Articles and Activities Prohibited at Athletic Facilities

Policy Number: 
IV.07.04
Reason for Policy: 

This policy outlines the regulation of certain articles and activities at University of Oregon athletic facilities.

Entities Affected by this Policy: 

Any individual at a University athletic facility.

Responsible Office: 

For questions about this policy, please contact Intercollegiate Athletics at 541-346-4481.

Enactment & Revision History: 

23 July 2018 - Revisions approved by the university president

03 March 2017 - Revisions approved by the university president

04 September 2015 - Technical revisions enacted by the university secretary

01 July 2014 - Became a University of Oregon Policy by operation of law

Former Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 571 Division 50 Section 0011.

Policy: 

Articles and Activities Prohibited at Athletic Facilities

(1) The following items are not allowed inside (or on the rampways, stairways, or tunnels leading into) any University of Oregon (“University”) facility which serves as a site for intercollegiate athletic competition whether or not such competition is actually occurring:

(a) Purse larger than a clutch (4.5” x 6.5”) or bag including but not limited to briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, diaper bags, cinch bags, cooler bags, computer bags, camera bags, binocular case or luggage of any kind;

(b) Seat cushions with pockets, zippers, compartments or covers;

(c) Glass containers of any kind;

(d) Metal cans or bottles;

(e) Weapons;

(f) Fireworks, explosives, or munitions;

(g) Alcohol or alcoholic beverages or freezes;

(h) Vacuum bottles and other similar insulated containers (thermos-type containers);

(i) Open plastic beverage containers, unless empty;

(j) Poles or sticks including flag poles, monopods, and selfie sticks;

(l) Other items determined by a promoter, tour group, or University personnel based on show and/or audience, including but not limited to: cameras, iPads/tablets, plastic bottles, spiked jewelry, lighters, etc.

(2) The following items are not allowed in the specific venues listed:

(a) Matthew Knight Arena

(i) Outside food unless medically required.

(b) Jane Sanders Stadium

(i) Large coolers;

(ii) Pop-up tents;

(iii) Chairs.

(3) Exceptions to the above prohibition are limited to:

(a) Alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverage containers belonging to the University of Oregon, or to licensed concessionaires or catering services contracting with the University for its officially sponsored social functions, e.g., receptions, meetings, promotional activities, etc.;

(b) Weapons of on duty law enforcement officials;

(c) Fireworks in the custody of any group or person operating or presenting a fireworks display as expressly authorized by the University.

(4) University employees, contractors, or agents may request, as a condition of the license to enter the University’s athletic facilities, that persons about to enter allow inspections of all backpacks, briefcases, suitcases, athletic bags, packages, duffle bags, coolers, ice chests, picnic baskets, and other containers capable of concealing prohibited articles:

(a) Inspections under this section shall occur outside the facility's ticket gate or entrance. Persons possessing containers subject to inspection shall be informed that they are free to decline the inspection and may receive a refund of the price of the ticket upon surrender of their ticket, if any. In the alternative, the person may discard the container or prohibited items in the container or return them to a vehicle without inspection and then enter the facility without such items;

(b) Personnel making inspection requests are not obliged to cause entering spectators to wait in line while other inspections are occurring. Such personnel must, however, request to inspect the containers of the next person who appears to possess containers subject to inspection as soon as they have completed any given inspection;

(c) Signs shall be prominently displayed at each entrance to University facilities that serves as a site for intercollegiate athletic competition. The signs shall generally describe prohibited articles, explain the potential request for inspection and the right-to-decline options, including refund, if there is a cost for admission. Similar explanations shall be printed on season ticket order forms and shall be included on the venue website.

(5) A person discovered during an inspection to possess a prohibited article(s) shall be offered the choice of discarding the article(s) in a public trash receptacle or of returning the prohibited article(s) to a vehicle or otherwise legally disposing of it.

(6) If a person already inside the facility possesses a prohibited article, that person shall be considered to have violated the license to enter and view the event. The person’s license is automatically revoked and the person shall be requested to leave immediately. A person who does not leave following such a request may be treated as a trespasser.

(7) If a person requests a refund under the provisions of Section (3)(a) of this policy, University officials shall sign a bearer coupon and shall deliver it within a reasonable time to the person requesting the refund. Such a coupon shall not name the person possessing the prohibited articles, but it shall specify the location, price and date. This bearer coupon along with the unused ticket must be turned in at (or mailed to) the University Athletic Department's ticket office for a refund within 30 days. Service and other charges in excess of the admission price are non-refundable.

(8) Persons entering a facility, as a condition of the license to enter, may be subject to search by electronic wand or walk through metal detector regardless of whether they are carrying any of the above-mentioned containers.

(9) At the request of the event promoter management, and when deemed a reasonably necessary precaution by the University’s Chief of Police, persons may be subject to searches using pat downs.

(10) A person entering the facility who is observed possessing a prohibited article shall be treated as specified in prior sections of this policy.

(11) Open umbrellas are prohibited in all Autzen Stadium, Hayward Field, Pape Field, and Jane Sanders Stadium seating areas, seating area aisles, and standing room only locations. Complaints about violations of this section shall be made to Athletic Department officials or their designated agents. Violators failing to respond to a request to close their umbrellas by Athletic Department officials or their agents may be required to leave the event.

(12) Signs cannot be affixed to the facility nor displayed in a manner that obstructs the view of other patrons.

(13) Stadium seats, stadium chairs, or seat cushions brought by any person into any University facility which serves as a site for intercollegiate athletic competition may not exceed the following dimensions: 17.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches deep, with a seat back height that does not exceed 19 inches. The seat cushion may not exceed 4 inches in height. The seat back cushion may not exceed 4 inches in depth. The seat may not have pockets, zippers, compartments or covers.

(14) Patrons can bring in one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag that does not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” or a single one (1) gallon plastic freezer bag.

(15) The University of Oregon is a Smoke & Tobacco Free University. Smoking, vaping and tobacco chewing is not allowed in any athletic venue or University property.

Chapter/Volume: 
  • Volume IV: Finance, Administration and Infrastructure
  • Chapter 7: Property, facilities and planning; sustainability
Original Source: 
Oregon Administrative Rule