Mac to Matt, Dream to Reality.

David R.

January 16, 2011 - 11:00 AM

Even though the college football season is over and we will all have to wait until next fall so see Oregon football back in action, Oregon basketball has begun a new chapter in its book as both programs have transitioned into the new Matthew Knight Arena.

Since observing the ground breaking my freshman year, I finally get to enjoy the arena as a senior before I depart from the University of Oregon. In the latter half of my freshman year, I would be woken up early in the morning on the weekends from the sounds of the construction crews wreaking havoc on what used to be in place of the arena. From year to year, I would keep an eye on the arena's slow construction process, and return in the fall for each new school year astounded at the progress that had been made. Regardless, Matthew Knight Arena has been more of a dream for the past three years, until the Oregon men's team took USC there on Thursday night, allowing the dream to become a reality.

All of the big dogs including Phil Knight were in the house for the first game, and the opening ceremony was one of the best ever. After Uncle Phil gave speech about the new stadium, a video of all the old McArthur Court memories began to play, as did the pump up music that got everyone excited about the new beginning for Oregon basketball. The cheerleaders did their thing on the court and after they cleared, hundreds of fans from the student section rushed onto it to keep the sell out crowd excited about finally being able to witness the first game in the new, so highly praised arena that rivals any other in the nation. After the students cleared, the band and the cheerleaders took the court again, accompanied by fireworks and bursts of flame used to celebrate the occasion. I definitely wasn't expecting a fire show but the crowd loved it and the ceremony itself was perfect for the grand opening of the stadium that will be home for Oregon basketball for many decades.

The pesky Trojans were probably the favorite in this game and I'm sure they thought they would have no trouble with our Ducks. While I was down on the court before the ceremony began I heard one USC player mention that they were here to ruin the party. The Ducks were determined to take a victory in their first game in their new home as the Trojans never held a lead in the game. The crowd was rowdy the entire game and I don't think the Trojans were expecting the look they saw from Oregon. Even though the new arena seats significantly more people than McArthur Court did, the arena was packed full and the student section provided the noise factor that was in USC's ear the entire night.

The game got close at the end, but Oregon held on for a win in its first game in Matthew Knight Arena in front of the man(Phil Knight) that provided the cash behind it. The arena is truly amazing and it is everything that it was talked up to be. Oregon is known for being slightly outrageous at times, so the floor design is fitting. The design includes trees that wrap around the outside of the court, with the words "Deep In The Woods" painted on the floor. I personally think that design is catchy and creative, and hopefully visiting teams will feel deep in the Oregon woods when they visit rowdy Matthew Knight Arena. Despite a close loss to UCLA yesterday, the Ducks have played well in their new home thus far, and hopefully that trend will continue for the rest of the season.