Autzen Stadium is one of the best places in the country to watch a college football game. There truly is not a bad seat in the place, and design of the stadium bowl puts the fans right on top of the action (some seats can be as close as 7-8 feet from the sideline). No matter where you sit, you are guaranteed a great view of the field. However, there are still a couple of important warnings to bear in mind before catching a game at the home of the University of Oregon Ducks.

Oregon's fans are some of the rudest, most obnoxious people I have encountered at a college football game. While they are very vocal and strive to make the game very difficult for the opposing team on the field, they also strive to make the game as unenjoyable as possible for visiting fans. While one must expect verbal taunts (and maybe an obscene gesture or two) at any opponent's stadium, these classless behaviors seem to happen with much greater frequency at Autzen Stadium. I have even been physically confronted by Duck fans during every visit to Autzen. Minimal police presence and an unattentive event staff do not help this problem, either. Because of this, I would not recommend an Oregon football game as a family outing, even for Duck fans or casual college football fans.

The other major problem with Autzen is the lack of appropriate entry and exit gates. Parking (even though it is gravel) is not too difficult, and vehicle traffic is not too busy. But the design of the stadium creates all kinds of problems for entering and exiting. Autzen Stadium is basically a dirt pit with two big dirt mounds for the north and south "stands." The only ways to get into the main bowl of the stadium (besides climbing up one of the big dirt hills) are through gates at the west and east ends. Once inside, you must either go up the side of one of these hills or down to the field itself, and then follow one of the aisles to your seat. As you might imagine, getting as many as 45,000 fans out of the stadium after the game (or even trying to visit a Port-A-Potty at halftime) can be quite an adventure with this ridiculous setup.

Despite these warnings, the intimate setting is unlike any I have witnessed at any other college football stadium. If you have a thick skin and lots of patience, I highly recommend attending at least one game at Autzen Stadium.

Recommended: Yes

Parking Availability: No Problemo