TrackTown shined in 2024 and 2025 looks to be another blockbuster year

Eugene, OR  (TrackTown U.S.A.) –   An estimated economic impact of $50 million was generated by track and field and running events during the 2024 TrackTown season. Thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans experienced the magic that is TrackTown and their spending provided an essential boost for local businesses and generated tax revenue for our communities. 

The Eugene Cascades & Coast Sports Commission, together with key representatives from the track and field and running community, hosted a Track & Field Roundtable in early 2024. Together, representatives from TrackTown USA, the Oregon Track Club, the University of Oregon, the Eugene Marathon, Travel Lane County and other organizations explored opportunities to support and build Eugene’s reputation as “TrackTown USA.”

With goals that included the development of unified branding, increased community engagement, focused media outreach and enhanced participation at events, the roundtable participants went to work. This collaboration created an inclusive program that not only welcomed record numbers of participants but also helped people appreciate the rich legacy of TrackTown. 

The 2024 season was marked by extraordinary community involvement. Welcome to TrackTown banners, support from local businesses and exclusive TrackTown-branded merchandise from icons like Track Town Pizza and Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream showcased the collective effort of Eugene to celebrate its track and field identity. Nearly 500 front-line workers wore branded shirts, welcoming visitors with pride and camaraderie. These initiatives united residents, businesses and visitors in support of TrackTown, exemplifying the community spirit that Eugene embodies. 

The Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission earned the Destination Branding and Marketing Campaign of the Year award from the Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA) at the Sports ETA 4S Rights Holder Summit in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This prestigious honor, presented by Sports ETA—the national association for sports commissions—recognizes a destination member with the most exceptional and comprehensive marketing campaign showcasing its organization as a premier sports destination. Learn more about the Welcome to TrackTown campaign. 

"TrackTown is a title that embodies community pride while creating meaningful opportunities to inspire people around the globe," said JB Carney, Senior Director, Sports, Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission. "We couldn’t be prouder of how the community stepped up in 2024, and the excitement is already growing for an incredible 2025 season."

The Eugene Cascades & Coast Sports Commission recently reconvened the Track & Field Roundtable to begin preparing for an exciting 2025 season, building on the success and resources established in 2024. With marquee events like the USATF-certified Eugene Marathon, the USATF Outdoor Championships, the NCAA D1 Outdoor Championships, and the 50th Anniversary Prefontaine Classic, the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region has a new opportunity to welcome the world and solidify its place as a dynamic, welcoming hub for track and field and running enthusiasts

2025 Event Dates

These events promise to draw thousands of athletes, officials and fans to Eugene, with another significant boost expected for local businesses and the economy. 

2024 Event Highlights

U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field

The ticketed spectator count, which does not include credentialed individuals such as athletes and the workforce, totaled 95,411 for the eight days of action. Fans hailed from all 50 of the United States, as well as three countries outside of the United States. These fans experienced the best our local businesses have to offer through the Fan Festival, which featured 13 local food vendors, a local distillery, and a local brewery. Families flocked to this year’s event, seeing 120 kids participate in the Rising Star Youth Clinic and hundreds of kids compete and play in the TrackTown USA Kids Club Kids Zone at the festival. Through Uncle Phil’s Front Row, 144 kids and their families were provided tickets free of charge to experience this year’s Olympic Trials up close. Mothers utilized the event lactation spaces, with services and staffing provided by &Mother and local group Women’s Care.

The event had 1,034 athletes compete for their spot to represent their country, resulting in one world record, three Hayward Field records, 13 Olympic Trials meet records, and more than 100 Olympians named to Team USA. Of those Olympians, 18 of those selected in individual events are current student-athletes in the NCAA system, as reported by NCAA.com. Many of the competing athletes felt the Hayward magic, setting or equaling a total of 204 personal bests over the course of the event.

The Olympic Trials were possible thanks to the 488 volunteers and workforce, who dedicated hours to operations, athlete services, fan experience, and countless other roles to help ensure the event ran smoothly. Volunteers and workforce hailed from 31 of the United States as well as two countries outside of the United States.

Prefontaine Classic

The ticketed spectator count, which does not include credentialed individuals such as athletes and workforce, totaled 12,004 for the single day of action. Fans hailed from 47 of the United States, as well as six countries outside of the United States. These fans were able to experience the best our community has to offer, with 41 businesses joining the event as a partner, food truck, or vendor.

Hundreds of members of the TrackTown USA Kids Club partook in exclusive experiences throughout the weekend, with over 400 youth participants in the PeaceHealth Youth Meet, over 20 kids cheering on their favorite athletes free of charge through Uncle Phil’s Front Row, and 40 Kids Club members accompanying the world’s best athletes as Youth Buddies.

The event had 281 athletes compete across all events, resulting in one world record, one world under-20 record, six national records, and seven world leads. This includes the 14 Diamond Disciplines; non-Diamond men’s and women’s 10,000m, men’s and women’s 100m, women’s 100m hurdles, and women’s hammer throw; para athletics 100m and 400m mixed wheelchair races; and the boys’ and girls’ 1500m. Many of the competing athletes felt the Hayward magic, setting or equaling a total over 40 personal bests over the course of the event.

The 49th Prefontaine Classic was possible thanks to the 720 volunteers and workforce, who dedicated hours to operations, athlete services, fan experience, and countless other roles to help ensure the event ran smoothly. Volunteers and workforce hailed from 13 of the United States.

Eugene Marathon

The 2024 Eugene Marathon weekend saw record participation, with over 12,000 registrants from all 50 states and 28 countries across the marathon, half marathon, Eugene 5K, and Kid’s Duck Dash. Over 10,000 runners crossed the iconic Hayward Field finish line, marking a significant increase from previous years. The event generated an estimated $6.8 million in local economic impact, $2 million more than in 2023.

Additionally, the marathon’s charity initiative, Run for a Reason, raised an impressive $233,000 for local nonprofits, far surpassing its $150,000 goal. Race Director Ian Dobson highlighted the unique spirit of TrackTown USA in welcoming both returning and new runners. The surge in participants required over 1,300 volunteers, primarily from local schools and nonprofits, who also benefited from donations for their support.

NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Over 180 schools and 1,100 student-athletes participated in the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Thousands of parents, coaches, officials and fans contributed to an estimated economic impact of nearly $9 million. 4,500 credentialed athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers participated in the event. Viewership over the four days of competition was approximately 2 million, which represents the 9^th largest viewership in championship history.

The upcoming 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships will be the 20th time the national meet will be held in Eugene. Oregon first hosted the NCAA meet in 1962. Hayward Field will now serve as the host site for the next four years having previously been awarded the meet for 2025 through 2028.

Oregon Relays

The 2024 Oregon Relays saw its biggest athlete turnout in the meet's history! Over 3000 high school athletes and 500 middle school athletes participated, including an exciting lineup of professional runners including Josh Kerr and Karissa Schweizer. The event hosted its first World Record with the Men's Distance Medley Relay by the Brooks Beasts in a time of 9:14.58.

Nike Outdoor Nationals

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) and its partners, Nike, USA Track & Field (USATF), TrackTown USA, and RunnerSpace, hosted the 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, June 12 – 15, 2024. Nearly 5,000 athletes competed for National Championships and World Championship berths during the event. The top-placing athletes in the U20 Championships earned spots on Team USA, which competed in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru in August. The estimated economic impact was $2.4 million.

About the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission

The Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission, operating under Travel Lane County, is dedicated to positioning the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region as a premier sports destination, actively attracting and securing new sports events to drive overnight stays and economic impact in Lane County. The Commission works to qualify, bid for, and secure new sports events, maintaining a comprehensive database of venues and a master sports calendar, which it distributes to media and sports partners to keep the community and visitors informed. To maximize the region's appeal, the Commission also collaborates with existing events to create auxiliary activities that extend stays, offering valuable networking and educational resources to event organizers.

Supported primarily through countywide room tax collections, along with grants and donations, the Sports Commission is structured with a dedicated team, a Sports Advisory Council, and a broader commission of corporate, government and event representatives from across the county. Together, they work to foster a cohesive sports community, engaging local venues, schools, and the hospitality industry in attracting and supporting new events. This partnership-focused approach underscores the region's commitment to supporting sports events, strengthening Lane County's reputation as a highly desirable destination for event planners and attendees alike.