Economic ripples from graduation, NCAA track extend beyond campus

The end of the academic year brought approximately 70,000 visitors to campus and the Eugene-Springfield area, and it’s an economic boost that benefits more than the UO.

The NCAA track and field championships are estimated to have had approximately 40,000 spectators over the four-day run at Hayward Field that concluded Saturday, June 13. And hotels and restaurants then had to work feverishly to check out track fans and welcome proud parents arriving for commencement events.

Graduation activities were expected to bring an additional 30,000 guests to campus on Monday, June 15.  Between the University Graduation Celebration and more than two dozen additional ceremonies for schools, colleges and departments, campus was humming with friends, family members and well-wishers celebrating the accomplishments of graduates. 

Visitor spending is a key part of the UO’s $2.3 billion footprint on Oregon’s fiscal landscape. For more information about the full economic impact of the university, visit https://uoregon.edu/impact.