EUGENE, Ore. -- Some tailgaters will have smaller kitchens, and fans in recreational vehicles will see the end of a tradition as the University of Oregon builds a new baseball park and throws a curve at game-day football fans flocking to Autzen Stadium.

It used to be common for tailgaters to get multiple passes and snag two spots to set up tents, grills and other equipment. RV owners used to line up at dawn for first-come, first-served places.

All that will end, and hundreds of spots will be eliminated this fall as construction begins on the ball park in the northwest corner of Autzen's primary parking lot.

And parking will be more expensive, according to a letter from Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny to season ticket holders and contributors to the Duck Athletic Fund.

Reserved spots will require annual donations of $3,500 per car or $5,000 per RV.

About 400 to 600 unreserved or general admission spaces -- 400 to 600 spots -- will be distributed according to how generous the donors have been to the fund.

"We felt, given the parameters we had to work with, that this was the fairest way to reward as many donors as possible," said Matt English, interim executive director of the Duck Athletic Fund. "Our goal is to accommodate as many donors as possible."

The changes have upset some longtime fans, especially those who used to get up in the dark for an RV spot.

"That isn't what we've done for 35 years, said Paddy Sooy. "It's a little upsetting." She said she and her husband, John, have attended games at Autzen since 1970 and donated to the Duck fund since 1975.

Eventually, the baseball park itself will become a tailgate haven, restoring many lost spots.

"It's going to be a huge Oregon football tailgate party in the ballpark on every single football game," Joe Giansante, an athletic department spokesman, told The Register-Guard. He asked fans to be patient.

The first phase of the baseball stadium is expected to be ready next spring, with the playing field, lighting and temporary seating ready. It's not known how long it will take to complete the permanent seating and other features in the second phase.

The new parking plans at Autzen will allow fans to group spaces to create vehicle neighborhoods of friends and family members.

Exactly how many spots will be eliminated and for how long was not immediately clear.

The Register-Guard reported that the university is estimating 450 for next season, and planning documents filed with the city of Eugene set the number at 1,168.

But the Eugene newspaper said its examination of aerial photos and an analysis of such mitigating maneuvers as eliminating multiple passes and converting RV spaces to spots for smaller vehicles showed the net reduction to be close to the university's estimate.