Eugene Emeralds: A Comprehensive History and Timeline
The Eugene Emeralds (often called the “Ems”) are a Minor League Baseball team based in Eugene, Oregon, with a rich history dating back to 1955. Over the decades, the Emeralds have undergone numerous changes in league level and Major League affiliations, celebrated multiple championship seasons, and become a beloved community institution in Eugene. This report presents an exhaustive history of the Emeralds from their founding to the present day, including key milestones on and off the field, notable players who passed through Eugene on their way to stardom, and the recent stadium saga that now threatens the team’s future in Eugene.
Timeline of Key Events
Year Key Event
1955 Team founded as the Eugene Emeralds (named via a fan contest) and joins the new Class B Northwest League; wins the inaugural NWL pennant as an independent team.
1959 Emeralds secure their first Major League Baseball affiliation, partnering with the San Francisco Giants.
1963 Affiliation switches to the Chicago White Sox for one season.
1964–65 Becomes a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate (Class A NWL).
1966 Northwest League converts to a short-season schedule; the Emeralds operate as a co-op team (hosting both Phillies and Cardinals prospects). Notably, in June 1966 future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson plays his first professional games at Eugene’s Bethel Park, hitting his first pro home run there.
1967–68 Returns to sole affiliation with the Phillies in the NWL.
1969 Major upheaval: Eugene is promoted to Triple-A status in the Pacific Coast League as the Phillies’ top farm club. The team moves from tiny Bethel Park to 6,800-seat Civic Stadium to accommodate Triple-A play.
1974 After five seasons, the Phillies move their Triple-A team out (to Toledo) and the Emeralds drop back to short-season ball. Eugene rejoins the Northwest League and wins the NWL championship, defeating Bellingham in the finals.
1975 Emeralds repeat as Northwest League champions, sweeping Portland in the championship series. Eugene becomes a Cincinnati Reds affiliate, beginning a nine-year partnership.
1980 The Ems (then a Kansas City Royals affiliate) finish as Northwest League co-champions in 1980. The title was shared with Bellingham after the finals were cut short.
1984 Affiliation changes to the Kansas City Royals (1984–94), marking a decade with the Royals’ farm system.
1995 New affiliation with the Atlanta Braves (1995–98).
1999 Affiliates with the Chicago Cubs for two seasons (1999–2000).
2001 Becomes a farm club of the San Diego Padres (2001–2014), a relationship that will last 14 seasons.
2009 Final season played at historic Civic Stadium, which had been the Emeralds’ home for 40 years. The old ballpark would tragically burn down due to arson in 2015.
2010 The Emeralds move into PK Park, a new ballpark on the University of Oregon campus. This modern facility, shared with the Oregon Ducks baseball team, becomes the Ems’ home from 2010 onward.
2011 Eugene wins the NWL West Division and makes the playoffs (as a Padres affiliate).
2016 Now a Cubs affiliate, the Emeralds win the Northwest League championship, their first title since 1980. (They defeated Hillsboro in the semifinal and Everett in the final.)
2018 The Emeralds clinch another NWL championship – in remarkable fashion. Despite a poor 31–45 regular-season record, Eugene snuck into the playoffs and went on a Cinderella run, earning the nickname the “Bad News Ems.” They swept Hillsboro and Spokane to take the title, the worst regular-season record ever for a NWL champion.
2020 The minor league season is canceled due to COVID-19. MLB then overhauls the minors: Eugene is invited to move up to High-A as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants (returning to the organization that first affiliated with them in 1959).
2021 The Emeralds’ first year at the High-A level (in the new High-A West league) is a triumphant one: Eugene finishes 69–50 and wins the High-A West league championship by defeating Spokane in the finals.
2022 High-A West is renamed the Northwest League (honoring the historic league name) and the Emeralds repeat as Northwest League champions, sweeping Vancouver for the title.
2024 A local ballot measure to fund a new multi-use stadium for the Emeralds (with a $15 million bond) is rejected by Eugene voters in May, putting the team’s future in jeopardy. Team management warns that without a new stadium, MLB will relocate the franchise.
2025 Facing MLB’s facility deadline and no stadium plan, the Emeralds announce they will relocate in the coming years after 70 years in Eugene. The team will continue playing at PK Park in the short term while actively seeking a new home city.
Team Origins and Founding
The Emeralds were born in 1955 as a charter member of the Class B Northwest League (NWL), bringing professional baseball back to Eugene after a few dormant years.
The team’s name was chosen via a fan contest won by an 11-year-old local boy, Bowen Blair.
In their very first season, the Emeralds validated their existence by winning the NWL’s inaugural pennant (league championship) as an unaffiliated, independent club. This early success instantly ingrained the Emeralds in the local sports scene.
Originally, the Emeralds played at Bethel Park in north Eugene, a modest 4,000-seat wooden ballpark at Roosevelt Blvd and Maple St. Bethel Park had previously hosted the Eugene Larks (a Class D team in 1950–51) and was resurrected for the Emeralds’ arrival.
For 14 seasons (1955–1968), the Emeralds competed in the Northwest League, providing affordable family entertainment and developing young talent despite having no steady Major League parent club for much of that period. During this era, Eugene operated mostly as an independent minor league team – meaning they did not have a dedicated MLB affiliation until the end of the 1950s.
The Giants became Eugene’s first affiliate in 1959, but the relationship lasted only a few years.
In the early 1960s, the Ems’ affiliation status changed frequently (reflecting the volatile nature of minor leagues then), and the team even spent some years rostered with players from multiple MLB organizations at once (known as a co-op team).
A notable footnote from the 1960s: Reggie Jackson’s first professional game took place in Eugene (albeit as an opponent).
In June 1966, the Northwest League’s move to a shorter season coincided with Jackson’s debut in the league. Playing for the visiting Lewiston Broncs, a 20-year-old Reggie Jackson recorded his first pro base hit and first home run at Eugene’s Bethel Park.
This memorable moment – a future Hall of Famer homering in Eugene – is part of local lore from the Emeralds’ early days.
By the late 1960s, the Emeralds had proven that Eugene could support a higher level of baseball.
In 1969, a major development took place: the Emeralds were elevated to Triple-A. The Phillies moved their Triple-A affiliate to Eugene, making the Emeralds the top farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies.
This shift made Eugene one of the smallest markets in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL). The move up in class also prompted the team to relocate from Bethel Park (which was soon torn down for an unbuilt highway project)to Eugene’s Civic Stadium, a larger venue. Civic Stadium, built in 1938, was a historic wooden ballpark that had primarily hosted high school sports and semi-pro baseball; it now became home to Triple-A baseball in Eugene.
Affiliations and League Changes
Throughout their history, the Emeralds have been associated with eight different MLB franchises as affiliates, and they have shifted between several levels of minor league classification. These changes often coincide with broader shifts in Minor League Baseball or the needs of Major League clubs:
Independent (1955–1958): For the first four seasons, Eugene had no MLB parent club. They fielded their own roster of players and managed player development independently.
San Francisco Giants (1959–1962): The Emeralds’ first affiliation was with the Giants, beginning in 1959. This partnership marked the first time Eugene’s team received a pipeline of prospects from an MLB organization. It was during this period the Ems were a Class B (later reclassified to Class A) club in the Northwest League.
Chicago White Sox (1963): In 1963 the Ems had a one-year stint as a White Sox affiliate(the NWL at this point was considered Class A).
Philadelphia Phillies (1964–1965): The affiliation then shifted to the Phillies in 1964. After two seasons, the formal tie was briefly interrupted,though unofficially the Phillies continued to send players.
Co-op (1966): In 1966, the Emeralds did not have an exclusive MLB affiliate; instead, they operated as a cooperative team with players from the Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals organizations sharing the roster. This was a stopgap arrangement during a time of flux in the NWL.
Philadelphia Phillies, Triple-A era (1967–1973): The Phillies-affiliate relationship was solidified again in 1967. In 1969, Eugene’s promotion to Triple-A PCL made the Emeralds the Phillies’ top farm team. During 1969–73, many of the Phillies’ future stars passed through Eugene (see the notable players section), as the Ems played in the Pacific Coast League. The team even won the PCL West Division in 1972, although they fell in the playoff finals that year.
Cincinnati Reds (1975–1983): After the 1973 season, the Phillies moved their Triple-A club elsewhere, leaving Eugene without PCL baseball. The Emeralds ownership and local supporters opted to keep the team alive by rejoining the short-season Northwest League in 1974. That first summer back in short-season ball, the Ems fielded a mixed roster (with players from the Phillies and Giants) and promptly won the NWL championship. Starting in 1975, Eugene secured a new long-term affiliate: the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds affiliation lasted nine seasons and coincided with the late years of Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” era – meaning some future Reds like outfielder Eric Davis spent time in Eugene developing their skills.
Kansas City Royals (1984–1994): In 1984 the Emeralds began a decade-long partnership with the Royals. This period saw the Ems develop players for Kansas City; notably, several members of the late-1980s Royals (including pitcher Kevin Appier) came up through Eugene.
Atlanta Braves (1995–1998): The mid-90s brought a new affiliation with the Braves. Atlanta was in the midst of its 1990s success, and the Eugene club featured some Braves prospects of that era. However, this partnership was relatively short-lived.
Chicago Cubs (1999–2000): For two seasons at the end of the 90s, the Emeralds were aligned again with the Chicago Cubs (the Cubs had a brief previous relationship with Eugene in the early 1960s, though not as formal affiliates).
San Diego Padres (2001–2014): Starting in 2001, Eugene became the short-season Class A affiliate of the Padres. This 14-year stretch was one of the longer continuous affiliations in team history. Many players who eventually contributed to the Padres (such as Chase Headley, Nick Hundley, and Corey Kluber – who was drafted by San Diego) wore Emeralds uniforms in the 2000s. During this time, the Emeralds remained in the Northwest League (short-season A), which typically ran from June to early September each year.
Chicago Cubs (2015–2020): In 2015, Eugene switched affiliations from the Padres back to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were assembling a core that would go on to win the 2016 World Series, and several of those future Cubs stars (like Ian Happ and Eloy Jiménez) played for Eugene during this period. The Cubs partnership lasted through 2020.
San Francisco Giants (2021–present): As part of Major League Baseball’s reorganization of the minors, the Emeralds received an invitation in late 2020 to move up to High-A and re-affiliate with the San Francisco Giants. Eugene accepted, and beginning with the 2021 season the Ems have been the High-A affiliate of the Giants – effectively coming full circle to their first MLB parent club from 60+ years earlier. Concurrently, the Northwest League name was revived at the High-A level (after a one-year branding as “High-A West” in 2021). The Emeralds now play a full-season schedule (April to September) as a High-A team, a significant change after decades as a short-season summer club.
These numerous affiliation switches illustrate the Emeralds’ adaptability. Despite the changing allegiances, the franchise’s identity remained rooted in Eugene. Notably, through all these changes, the ownership of the Emeralds eventually stabilized under the Elmore Sports Group. Businessman David Elmore acquired the Emeralds in the 1980s and has owned the team for over 30 years. Under Elmore’s stewardship, the club has thrived off the field and captured multiple championships on the field (Elmore was on hand to receive the NWL trophy in 2016, his first title with Eugene after decades as owner). The Elmore Sports Group’s commitment provided continuity as the Emeralds navigated different leagues and affiliations.
Championship Seasons and On-Field Highlights
Despite the Emeralds’ role as a developmental team, winning has also been part of their story. Eugene has won eight league titles over the years (not counting division titles), spanning from the 1950s to the 2020s. Below are some of the most notable championship seasons and on-field highlights in Emeralds history:
1955: In their debut season, the unaffiliated Emeralds stunned everyone by finishing first and winning the NWL pennant. This set a winning tone for the franchise right out of the gate.
1968: The final game at old Bethel Park in August 1968 was memorable not for a title, but for a performance: an Emeralds pitcher threw a one-hitter in a 7–0 victory in front of the home fans. It was a fitting farewell to the small park that had hosted the team’s first 14 seasons.
1972: During the Triple-A era, the Emeralds had a strong 1972 season. They finished 79–69 to win the Pacific Coast League West Division, led by future Phillies Mike Schmidt and Bob Boone. Although Eugene fell to the Albuquerque Dukes in the playoff finals, the season was a success. Schmidt in particular put on a show in Eugene, hitting 26 home runs and tallying 91 RBIs for the Emeralds that year, foreshadowing his Hall of Fame power.
1974: Upon dropping back to short-season ball, the Emeralds immediately excelled. The 1974 Emeralds won the Northwest League championship, defeating the Bellingham Dodgers 2 games to 1 in the finals. This championship was somewhat poetic, as it proved that even after losing Triple-A status, Eugene could still field a winner. The team in 1974 was a mix of players from different organizations, yet they gelled under manager Chuck Goggin to claim the title.
1975: Eugene, now a Reds affiliate, repeated as NWL champions. The Ems swept the Portland Mavericks in two games to secure back-to-back titles. That 1975 squad featured several Reds prospects and marked the only time in Emeralds history that the team won consecutive championships.
1980: In 1980, the Emeralds (affiliated with the Royals) finished tied for the best record in the NWL. The championship series against the Bellingham Mariners ended up cancelled due to weather and scheduling issues, and the league declared co-champions. Eugene was awarded a share of the 1980 title, the franchise’s fourth league championship.
1985–1986: While not championship years, the mid-80s Ems (still a Royals affiliate) had strong seasons, winning division titles in 1985 and 1986 and reaching the NWL finals both years (they were runners-up each time). These seasons kept fans energized and produced some of the talent (like Bo Jackson and Kevin Seitzer) that would soon play in the majors for Kansas City.
1996 & 2000: The Emeralds, by then in the final years of the Royals era and the first year of the Cubs era, won their division in 1996 and 2000. In 2000, Eugene advanced to the NWL finals but lost a hard-fought five-game series to Yakima.
2016: After a 35-year title drought, the Emeralds (now a Cubs farm team) broke through again. The 2016 Emeralds won the Northwest League championship, defeating the Hillsboro Hops in the division series and the Everett Aquasox in the finals. That team was dominant during the regular season (best overall record) and delivered Eugene its first outright championship since 1975. The 2016 season also saw the Emeralds receive national recognition off the field – they earned Minor League Baseball’s “Golden Bobblehead” awards for Best Promotion and Best Community Promotion, thanks to a heartwarming season-long program with a local child as an honorary player (more on that in a later section).
Emeralds players celebrate a big win at PK Park.
The late 2010s brought multiple championships to Eugene, giving fans plenty to cheer about.
2018: The “Bad News Ems” championship. The 2018 Emeralds provided one of the most extraordinary stories in minor league history. Under manager Steven Lerud, the team struggled mightily in the regular season, finishing last overall at 31–45. However, because the NWL splits the season halves, Eugene squeaked into the playoffs by winning a wild-card spot in the second half. Once in the postseason, the Ems caught fire. They swept the league semifinals and then swept the Spokane Indians in the championship series. The Emeralds were crowned NWL champions despite a .408 regular-season winning percentage – the worst record ever for a Northwest League champion. This improbable run earned the team the nickname “Bad News Ems,” likening them to the underdog Bad News Bears. It also endeared the 2018 team to fans, showing that anything can happen if you get hot at the right time.
2019: While 2019 did not yield a title (the Emeralds lost in the NWL semifinals), it’s worth noting as the final season of the traditional short-season era and the year the team introduced the “Monarcas de Eugene” identity for select games (a Spanish-language alter ego as part of MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión initiative).
2021: In their first year at the High-A level, the Emeralds immediately found success. Eugene finished with the best record in the High-A West and went on to win the 2021 High-A West Championship, defeating Spokane 3 games to 1 in the finals. This marked Eugene’s first title at a level above short-season since the 1970s. Notably, 2021’s championship meant the Emeralds had won three titles in a span of six seasons (2016, 2018, 2021) – a testament to the strong farm systems of their parent clubs (the 2016 and 2018 wins were under the Cubs, the 2021 under the Giants).
2022: The Emeralds successfully defended their crown, winning the 2022 Northwest League championship (High-A). They swept the Vancouver Canadians 3–0 in the finals to secure back-to-back titles. This was the first time in Emeralds history that the franchise won consecutive league titles outright (their only previous repeat was the split-season/co-op scenario of 1974–75). The 2022 team, managed by Dennis Pelfrey, featured several of the Giants’ top prospects and solidified Eugene’s reputation as a powerhouse at the High-A level.
In addition to these championship seasons, Eugene fans have witnessed other on-field highlights over the years – from no-hitters and record-setting performances to rehab appearances by major leaguers. One especially historic highlight came on July 28, 2015, when the Emeralds and Hillsboro Hops played a game at Cooperstown, NY, to celebrate the NWL’s 60th anniversary, bringing national attention to the league. Through all the highs and lows, the Emeralds have provided Eugene with memorable baseball moments for generations.
Notable Players and Alumni
As a minor league club, the Emeralds’ primary role has been to develop future Major League players. Over 1,000 players have worn the Emeralds uniform, and many went on to notable MLB careers – including All-Stars, MVPs, and Hall of Famers. Below is a list of some of the most significant players who spent part of their early careers in Eugene, along with a brief note on their accomplishments:
Mike Schmidt (1972) – Hall of Fame third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt was promoted to Triple-A Eugene in 1972, where he belted 26 home runs for the Emeralds and earned a September call-up to the majors. He went on to hit 548 home runs in the MLB and won three National League MVP awards, cementing his legacy as one of baseball’s greatest third basemen.
Larry Bowa (1969) – Five-time MLB All-Star shortstop and later a World Series–winning coach/manager. Bowa played for the Emeralds during their first Triple-A season in 1969. He was the PCL’s All-Star shortstop that year and soon became a fixture in Philadelphia. Known for his slick fielding, Bowa amassed over 2,000 hits in the majors and even earned the 2001 NL Manager of the Year award after his playing days.
Bob Boone (1972) – Four-time All-Star catcher who had a 19-year MLB career and won seven Gold Glove awards. Boone came up to Eugene in 1972 (with his wife Susan and infant son Bret in tow) as a Phillies prospect. He had an outstanding season in Eugene, batting .308 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs for the Emeralds. Boone was called up to Philadelphia late that year, which launched a decorated MLB career including a 1980 World Series championship with the Phillies. Renowned for his defense, Boone caught over 2,200 games in the majors (at one time a record) and his family became one of baseball’s only three-generation MLB lineages (father Ray, son Bret, and son Aaron all also played in the majors).
Greg “The Bull” Luzinski (1971) – A fan-favorite power hitter, Luzinski played for Eugene in 1971 (Triple-A). He hit 36 homers for the Emeralds over 1970–71 combined, helping develop his prodigious power. Luzinski went on to be a four-time All-Star with the Phillies, forming a feared tandem with Mike Schmidt in Philadelphia’s lineup. He won a World Series in 1980 and hit 307 career MLB home runs.
Kevin Appier (1987) – A right-handed pitcher who starred for the Kansas City Royals in the 1990s, Appier passed through Eugene in 1987 as a young arm out of the Royals’ draft. In Eugene he showed flashes of brilliance that would translate to the big leagues. Appier later became a 1995 MLB All-Star and World Series champion (2002), and he was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. Known for his nasty slider, Appier led the American League in ERA in 1993.
Eric Davis (1980–1981) – A dynamic outfielder and one of the most exciting players of the late 1980s. Davis played for the Emeralds in 1980–81 (when Eugene was a Reds affiliate) and his elite athleticism was on full display even then. He progressed to the Cincinnati Reds and became a two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, and a key part of the Reds’ 1990 World Series championship team. Davis was famed for being a 30–30 player (home runs and steals) and is enshrined in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Rob Dibble (1983) – A flame-throwing relief pitcher who was part of Cincinnati’s “Nasty Boys” bullpen. Dibble pitched in Eugene in 1983, honing the fastball that would later regularly hit 100 mph. He went on to be a two-time All-Star in the majors and won the NLCS MVP in 1990 as he helped the Reds to a World Series title that year. Dibble amassed 500+ strikeouts in a relatively short MLB career and later became a TV analyst.
Corey Kluber (2007) – A two-time Cy Young Award winner in the majors, Kluber’s journey included a stop in Eugene after being drafted by the Padres. In 2007, Kluber pitched for the Emeralds, showing early signs of the command and cut fastball that would make him an ace. Traded to Cleveland, Kluber blossomed into a three-time All-Star and two-time AL Cy Young Award winner (2014 and 2017). His success illustrates the caliber of talent that has passed through Eugene.
Mike Sweeney (1992–93) – A five-time All-Star first baseman/DH for the Kansas City Royals. Sweeney was a teenage catcher when he played for the Emeralds in 1992 and 1993 (in the Royals farm system) and quickly became a top hitting prospect. He eventually spent 13 years in the majors, hitting over .300 five times and slugging 215 career home runs. Sweeney was a 5× All-Star and later inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame, remembered as one of KC’s great hitters.
Trea Turner (2014) – An elite speedster and hitter, Turner had a brief stint with the Emeralds in 2014 (after being drafted by the Padres). He played shortstop for Eugene in the summer of 2014 and his exceptional speed was evident. Turner was later traded to the Washington Nationals, where he became a two-time All-Star, led the NL in batting in 2021, and won a World Series in 2019 as the Nationals’ shortstop. Known for hitting for cycles and stealing bases, Turner has become one of MLB’s most dynamic players.
Ian Happ (2015) – A versatile outfielder/second baseman, Happ was the Chicago Cubs’ first-round pick in 2015 and was sent to Eugene for his pro debut. In the summer of 2015 with the Emeralds, Happ showcased his switch-hitting power (he led the team in OPS). He rose to the majors and in 2022 Ian Happ was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Cubs. He was also part of Chicago’s postseason teams in the late 2010s and continues to be a key middle-of-the-order hitter.
Eloy Jiménez (2015) – Another member of that talent-laden 2015 Emeralds squad, Jiménez was a highly touted international signee by the Cubs. He played alongside Ian Happ in Eugene, giving local fans a glimpse of his prodigious power. Eloy later was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he became a Silver Slugger winner (2020) as an outfielder/DH. Jiménez hit 31 home runs in his rookie season and is regarded as a cornerstone power bat for the White Sox when healthy.
(Many other notable MLB players spent time in Eugene – from Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning (who managed the Emeralds in 1973), to long-time stars like Lance Parrish and John Olerud (who had brief rehab stints in Eugene), to recent rising stars like Marco Luciano (Giants prospect). This list could go on, but the above names give an idea of the caliber of talent that has worn an Emeralds jersey.)* Each of these players has left a legacy both in Eugene and at the Major League level. Emeralds fans take pride in having seen these stars “on the way up.” To this day, a trip to an Emeralds game might offer a first look at tomorrow’s MLB All-Star – a fact that has drawn many Eugene fans to the ballpark summer after summer.
Stadium History and Community Impact
Ballparks: The Emeralds’ home ballparks have been central to the team’s identity and connection with the community.
In their first 14 seasons, the Emeralds played at Bethel Park, a simple neighborhood ballfield in West Eugene. Despite its limited amenities, Bethel Park had charm – it even had a grass parking lot – and it witnessed many early Emeralds memories.
After the 1968 season, Bethel Park was demolished (the land cleared for a highway project that never materialized), but longtime fans still recall it as the site of Eugene’s baseball rebirth in the 1950s.
Starting in 1969, the team’s home was Civic Stadium, a historic wooden grandstand stadium located in the South Eugene neighborhood. Built in 1938, Civic Stadium had deep roots in the community; it was owned by the Eugene School District and had hosted high school football and local baseball for decades. The Emeralds’ move to Civic Stadium in ’69 coincided with their jump to Triple-A, and suddenly the old park was hosting future major leaguers and drawing record crowds (the Ems’ attendance peaked in the Triple-A years).
Civic Stadium’s rustic all-wood construction and intimate setting (nestled in a residential area on Willamette Street) made it a beloved venue. Generations of Eugenans have fond memories of summer nights at Civic – whether it was watching Mike Schmidt smash home runs beyond the left-field fence or kids chasing foul balls under the wooden bleachers.
The Emeralds continued to play at Civic Stadium all the way through 2009. By the 2000s, however, Civic was showing its age. The facility lacked modern amenities and required costly upkeep.
In 2010, the Emeralds bid farewell to Civic and moved to a brand new facility: PK Park.
PK Park is located on the University of Oregon campus (near Autzen Stadium) and was built in partnership with UO to host both the Ducks collegiate baseball team and the Emeralds. It offered modern seating, concessions, suites, and other upgrades that Civic lacked.
Starting in 2010, the Emeralds have played their home games at PK Park, which seats about 4,000 and features artificial turf and other contemporary design elements.
The transition from Civic Stadium to PK Park was bittersweet. While fans appreciated the comfort and cleanliness of PK Park, many were sad to leave Civic, which had been the heart of Eugene baseball for 40+ years.
After the Emeralds’ departure, Civic Stadium sat vacant.
Tragically, on June 29, 2015, the historic wooden ballpark burned down in a massive fire (determined to be arson).
The loss of Civic Stadium was deeply felt in the community – it was as if a piece of Eugene’s soul was gone. A grassroots effort had been underway to preserve and repurpose the old stadium, but the fire ended those hopes. Today, only memories (and a plaque) remain at the site, but the Emeralds honor Civic Stadium’s legacy regularly, and fans still swap stories of the old days there.
Despite moving across town to PK Park, the Emeralds remained a community-focused team. In fact, the Emeralds organization has prided itself on being a model community citizen in minor league sports. They have consistently run promotions, charitable events, and educational programs that engage the Eugene/Springfield population:
The team has been involved in youth initiatives such as helping to keep the local Boys & Girls Club open (notably stepping in with fundraising in 2011 when the club was in financial trouble).
Every year, the Emeralds partner with the Children’s Miracle Network, integrating an “honorary player” into the team to raise awareness and funds for children’s health causes. In 2016, this program with a young cancer survivor named Hayden won a national award for the Ems.
The Emeralds host an annual “Education Day” game for local school children and have reading programs (like “Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge,” named after the team’s mascot Sluggo) to encourage literacy.
They participate in community events like Relay for Life (cancer research fundraiser) and even emergency relief – for example, the team provided help to hundreds of residents during the devastating Holiday Farm wildfire in 2020.
Embracing the region’s diversity, the Emeralds have actively reached out to Latino fans. In 2019, they launched the “Monarcas de Eugene” identity (Monarchs) for certain game nights, complete with special uniforms, as part of MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión initiative. This was meant to celebrate Latinx culture in the community. Those nights proved popular, and the team continued with Monarcas games in subsequent seasons, featuring music, food, and entertainment celebrating Latino heritage.
The Emeralds also host an annual Pride Night to support the LGBTQ+ community, and a First Responders/National Night Out event in partnership with local police and fire departments. These events demonstrate the team’s commitment to inclusivity and community solidarity.
Fun promotions have always been a staple at Emeralds games – from giveaway nights to the infamous “Catch a GM” (where the general manager has dressed in a sumo suit and allowed fans to tackle him for charity). In one creative promotion, the Emeralds even partnered with Voodoo Doughnut to sell a unique maple bacon bratwurst donut in 2013, showing the whimsical side of minor league baseball.
All these efforts have made the Emeralds more than just a baseball team – they are woven into the fabric of Eugene. The phrase “community-owned” might not be literally true (since the team is privately owned), but the Emeralds have often operated with a community-minded philosophy. Longtime General Manager Allan Benavides (hired in 2010) has often said that community initiatives “drive our baseball club.” As he wrote in a public letter, the Emeralds view their accomplishments off the field – keeping nonprofits afloat, bringing people together – as equal to their wins on the field. Economically and socially, the team has had a significant impact. Summers in Eugene are marked by Emeralds games, where families come out to enjoy affordable entertainment. The team employs seasonal staff and provides internships for local college students interested in sports management. And, not to be overlooked, the Emeralds have been a point of civic pride – especially when the team brings home championships, as in recent years. Community leaders have lauded the Emeralds for improving quality of life and providing a common rallying point in a town known more for college sports.
Recent Developments and the Stadium Funding Crisis
In 2021, the Eugene Emeralds entered a new era by moving up to High-A, but this advancement brought new challenges.
Major League Baseball’s restructuring came with stricter facility standards for minor league teams. As a short-season club, the Emeralds could make do with sharing PK Park, but the move to a 132-game schedule (66 home games, up from 38) and the implementation of higher MiLB ballpark requirements quickly made it clear that PK Park no longer meets the necessary standards.
Issues included too-small clubhouse facilities, insufficient training amenities, and scheduling conflicts with the University of Oregon.
In early June 2023, for example, the Ducks hosted NCAA Super Regional games, forcing the Emeralds to relocate a home series to another state on short notice– a vivid illustration of the problem.
MLB has mandated that all minor league teams have a long-term ballpark plan that satisfies its requirements. Facing a deadline from MLB (reportedly May 31, 2024) to have plans for a suitable new home, the Emeralds and local officials began exploring solutions.
The preferred option that emerged was to construct a new multi-use stadium at the Lane County Fairgrounds (also known as the Lane Events Center) in Eugene.
This site, closer to downtown, would bring the Emeralds back into a neighborhood setting (much like Civic Stadium was) and would be owned by Lane County but leased to the team.
Plans envisioned a modern ballpark (capacity around 6,000) that could host Emeralds games and other events year-round.
Funding such a project – estimated at around $90-105 million – was the major hurdle.
A coalition formed to put the pieces together: the State of Oregon had earmarked $15 million in grants, Lane County pledged to contribute (via increased hotel and rental car taxes) roughly $35 million, and the Emeralds ownership would also invest.
That still left a gap that the City of Eugene was asked to fill. City leaders, however, were wary given other budget pressures.
In March 2024, after much debate, the Eugene City Council narrowly voted to refer a $15 million bond measure to voters in the May 2024 election, to provide the city’s contribution toward the stadium. The council made clear that voters would have the final say on whether public funds should go to this project.
A spirited campaign ensued. The Emeralds and supporters (including a “Save Our Ems” citizen group) urged that this was likely the last chance to keep the team in Eugene – warning that if the measure failed, the Emeralds would have no choice but to relocate.
They highlighted the team’s 70-year presence and the economic boost of a new stadium (as well as avoiding the loss of jobs and tourism associated with the team).
Opponents argued that the proposal was too costly and risky for taxpayers, especially with the city facing other budget shortfalls, and that the fairgrounds might lose valuable space for its other events.
The Lane County Board of Commissioners itself had mixed feelings – a county master plan did not endorse the stadium on the fairgrounds site, citing the displacement of existing facilities and potential financial losses for the fairgrounds.
When ballots were counted after the May 21, 2024 primary election, the result was decisive: Eugene voters rejected the stadium bond by roughly 67% to 33%. The measure failed by a two-to-one margin, a clear indication that the public was unwilling to fund the project. Emeralds GM Allan Benavides, watching returns from PK Park during a game, said “it feels like heartbreak” as it became evident the vote was not close. “The voters have spoken,” he acknowledged, and noted that without a stadium, “Major League Baseball will likely move the Ems to another city”.
The defeat effectively closed the door on the fairgrounds stadium plan. In the aftermath, the Emeralds and local officials were left in a difficult spot. MLB’s deadline still loomed, and there was no Plan B readily available in Eugene. “We’ll have to get really creative if we want to stay here, or find a new home,” Benavides said on election night.
Over the next few months, the Emeralds ownership quietly began exploring relocation options. By early 2025, reports emerged that the team was in discussions with at least three other communities about moving the franchise.
Among the possibilities rumored have been smaller Oregon cities and out-of-state markets that might build a ballpark.
The Emeralds have a lease at PK Park through 2029, but it is under the University’s terms and not ideal for long-term pro ball. In fact, the team has to pay extra operational costs each year for the extended High-A season and temporary clubhouse facilities (like portable locker rooms for visiting teams), which Benavides described as “really expensive”.
The Emeralds indicated they would seek to exit their PK Park arrangement early, by 2026 or 2027, if a new stadium in another city is ready before the lease ends.
On March 18, 2025, the Emeralds made it official by releasing a somber public statement: after four years of exhaustive efforts to build a ballpark in Eugene, the organization had concluded that the future of professional baseball in the Emerald Valley is coming to an end.
The press release, while expressing disappointment, also stated that finding a suitable new site and constructing a stadium will take time, so the team will remain in Eugene for at least the next couple of seasons as a new home is secured. “For now, the Emeralds will continue to operate at PK Park, working closely with the University of Oregon to navigate the shared use of the facility,” the statement read.
The expectation is the Emeralds will stay through the 2025 season (and possibly one or two years beyond) before relocating. This announcement was described by local media as “‘deeply disappointing’: after 70 years, Eugene Emeralds to relocate” – truly the end of an era.
The prospect of losing the Emeralds has been met with sadness and frustration in Eugene. Fans launched petitions and farewell tributes, and local leaders lamented the outcome. However, without a viable ballpark solution, the Emeralds’ hands are tied by MLB’s requirements.
It is a fate that several other minor league towns have faced in recent years amid facility upgrades across Minor League Baseball. As the Emeralds prepare for their final chapter in Eugene, they do so with a proud legacy behind them.
Since 1955, the Emeralds have been an integral part of the Eugene-Springfield community – providing entertainment, fostering young talent, and contributing to civic life. They leave behind memories of pennant races at Bethel, packed crowds at Civic Stadium, fireworks over PK Park, and decades of community goodwill. Wherever the Emeralds ultimately move, their history in Eugene will not be forgotten. From the first pitch in 1955 to the challenges of 2025, the story of the Eugene Emeralds is one of resilience, community, and baseball passion that spanned 70 years.