Meeting Spaces at University of Oregon

Whether your group needs a boardroom, an auditorium or an arena, the University of Oregon (UO) has a space on campus that can accommodate your group. With well-appointed meeting spaces, onsite audio/visual and catering services, and a wealth of intellectual capital, the UO campus might be the perfect choice for your group.

Large Events

There are 11 large event meeting spaces on campus that include ballrooms, auditoriums, amphitheaters, lounges and classrooms.

Matthew Knight Arena (MKA) is a 12,365-seat, LEED Gold certified, multi-purpose arena that is home to UO basketball and hosts concerts and other events. MKA is the largest indoor venue in Eugene that also offers private club rooms and is close to many hotels and restaurants. The lower concourse areas feature open spaces that are suitable for a reception, while the upper-level concourse offers nice views over campus. The Arena floor is 106’x153’ and can be set up with rounds for a banquet or theater-style for a conference. The Founders Club and McArthur Club are elegant spaces that hold up to 100 guests for a meeting or luncheon.

Lifeway Christian Resource’s Living Proof Live with Beth Moore has been hosted at MKA twice; most recently in 2019. The venue was perfect for the popular Faith event that saw almost 7,000 attendees and about 1,400 room nights. Our Convention Services team provided assistance for the events.

The Ford Alumni Center, located next to Matthew Knight Arena, has a ballroom that is capable of banquet setups, reception events and more. The Lee Barlow Giustina Ballroom has four 19-foot LCD projector screens, a catering kitchen, a built-in sound and lighting system and other video conference equipment. This premier, year-round meeting space can also expand into the atrium and outdoor courtyard and lawn to fit even larger groups. The maximum capacity is 300 depending on the setup and can be arranged in several different ways. The Ford Alumni Center also has smaller rooms that can be rented out for event space.

Autzen Stadium, home of University of Oregon football, is also a great venue to host large groups. The stadium is the largest single venue in the state of Oregon. The North Concourse is a great space to set up tables for a banquet or reception and has direct access to the playing field. The East End Zone Terrace is an ideal indoor space with a capacity of 100 to 125 and overlooks the field. For even larger meetings, the Club Level offers 10,000 square feet that can accommodate a banquet for 500 or theater seating for 600. In 2019, the Governor’s Conference on Tourism held almost 500 people in the Club Level for an offsite reception where attendees enjoyed wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres.

The International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT) utilized the EMU Ballroom for their biennial conference. This space can fit a total of 525 people and has amenities that include a proscenium stage, a theatrical lighting system, three projectors and screens. The room also has a flexible table configuration with movable tables and chairs.

Medium and Small Rooms

There are eight medium-sized meeting rooms on campus. These spaces generally have a capacity between 20-35 people. The Lease Crutcher Lewis space can fit up to 36 people, has a flat screen HDTV with computer connection, movable tables and overlooks the EMU Green through a glass wall. The Cedar room can fit up to 26 people by configuring the tables and chairs into a hollow square and has a projector screen with computer connection.

For smaller meetings, the campus has 12 spaces that can be utilized. These range from round tables, hollow square configurations, conference tables and even their one-of-a-kind Boardroom. Most of these rooms have a capacity ranging from 10-20 people, but the Maple room located on the second floor can fit up to 24 people and is equipped with a projector screen with computer connection. For a more relaxed feel, the Willow room has lounge seating and a coffee table next to its 10-person meeting table.

Outdoor Spaces

There are 13 spaces on campus to take your meeting outside. These include special lawns, the EMU Amphitheater, quadrangles and more. The EMU Green is a large outdoor space that can be arranged with large and small canopies, tables, chairs, AC power, amplified sound and specialty lighting. The EMU Amphitheater stage is a perfect outdoor option due to its central location on campus along with the terraced seating area. One of the most unique outdoor meeting spaces on campus is the Cascade Courtyard which offers a peaceful setting that is slightly removed from the busy areas of campus and is surrounded by trees, beautiful landscaping, a water fountain and tiled floor. This space can fit up to 164 people in row seating and 250 people in open space. 

Museum

The University of Oregon also has an impressive museum that is suitable for groups. The Jordan Schnizter Museum of Art (JSMA) offers a selection of spaces that are a lovely alternative to the traditional meeting room. The museum can host corporate parties, business meetings, luncheons and more. All events are customized to the client to satisfy the specific desired needs. JSMA offers rental rates for UO/non-profits, JSMA members and non-members.

Catering

The University of Oregon offers exceptional full-service catering. Committed to variety, quality and value, the UO catering service is an excellent option for meetings on campus. With sustainability at their forefront, the catering team will work with you to reduce waste and purchase local products to ensure your group can feel good about working with them. Event times are booked on a time-available basis and it’s recommended that you reserve as early as possible. UO Catering also has a bar and offers alcohol service. 

Intellectual Capital

One of the most enticing aspects of having a meeting at UO is the available intellectual capital. One way we can assist you in your meeting planning process is connecting you with the right type of intellectual capital for your event. The UO has it all from compelling speakers, authors, world-class athletes, a Nobel Laureate professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning alumni. Additionally, there are some incredible parts of campus that are a must-see. The Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact is a state-of-the-art area of campus that is known for research and development of new biomedical technologies. The 3D printing equipment, rapid x-ray imaging and rabid fabrication of prototypes are just some of the impressive technologies this place has to offer.

Another must-see facility is the Lokey Science Complex. This complex has been vital to expand research in cognitive research, materials science, biology and computer science which is crucial to the Pacific Northwest’s expanding high-tech industrial sector. The underground lab is fascinating in all aspects. Intellectual capital drives innovation, collaboration and meaningful relationships between delegates and the destination so be sure to take advantage of all that the UO has to offer.

Tours

Taking a guided or self-guided tour on campus is a great way for attendees to learn something new and spend time before or after a meeting. The Campus Artworks tour has over two dozen sites to check out that are sure to impress. Explore the rich array of freestanding sculptures and incorporated artworks of the campus buildings. Visiting all of them only takes about an hour and is highly recommended.

The Historic Buildings and Landscapes tour is a self-guided tour that highlights some beautiful pieces of historic architecture. From buildings that were in National Lampoon’s 1978 movie Animal House to the first building built on campus in 1876, attendees are sure to enjoy this tour.

The Whitey Lueck Campus Tree Tour is one of the most interesting tours that the Eugene area has to offer. Professor Leuck is a master in his field and teaches those interested about the approximately 4,000 trees and 500+ species of trees that are on campus. Professor Leuck’s charm makes this tour fun, enticing, educational and all-around a great time. Please reach out to our team so we can connect you with him. Taking a self-guided tour of the trees is also an option.

There are several different styles of buildings on campus and attendees can take the self-guided UO Campus Architecture tour to learn about them. They can learn how these buildings were built on a hill, or how neo-traditional buildings formed the campus over the years. This tour will surely make attendees think about buildings and architecture in a different lens.

Success Stories

Our team is proud of all of the success we’ve had with meeting planners and their groups over the years at the University of Oregon. The university can cater to your market of choice and is always a reliable place to host a meeting. The facilities, meeting space and activities are just some of the things that have left groups feeling satisfied. When Arrowhead Conferences worked with us and hosted their event at Matthew Knight Arena, Tommy Keown CMP, CFMP, quoted, "Eugene, Cascades & Coast [Travel Lane County] has always gone above and beyond any expectations for service. They helped me with the contracting of the venue and hotel rooms and went to a number of the faith-based organizations, churches and leaders to personally encourage their participation. Their encouragement helped make the difference in the attendance and participation. I could not have asked for more."

In 2018, the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) held their annual conference on campus for over 1,000 attendees. This was the first time the event was held in the US and it was an honor to assist them in the process. IAMCR worked with UO Conference Services and our team to ensure that their meeting was a success.

Space for Any Size of Group

The University of Oregon has a state-of-the-art campus with impressive meeting spaces that are perfect for any size of group. With onsite catering and audio visual services, a dedicated conference services team and a wealth of intellectual capital, we can help you plan a successful and memorable event at the University of Oregon