Sports Illustrated names Eugene the seventh best college sports town in the U.S.

"THE SPOT: Hayward Field has hosted nine NCAA track and field championships, six U.S. nationals and three Olympic trials, and it gave birth to the legend of Steve Prefontaine. Oregon may be the only university where track and field is as big as football or basketball.

FANDEMONIUM: Crowds in the venerable bandbox that is McArthur Court (9,087 capacity), built in 1926, can become so raucous that the rim has been known to shake during basketball games."

"Like Boulder, Eugene is an outdoor enthusiast's mecca. The Willamette River runs through town, which means great rafting and fishing, and miles of nearby trails are ideal for running or mountain biking. Eugene also has a burgeoning art scene and, like any good city in the Northwest, a host of bars and coffee shops that cater to the student population."

Read the full article: "Best College Sports Towns" by Chris Ballard.