The reason Autzen concerts ended?

The reason Autzen concerts ended?: For several years now, there have been no rock concerts at Autzen Stadium. The last was the Grateful Dead. Why? There was a little law in Oregon that a private citizen could file for criminal forfeiture if a rented property was knowingly being used for criminal activities.

"For several years now, there have been no rock concerts at Autzen Stadium. The last was the Grateful Dead. Why?

There was a little law in Oregon that a private citizen could file for criminal forfeiture if a rented property was knowingly being used for criminal activities. The law was established during the time of state attorney general Dave Frohnmayer.

Later, when Frohnmayer was president of UO, Autzen was rented out to the Grateful Dead. What ensued was total criminal mayhem.

Illegal drugs were out of control. Girls were brought in to service the band. Attendees defecated in the aisles of Albertson’s and peed all over the produce at Safeway.

Moreover, the Eugene Police Department was in crisis mode for crowd control.

Detectives, working the Dari Mart murders, were placed on 24-hour shifts. It was a public safety disaster. 

At that time, the UO did not have an “illegal activities” clause in its rental agreement. Who would be opposed to the Grateful Dead anyway?

Being a property manager and landlord, I decided that if I had to follow the law, so did the UO. It took an R-G letter to the editor and a well-placed phone call. 

And now you know “the rest of the story.”

MARGARET THUMEL

Eugene