Autzen's manager ready for big day.

Byline: GREG BOLT The Register-Guard

When the curtain goes up Saturday on Autzen Stadium, Vickie Strand will breathe a big sigh of relief.

Not because her job will be done. It's just that compared to what she's been through getting a bigger Autzen ready for its debut, a mere football game will barely ruffle her hair.

"I love game day," Strand said, standing on the football field and looking up at the stadium's expanded south side. "Once I get there, I'm going to love it."

For now, though, it's a little hard to love something that's so much work. If there's such a thing as an Autzen Stadium manager, Strand is it.

As the University of Oregon's events manager for the athletic department, she's the one who coordinates all the ushers, the security people, the Eugene police officers, the ticket takers and the parking crew. That was a handful when the stadium held about 42,000 fans, and it's about 30 percent more of a handful now that it holds 54,000.

On top of that, Strand and her staff are just now moving into their new operations center at the west end of the new press box on the south side of the stadium. It all adds up to a hectic time, and there's little question there will still be a few bumps in the road on game day.

"Of course there will," Strand said. "The challenge will be to make sure nobody else realizes there are any glitches."

To do that, Strand will have a lot more help. Overall staffing in the stadium will be up 12 percent, with a whopping 50 percent increase in concession workers, thanks to the expanded food selection on the new south concourse.

For most fans, the usual routine of getting into, around and out of the stadium isn't going to change much, Strand said. The parking lot opens and Lane Transit District buses start running four hours before the game, the perimeter gate and Moshofsky Center open three hours before the game and the stadium itself opens 90 minutes before kickoff.

So here's a quick rundown on how to attend a football game at the new Autzen Stadium:

Arrival: Strand has three words for you here: "Take the bus."

That's nothing new; parking has been tight at the stadium for years, and unless you've already made a large enough donation to earn a spot in the lot or bought a space from the Science Factory or a nearby business, don't even think about finding a parking place. Use one of LTD's 10 park-and-ride lots, ride your bike, walk or levitate, but don't drive to the stadium.

Once you're there, you have to get in. Will-call tickets left by the athletic department can be picked up at either the north or south gate ticket offices; if someone else is leaving a ticket for you, you must go to the ticket office where the ticket was left.

If you're a student, you must enter through the south gate. That's the new front door of the expanded stadium and at 24 has the most turnstiles.

If you're not a student, you can enter through any gate. If you have a bag, it will be searched and you will have to line up in a bag-check line. Express lines will be available for those without bags.

In the stadium: OK, you made it through the turnstiles, now what?

If it's more than 90 minutes before kickoff, you can't go to your seat yet. You can go to the Moshofsky Center for pre-game food and drinks, you can check out the activities around the north gate plaza, but you can't go into the stadium until the 90-minute countdown begins.

Seating: At that point, it's time to find your seats.

If you're on the south side, you have to enter through the tunnel that serves your section. There's no way to get to another part of the bowl once you go into the tunnel, and you'll only be allowed into the tunnel that leads to your section.

On the north side, it's a little different. There's a new cross aisle at the bottom of the seat rows running the length of the north side. The catch is that there is no longer any access to the field during the game, which is how people used to go between sections.

If there's a problem with your seat, or if you have any other problems in the bowl, go to one of the two guest services booths on the rim near the end zones. People there can help with seating snafus, disorderly fans, lost children, lost and found and other glitches.

Next to those are the medical services rooms for people who aren't feeling well. Red Cross workers also will be in the stands to help people if they can't make it to medical services.

At halftime you can check out the rest of the stadium or leave to do some tailgating and still get back inside.

Post-game: Hopefully your team has won and it's time to go home. This will be the big crunch, as most of the 54,000 fans have the same idea, so the key here is patience.

First, there's the Autzen tradition of going out on the field after the game. You'll have to wait five minutes, then a horn will blow signaling that the field is open. That gives the opposing team a chance to leave first.

From the field, there are only two ways to leave: the east end zone tunnel (only one of the two is now open) and going back through the stands.

What you can't do is exit through the west end zone tunnel, as was allowed in the past.

Outside, all the gates, including vehicle gates, will be thrown open to help get fans out. But the footbridge over the millrace is no wider, Centennial Boulevard still has the same number of lanes. Also, the buses are the same size as last year (although there will be more of them) and you will have to share them with 12,000 more people.

You'll have little choice but to take your time. Strand suggests leaving through the south gate and avoiding the Moshofsky Center, which is expected to be a bottleneck. Buses will run for at least 75 minutes after the game.

That's it. Strand said she's looking forward to the game - she looks forward to every game - despite what she knows are going to be glitches. It's just a matter of attitude.

"You just remember to smile and breathe," she said, "and everything will be fine."

RUNNING AUTZEN

A look at the staffing needs for the expanded stadium.

Stadium ushers: 80

Ticket takers: 140

Parking lot attendants: 110

Concession workers: 1,100

CONSTRUCTION COUNTDOWN

Today's construction activities:

Complete escalator installation and inspection

Complete landscaping

Final concrete pour,

north plaza

Complete carpeting

Final cleanup

- The University of Oregon 

COMING SATURDAY

The final touches before the home opener.