Reser Stadium Reser Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Corvallis , Oregon , United States on the campus of Oregon State University . It is the home of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific - 12 Conference . Originally opened in 1953 as Parker Stadium , the stadium was renamed in 1999 , and its current seating capacity is 45 , 674 . The FieldTurf playing field runs northwest to southeast , at an elevation of above sea level , with the press box above the grandstand on the southwest sideline . History and use . From 1910 to 1953 , the Beavers played their home games at Bell Field ( now the site of the Dixon Recreation Center ) , and also played as many as four games a year at Multnomah Stadium ( now Jeld - Wen Field ) in Portland . In 1948 , Oregon State president August L . Strand , athletic director Spec Keene , and Portland businessman Charles T . Parker met to plan a replacement for Bell Field . In 1949 , Parker kicked off the stadium fundraising campaign and made significant contributions of his own . In 1952 , construction of the stadium began . For Parker ' s efforts and contributions , the stadium was named in his honor , and the first game was played on Homecoming , November 14 , 1953 , with the Beavers defeating Washington State 7 - 0 . The stadium was renovated in 1958 , 1965 , and 1967 , reaching a capacity of approximately 40 , 500 seats , but the architect ' s full intent never came to fruition . In 1990 , with the construction of the original Valley Football Center behind the northwest end zone , capacity was reduced to 35 , 362 . The stadium was renamed in 1999 to honor Al and Pat Reser , owners of Reser ' s Fine Foods . The couple both graduated from Oregon State in 1960 and are major donors to Beavers athletics and OSU , though Al died at the age of 74 in 2010 . The Parker name is still honored at Parker Plaza , located between Reser and Gill Coliseum , the site of many pregame activities . The stadium is located on the southwest corner of the Oregon State campus at the intersection of SW 26th Street and SW Western Boulevard in Corvallis . In addition to football , intramural and club sports also use the facility occasionally . Reser Stadium alternates with Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon in hosting the Civil War game . Since 1954 , the games in even - numbered years have been played in Corvallis , odd - numbered in Eugene . Expansion and upgrades . Through the 2004 season , the official capacity of the stadium stood at 35 , 362 . In 2003 the " Raising Reser " campaign was initiated , which resulted in an increase of seating capacity to 43 , 300 for the 2005 season by way of constructing a new grandstand along the northeast sideline , with plans to eventually reach 55 , 000 seats through three phases of renovation . " Phase Two " of the " Raising Reser " project was completed between the 2006 and 2007 football seasons ; it enclosed the horseshoe in the southeast end zone with continuous seating in the corners . This addition raised total seating capacity to 45 , 674 and included the 80 x 30 ft . ( 24 x 9 m ) ProStar Digital VideoPlus Display screen . During the planned Phase Three , the upper level will extend through the southwest grandstand . Through the 1968 season , the stadium ' s playing surface was natural grass . AstroTurf was installed in 1969 , and replaced roughly every decade . In 1999 the surface was replaced with AstroTurf 12 / 2000 ; infilled FieldTurf was installed in 2005 . It is scheduled to be replaced again after the 2011 Football Season . The north end zone is also home to the Valley Football Center , which houses a large weight room , offices and meeting facilities , reserved primarily for coaches and administrators within the football program . Non - Athletic Uses . Apart from use from the Athletic Department , Reser Stadium is occasionally also used for various non - athletic events , particularly events such as commencement , held every June . This has allowed the stadium to hold notable speakers such as astronaut John Glenn and First Lady Michelle Obama .