Today, Jane Sanders Stadium is home to one of the most innovative and respected athletic programs in the country, the five-time Pac-12 Conference championship Oregon Ducks Softball team. Made possible by a gift bestowed by lumber industry entrepreneur and UO alumni Robert Sanders, class of 1951, and named in honor of his late wife, Jane, class of 1950 and an avid supporter of Ducks softball, this state-of-the-art 1,500 fixed-seat outdoor stadium evokes power and strength. Its design befits of the stature of the university's softball program and the devotion of its fan base.
Indeed, the highest priorities of the stadium's design included fostering UO's exceptional relationship between student-athletes and their fans, making the rigorous day-to-day routines of student-athletes a seamless experience, and enhancing the fabric of the University of Oregon campus.
The Ducks thrive on the energy they share with their fans. To cultivate their camaraderie, the stadium bowl's seating extends to the field level, and program components, such as suites and practice facilities, more directly connect to the field via sightlines and literal proximity. This design also maximizes seat count and space for the team, demonstrating not only the ethos of the UO brand, but cost-efficiency.
The project—comprised of two other facilities adjacent to the stadium, a Team Building and Softball Performance Center—makes the routine of training, practice, and game day for student-athletes more seamless by removing the distance between that routine's daily destinations. The design team also successfully incorporated new pedestrian connections while enhancing those that have existed between the university campus and greater Eugene, Ore.