking on its website — worth checking as an alternative if UO lots are sold out. Cyclists can use the Duck Pen bicycle parking near the stadium for $5.

The real pro move: use the LTD Park & Ride. The lots are free, and you avoid the post-game gridlock entirely.

Downtown Eugene is your best base. It's a short rideshare or manageable walk across the Willamette, puts you near the best restaurants and bars, and hotel prices here are far more reasonable than anything near a comparable Power 4 campus. The area around the 5th Street Market District is walkable, lively on gameday weekends, and close enough that you don't need a car.

If you want to be closer to the stadium, the Coburg Road corridor north of campus has a cluster of midrange chain hotels (Holiday Inn, Courtyard, etc.) that fill up quickly on gameday weekends — book well in advance for rivalry games. The Gordon Hotel, a boutique property in downtown Eugene, is the most comfortable splurge option in town and puts you near the best post-game dining.

Ambrosia (174 E Broadway, downtown Eugene) is a classic Eugene institution. The menu features Italian cuisine with Pacific Northwest influence — handmade pastas, wood-fired pizza, local produce — with an extensive wine list and full bar. Perfect for a sit-down pre-game dinner if you're eating before heading to the stadium.

Kennedy's Steakhouse (corner of Pearl and 5th Street) is the newest addition worth knowing about. It's on the corner of Pearl and 5th Street, offering an elevated dining experience with 28-day wet-aged steaks, seafood options, and a beautifully appointed bar. A bit fancy for gameday, but excellent for a post-game dinner if your team won — or a consolation meal if they didn't.

The Cooler is your gameday bar of choice if you want to mix with locals in a dedicated sports atmosphere. Close to Autzen Stadium, The Cooler is a dedicated sports bar with a country flair, with an outdoor patio, over 18 TVs including a 20-foot projection screen, and a popular pub menu. Expect it to be Duck-heavy, but it's fun rather than hostile.

Sunriver Brewing at Oakway Center is the craft beer option worth knowing. This brewery location near Autzen Stadium has several large screens above the bar and a solid pub menu. Call ahead on gamedays to confirm they're showing your team's game if you need to keep tabs on another score.

Patrons can bring one clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12", or a single one-gallon plastic freezer bag. UO limits fans to one clear bag per person, along with a small clutch or purse. The clutch maximum is 4.5" × 6.5". Leave the backpack in the car — it will not get in.

Autzen Stadium does not allow fans to re-enter the stadium after they've exited at any point during the game. This is enforced. If you leave, you're done for the day, so time your concession runs accordingly. Parking lots open six hours before kickoff , which gives you plenty of tailgate time.

Gates generally open about 90 minutes before kickoff. The North and South gates are the main entry points, and both have dedicated ticket scanners. For away fans, check your ticket section — most visiting fans end up in the upper south or upper east sections, and the South Gate entrance is usually the most direct.

The 2002 renovations specifically included improved accessibility and circulation throughout the stadium. Wheelchair-accessible seating is available throughout the bowl, with accessible restrooms on multiple levels. ADA parking passes are sold at Entry 5 (off Leo Harris Parkway, southeast of the stadium), cost $40, require a DMV disabled placard or license plate, and are first-come, first-served.

Not every shuttle bus is accessible to riders with disabilities, so those fans may need to wait for an accessible vehicle. If you're using the LTD EmX route, confirm accessibility options in advance at LTD.org. Assistive listening devices are available — contact the UO Athletic Department ahead of your visit to arrange. The stadium perimeter is largely flat and accessible, consistent with the original design built on an artificial embankment.

The stadium has one of the best seating layouts in college football, with no obscured views and no true nosebleed sections. That's actually good news for visiting fans — even your cheap upper-deck seat will have a clean sightline to the field.

Visiting fans are typically scattered in the upper east sections (Sections 27–32 area) or upper south sideline, rather than consolidated in a single away block — Autzen doesn't formally designate an "away section" the way some stadiums do. If you want to find your fellow travelers, look for the cluster of non-green and yellow jerseys in the upper deck. Avoid the student section (lower south/east corner) entirely — it's packed, loud, and the least friendly territory in the building. Moving around Autzen is relatively easy — the 2002 renovation widened the concourses and there's a walkway around the top of the bowl that makes getting to any section simple.

You can get beers for six dollars at Burger Stands, the Club Room, and the Moshofsky Center. For a college football stadium, that's genuinely refreshing pricing — most Big Ten venues charge $12–$15 for the same cup. Newer additions to the concession lineup include Prince Puckler's Ice Cream Sandwiches, Nacho Dogs, and Brisket Mac & Cheese. The All-American stand is the most common option, with over a dozen locations inside the venue, especially on the upper level. Outside food and open beverages are not allowed through the gates.

Expect noise — more noise than you think is physically possible for a 54,000-seat stadium. On October 27, 2007, during a victory against USC, the crowd hit a recorded 127.2 decibels. That record stands, and while the stadium has expanded since its loudest era, it still rattles. Oregon fans are passionate rather than mean-spirited — you won't typically get beer thrown on you — but they are relentless, and they will be loud on every single snap. The thing that catches most away visitors off guard isn't the volume itself, it's the sustained volume: local tradition is to sing that "it never rains at Autzen Stadium" before every game, and even if it does rain, it's dismissed by the announcer and fans. That tells you everything about the mentality inside. Come with earplugs if you're noise-sensitive, wear your colors proudly, and give the home crowd credit — they've earned their reputation.

By transit (LTD EmX): This is the cleanest exit. Return shuttle trips from Autzen to Park & Ride locations are available only during halftime and immediately following the game, continuing for 60 minutes after the game ends. The EmX back to Eugene Station runs on its regular schedule. Head for the Frohnmayer Footbridge within five minutes of the final whistle — the bridge gets congested, but it moves faster than the car lots. Wait 0 minutes; leave immediately.

By car: Expect delays exiting the parking areas after games. Shuttle buses, pedestrians, and cars exiting from multiple lots cause congestion that peaks starting in the fourth quarter and continuing for up to 30–45 minutes after the game ends. The lots on the east side of the stadium (Kinsrow/Chevy Chase area) tend to clear slightly faster than the main lots off Leo Harris Parkway. If you parked on the north side, avoid Coburg Road — it backs up badly. The Washington/Jefferson Street Bridge, Delta Highway, Cal Young Road, and Harlow Road are suggested as alternatives to Coburg Road. Best advice: wait 30 minutes in the parking lot, let the first wave clear, then go.

By rideshare: Surge pricing will be real — expect 1.5–2x normal rates in the immediate post-game window. Walk 10–15 minutes toward the UO campus side of the Willamette before requesting your ride. The difference in price and wait time between the stadium perimeter and a spot two blocks onto campus can be significant. Request your car with a five-minute walk buffer built in.

Opinionated tip: The LTD EmX is genuinely the best exit strategy at Autzen. The walk over the Frohnmayer Footbridge is pleasant, the bus isn't as crowded as you'd expect, and you'll be back at your car or hotel while the tailgate lots are still gridlocked. Driving in is convenient; driving out is not.

How do I get to Autzen Stadium without a car?

Use one of LTD's free Park & Ride locations, take the bus to Eugene or Springfield Station, board the EmX, exit at Agate Station, and walk north across Franklin Boulevard and the Frohnmayer Footbridge to Autzen.

What is the bag policy at Autzen Stadium?

Fans may bring one clear bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12" or a one-gallon plastic storage bag. UO limits fans to one clear bag per person, along with a small clutch or purse (maximum 4.5" × 6.5").

Can I re-enter Autzen Stadium if I leave? No. Autzen Stadium does not allow fans to re-enter the stadium after they've exited at any point during the game.

How much does parking cost at Autzen Stadium?

You can find parking for around $20 within a few blocks of the stadium on the north side. Reserved UO lots sell through Ticketmaster. ADA parking is $40 at Entry 5 and requires a valid DMV disabled placard.

When do gates open at Autzen Stadium? Gates generally open approximately 90 minutes before kickoff. Parking lots open six hours before kickoff, though not before 7 a.m.

Where should away fans sit at Autzen Stadium? There is no single designated away section. Visiting fans tend to cluster in the upper east and upper south sideline sections. The good news is there are no true nosebleed sections — sightlines are clean throughout the bowl.

What's the nearest airport to Autzen Stadium?

Eugene Airport (EUG) is the closest, approximately 8.3 miles from the stadium. A rideshare or taxi takes about 16 minutes and costs $35–$50.

Are beers affordable at Autzen Stadium? By Power 4 standards, yes. Six-dollar beers are available at Burger Stands, the Club Room, and the Moshofsky Center — some of the better concession pricing in the conference.