originally built for high school football and baseball, in 1969 it became the home of the eugene emeralds minor league baseball team, which previously played at the privately owned bethel park (north of roosevelt boulevard (); its outfield is present-day lark park). the emeralds moved up to the pacific coast league (aaa) in 1969 and needed a larger venue. after five seasons in the pcl, they returned to the class a northwest league in 1974 and played in the stadium through 2009. (high school football moved to the university of oregon's autzen stadium in 1969, following the installation of artificial turf.) before the departure of the emeralds in 2009, civic stadium was one of the ten oldest active minor league baseball facilities in the united states.