Track, Bach, baseball and wine
The Eugene Emeralds fireworks game sold out in a week and a half - instead of the usual half hour. By KVAL Web Staff
At the end of June, Eugene will be the arts and athletic center of Oregon. Not only will fans descend on Hayward Field for the Eugene 08 Olympic Track and Field team trials, but 30,000 classical music fans are expected for the Eugene Back Festival - not to mention Art in the Vineyard, the Butte to Butte race, fireworks festivals and a Eugene Emeralds baseball team homegame stand. Is there enough interest to go around? 
Emeralds ticket sales are a bit slower. Box seats for the fireworks game sold in a week and a half - instead of in a half hour. "It's something that brings people to the city of Eugene, so it's positive," said Brian Beban with the Eugene Emeralds. "But as the trials begin, we'll be more on people's minds and hopefully rebound from a slow beginning." Art and the Vineyard at Alton Baker Park signed up more artists and wineries.
To capitalize, the Maude Kerns Gallery is showing track-related art. Eugene 08 also shares the spotlight with the Eugene Bach Festival, a premier event that is a big draw to Eugene on its own. The question is: will this help or hurt the Back festival? "We've been very careful to fashion a program that works with the schedule of the 08 trials," said John Evans. To avoid going head to head with the Eugene 08 opening ceremony, the Bach festival will open in Portland. Evans says with ticket income up 20 percent, this is a race everyone can win. |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Stay Connected |
Connect with KVALViewer PollMost Popular
|
EUGENE, Ore. - It's enough to make your head spin. 
"I think the word got out," said Karen Pavelec with the Maude Kerns Gallery. "There's going to be all these guests, 5,000 guests per day."
KVAL, 4575 Blanton Road,
