The Prefontaine Classic has announced innovative efforts to amplify the fan experience at this year’s event, which serves as the Wanda Diamond League Final.
While the meet spans Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17, the fun for fans kicks off on Friday, September 15 in Downtown Eugene. Fans are encouraged to attend Rally in the Alley, a fan-focused event hosted at the 5th Street Public Market Alley on Friday, September 15 from 4:30-6:00 pm Pacific time. Open to the public and free to attend, the Rally in the Alley will feature interactive games, giveaways, elite athlete appearances, University of Oregon cheerleaders, the University of Oregon Duck, and special offers from local organizations.
Prior to the meet on both Saturday and Sunday, fans are invited to the Marshfield District, a fan festival on Agate Street named to honor a district in Steve Prefontaine’s hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. The festival is open on both days of the meet from 9:00 -11:30 a.m. Pacific time and for two hours following the conclusion of each day’s competition. Marshfield District’s programming is headlined by the Citius Mag pre-Pre Show from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday, September 16 and from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Pacific time on Sunday, September 17. The live show will serve as an entertaining preview of the day’s events and feature athletes competing in the Wanda Diamond League Final, ticket giveaways, merchandise giveaways, and interactive content.
The Marshfield District will also include local food vendors, beer from local brewery Hop Valley, family-friendly games, and FREE pancakes from the Eugene Marathon and Krusteaz. Fans can also send a Pre Classic postcard to their family and friends at the TrackTown USA Post Office.
Inside Hayward Field, fans will be met with an unparalleled level of energy and enthusiasm, led by the meet’s fan sections. The Citius Mag Superfan Section will be packed with the rowdiest track & field fans, their tickets provided in exchange for the energy and interaction they bring to Section 119. Bowerman Track Club, Portland Track, Oregon Track Club, University of Oregon, and Eugene Marathon will each also have fan sections in the stadium.
Youth, high school and college coaches from around the Pacific Northwest will be treated to the action on Saturday in the Gill Athletics Coach Section. Students from Steve
Prefontaine’s hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon will travel to Eugene and sit in the Coos Bay Fan Section on Sunday thanks to Oregon Pacific Bank. Local fans and youth from the Boys & Girls Club will cheer on the world’s best athletes from the Graduate Hotels Fan Section on both days. The TrackTown USA Kids Club Section is dedicated to local youth who are members of the recently-launched, free to join TrackTown USA Kids Club.
TrackTown USA Kids Club will also provide Youth Buddies for each of the competing field event athletes. Similar to other global sporting events, these youth buddies will accompany the athletes out to the field of play in an effort to inspire the next generation of track & field athletes and provide a positive moment of impact for youth.
Regardless of where fans are seated in the stadium, they will have opportunities to engage with the meet like never before thanks to Digital Seat. On each seat within Hayward Field will be a QR code that, when scanned, takes fans to a custom, interactive site that will be the home to giveaways, games, content, and more. Throughout the meet, prompts will be made to open Digital Seat and play for a chance to win exclusive merchandise or seat upgrades.