The elevation of Hayward Field is approximately 420 feet (130 m) above sea level and its infield has a conventional north-south orientation.

[5][6] Hayward was built 106 years ago in 1919 to replace Kincaid Field, and was intended to primarily serve the school's football program.

[7][8][9] During halftime of the season opener that year, the venue was named for track coach Hayward; he was busy working as the team's trainer during the break, and did not know of the honor until the following day.

In 1949, a 28-row grandstand in the south end zone was constructed; with temporary bleachers in adjacent corners, the venue's capacity was raised to 22,500 for football.

School president Arthur Flemming was initially skeptical of the project, and asked Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to evaluate whether it was feasible expand Hayward Field to up to 40,000 seats (believed to be the minimum capacity for moving the entire home slate to Eugene), build a new stadium on Hayward's footprint, or build a new stadium on the northern site.

[15] As a result, Hayward Field's final varsity football game was played in 1966, a one-point loss to Washington State on November 5.

[32] The Prefontaine Classic originated as the "Hayward Field Restoration Meet" in 1973,[27][33] to help raise funds for a new west grandstand.

A state-of-the-art scoreboard was added in 1991, which gave unofficial times and competitors' placings just seconds after race completion.

The renovation would demolish both current grandstands and establish a new stadium around the track with a capacity of 12,650, expandable to nearly 25,000 for major events.

It has been the site of numerous NCAA championships, USATF Elite Running Circuit events, and the annual Nike Prefontaine Classic.

[40] Hayward Field appeared in a fictionalized staging of the Olympic trials for the 1982 film Personal Best, in the 1998 biopic of Steve Prefontaine Without Limits, and Alexi Pappas's Tracktown (2016).

[8] Bowerman began a public jogging program at Hayward Field in 1963 after a visit to New Zealand, inspired by coach Arthur Lydiard.

It stands on the northeast corner of the stadium and depicts five figures, reflecting the first 100 years of Oregon Track and Field: Bill Bowerman, Steve Prefontaine, Raevyn Rogers, Ashton Eaton and Otis Davis.