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Reser Stadium
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Reser Stadium
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Welcome to Reser Stadium, home of Oregon State University football.
Ballparks Virtual Mall
The stadium was renamed in June of 1999 honoring Al and Pat Reser, who made a long term seven figure gift to the athletic department. The Reser family includes 11 Oregon State University graduates.
The stadium opened in 1953 and was originally known as Parker Stadium, named after Portland businessman Charles T. Parker. Parker played a major financial role in the construction of the stadium, which was funded entirely by donations. The Parker name is now associated with the plaza located between Reser Stadium and Gill Coliseum. Parker Plaza is the site where most of the pregame activities are held.
Capacity of Reser Stadium was originally 28,000, but was raised to 33,000 after the 1965 Rose Bowl season, and another 9,000 seats were added in 1967. With the addition of the Valley Football Center, the seating capacity stood at 35,362.
In 2005 the stadium capacity was increased from approx. 35,362 to 43,300 with an $80 million complete remodel of the east side of the stadium. The old bleachers, atop a dirt berm, were removed and in its place was erected a double-deck grandstand complete with improved concessions and restrooms, a restaurant/club area, meeting rooms, club and loge seating, and 20 private suites. This was Phase 1 of a planned eventual complete rebuild of the stadium that in its final form will seat approx. 55,000 fans.
Phase 2 is expected to be ready in time for the 2007 season. It will consist of the bowling in of the south end zone, replacing existing bleachers. The new section will be an extension of the lower deck of the east side grandstand to wrap around to the southwest corner of the stadium. It is anticipated that in another 5-10 years Phase 3 will take place, in which the west grandstand (the press box side) will be removed and replaced with a double deck grandstand that mirrors the 2005 eastside expansion.
Should additional capacity be needed beyond Phase 3, the south endzone will be designed to support an upper deck which would completely "horseshoe" the stadium and bring total capacity to approx. 55,000 seats.
A new playing surface, AstroTurf 12/2000, and a new field lighting systemwas installed at Reser Stadium during the summer of 1999.
Reser Stadium Quick Facts
- Built: 1953
- First Game: November 14, 1953 vs. Washington State
- First Victory: November 14, 1953 vs. Washington State (7-0)
- First Touchdown: Chuck Brackett (OSU) 1-yard, vs. Washington State, Nov. 14, 1953.
- First Touchdown Passing: John Hermann from Douglas Bradley (UCLA), Oct. 23, 1954
- First 100-yard rusher at Reser Stadium: Ralph Carr (107 yds) vs. Washington State, Nov. 14, 1953.
- Biggest Crowd: 41,600 vs. Oregon, 1980
- Most Wins at Reser Stadium: 4 in 1955
Parker Stadium renamed Reser Stadium
Al and Pat Reser make a generous seven figure gift.June 14, 1999
Corvallis, Ore. - Oregon State University is changing the name of its football stadium to Reser Stadium, OSU Director of Athletics, Mitch Barnhart, announced Monday.
The change comes as the result of the largest monetary donation ever made to the Beavers athletic program.
Al and Pat Reser of Beaverton have made a significant, personal seven-figure gift, as part of a long-term relationship with the Oregon State athletic department. As a result of the Resers generosity, Parker Stadium, home to Oregon State football teams since 1953, will have its name changed to Reser Stadium.
"Oregon State University is deeply indebted to Al and Pat Reser for this gift to our athletic program," said Barnhart. "Al and Pat have been loyal supporters of Oregon State athletics since their undergraduate days in Corvallis. It is with great pride that we honor their gift by naming our football stadium after the Reser family."
Barnhart said Oregon State will use the funds from the gift to provide athletic scholarships to current student-athletes, provide additional budget support for operational needs and also for athletic department facility improvements.
The Beavers football stadium will now carry the Reser family name. The Resers will also receive access to events, seating and travel opportunities with Beaver athletic teams.
"This wonderful gift from the Reser family continues the tremendous momentum generated by our athletic department," said OSU President Paul Risser. "The Resers and OSU have a long history together, and we anticipate a successful future as partners in building Oregon State athletics. Student-athletes will benefit from Al and Pats generosity for years to come."
Risser said he witnessed first-hand the excitement about OSU athletics during a recent series of caravans throughout the state.
"Everywhere we went, we were met with genuine enthusiasm - not only about the hiring of football coach Dennis Erickson - but about the success of our teams, the graduation rates of our student-athletes, and the strong leadership in the athletic department."
Al Reser is president and CEO of Resers Fine Foods, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.
The Resers have been avid supporters of Oregon State athletics since their undergraduate days. In addition to their staunch support of Beaver athletics, Al Reser has been an OSU Foundation Trustee since 1994 and is presently serving as an honorary trustee.
Giving a major gift to OSU is not something new to the Reser family. Al and Pat Reser have made several significant lifetime gifts to Oregon State University. Additionally, they have supported Beaver athletics through corporate involvement.
Al and Pat Reser are 1960 graduates of OSU and the majority of the family members are OSU graduates.
"Pat and I have always felt it is important to support OSU and the state of Oregon as they have played a significant role in our success," said Reser. "This was a big part of our decision to make this gift."
While the stadium name will change, the Parker name will still be a major part of the stadium complex. The plaza area between the stadium and Gill Coliseum, the area where OSUs Fan Fair was held during the 1998 football season, will now be called Parker Plaza in honor of the stadiums original benefactor.
Parker Stadium has been the home of Beaver football since 1953. Charles T. "Charlie" Parker spearheaded the fundraising effort as committee chair to raise the funds to build the original 28,000-seat stadium. Parker made a significant donation toward the construction of the original stadium, plus he made another donation in 1967, which was earmarked for increasing the seating capacity to 41,000.
Image of Reser Stadium
courtesy of Cody Smith, thanks Cody
FACT SHEET Al and Pat Reser are 1960 graduates of Oregon State University.
Al and Pat have five children and four of the five graduated from Oregon State. All five spouses of the Reser children have graduated from Oregon State University. The Reser children include Martin and Jane Reser; Mark and Laurie Reser; David and Michelle Reser Bottaro; Kevin and Mindy Reser Fuller and Michael and Judy Reser.
Al and Pat have previously made significant lifetime gifts, mainly to athletics. They have also supported OSU through corporate involvement with significant resources in sponsorships, signage and radio advertising.
Oregon State has made significant strides in its athletic programs and department during the 1998-99 athletic year. OSU can point to the following highlights:
- Oregon State recorded its first five-win football since 1971.
- Oregon State defeated three top-10 ranked basketball teams in mens basketball at Gill Coliseum--UCLA, Arizona and Stanford.
- Oregon State dedicated and opened its new $2,3 million baseball stadium, made possible by a generous gift from John and Eline Goss. The stadium is called Goss Stadium at Coleman Field.
- Mitch Barnhart hired Dennis Erickson to be OSUs football coach on January 12, pulling off the most prominent hiring of a head coach in the history of Oregon State athletics.
- Oregon State is currently in the process of installing a new artificial turf, AstroTurf 12/2000, at the approximate cost of $1,2 million. Gifts and donations from several generous Beaver supporters have made this project possible.
- Oregon State is currently installing new field lighting at Reser Stadium at an estimated cost of $500,000, thanks to a generous gift from Fox Sports Net.
- Oregon State has already surpassed its all-time record for football season ticket sales and is currently around 9,000 season tickets sold. The Beavers expect to top the 10,000 mark before opening their home season against Fresno State University on Sept. 11.
- Oregon States Beaver Athletic Scholarship Fund (BASF) has already surpassed its all-time record for raising donations, passing the $2 million mark in April.
- While OSUs athletic teams made significant strides on the playing field in 1998-99, Beaver student-athletes also recorded impressive records academically. In the most recent published graduation rates for the Division 1-A programs as published by the NCAA, Oregon State had the best record of any public institution of higher learning in the nation, placing seventh overall. The report covered the graduation rates of student-athletes who entered during the 1983-1991 academic years and exhausted their eligibility at the institution. The rate indicates the percentage who had graduated by August 1997. OSUs graduation rate was 78 percent. Only private schools Duke, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Stanford produced higher percentages.
- Oregon States womens golf team was ranked as high as 14th in the nation at one time in the season and qualified for NCAA regionals. The mens golf team played in the NCAA regionals. Womens crew ranked as high as 14th in the nation. Mens crew also ranked as high as 14th in the nation. OSUs softball team set a school record for victories and was one game away from reaching the NCAA softball World Series. The Beavers wrestling team finished 20th in the nation at the NCAA championships.
- A total of 13 OSU football players were either drafted or signed as free agents with professional football teams.
Source: Oregon State University Information Office
Reser Stadium is located on the southwest corner of the Oregon State campus at the intersection of 26th Street and Western Blvd.
From Portland International Airport *Take Interstate 205 South for approximately 25 miles. Interstate 205 ends at the Interstate-5 exchange. Proceed south on Interstate-5 (see directions below).
From Interstate-5 *Take the Highway 34 exit (approximately 5 miles south of Albany and 30 miles north of Eugene) and head west. Proceed 10 miles and look for signs for Reser Stadium and the Oregon Coast (turn left). Continue on Highway 34 over the Willamette River, through one stoplight, before turning right on 26th street. Proceed one block.
From Eugene Airport *North on Highway 99 through Junction City, then left at north part of Junction City to continue on 99 North. Follow 99 North to Corvallis. Left on Western Blvd. (1st stoplight after Marys River bridge) and proceed through two stoplights to 26th street. Right on 26th street to the stadium.
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