Phil Knight’s contributions to the University of Oregon have been substantial, with donations amounting to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. With the completion of the rebuilt Hayward Field track stadium in Eugene, his total gifts to the university are nearing $1 billion.
University officials have not disclosed the exact cost of the Hayward project, though an Oregon athletics financial report estimates it at $270,047,937, based on an appraiser’s estimate. Knight was the primary funder, but the university did not specify his exact contribution.
Over the past three decades, Knight’s generosity has funded a new library, a law school building, a basketball arena, and several upgrades to Autzen Stadium. For Hayward Field, Knight aimed to create a “magic venue” worthy of the world’s top track and field athletes and a fitting home for Oregon’s strong teams. The new stadium was deemed essential for hosting the Track and Field World Championships in Eugene in July 2022.
The Wall Street Journal first reported details of Hayward’s cost and Knight’s involvement. Other significant contributions from Knight, his wife, his companies, or groups he led include:
– $100 million for an athletic legacy fund supporting projects like the Matthew Knight Arena.
– $500 million pledged for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact.
– $25 million for a new law school building and 27 endowed chairs and professorships in 1996, plus an undisclosed portion of a $27 million library renovation in the mid-1990s.
– $41.7 million for a student-athlete academic and tutoring center.
Oregon officials noted that these figures do not include additional gifts from the Knights for faculty and teaching unrelated to facilities. Other donors also contributed to some projects, including 50 individuals for the Hayward rebuild.
Knight’s wealth from Nike has enabled his extensive philanthropy. Since stepping down as Nike’s chairman and leaving its board, he has focused on giving, with donations and pledges to Oregon Health & Science University also exceeding $1 billion.
The Hayward project was deeply personal for Knight, a former Oregon runner coached by Bill Bowerman, with whom he co-founded Nike.
However, the rebuild sparked controversy among track fans, including former Oregon runners and a senior Nike executive, who cherished the historic venue. Knight and Nike executive Tinker Hatfield publicly disagreed over the project but later reconciled, per emails cited by the Wall Street Journal. Knight wrote, “Tinker and I are fine,” and Hatfield acknowledged the new stadium’s beauty, hoping it would retain the “magic” of the original.
Knight initially hesitated when costs rose from $75 million to $125 million in 2017 but ultimately committed to the project despite the final $270 million price tag. He told university officials his goal was to create a lasting tribute to the perseverance, innovation, and achievement instilled by his coach and Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman.
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