DALLAS: 2 Day Indoor Track meet canceled hours before first race because track didn't fit inside of venue

I'm from Dallas and have avoided this meet like the plague. Last year it was a joke and this year it was just an embarrassment. I hope that all of those kids and schools get their money back from entry fees, etc.

I am sure some have already made the trip up and have come from a long way. How do you recant those travel expenses, etc.?

Why cant they just not use the outside lane?

Wouldn't it be easier to just host the meet at a venue that already has a track?

Get a dozen extra volunteers to stand at the bottom row of the stands to direct traffic in and out of the stands between races. Keep the bottom row free of spectators. You can still then have the meet, just with a bit less space in the stands.

Red State excellence.

Here's the problem with the track that they didn't count on:

http://gypsyville.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/i/biggertexas_1024x1024_1.jpg?v=1

Seems logical wrote:

Wouldn't it be easier to just host the meet at a venue that already has a track?

I don't think there are many permanent indoor tracks in Dallas. Do Texans even need indoor track? It's 73F and dry in Dallas.

Seems pretty silly to me as it looks as if they had already put in almost the entire straight away before deciding it was too close to the seats. You couldn't tell when you first came around the turn? Was there seating on the other side as well? Also, I don't think they would be able to put the track together properly anyway, as the union should be in the middle of the turn, so you can maneuver the track from both sides to fit properly together. To come around the entire turn and then try to match on the straight is very difficult to do, as you end up having to move the straight all the way from the previous turn.

I am guessing maybe they didn't put this together properly to begin with and don't have enough time or manpower to move the track into proper position. There are about 180 pieces of track plus the supports so lots of manpower to get this up.

Hardloper wrote:

Seems logical wrote:

Wouldn't it be easier to just host the meet at a venue that already has a track?

I don't think there are many permanent indoor tracks in Dallas. Do Texans even need indoor track? It's 73F and dry in Dallas.

I believe there are only two permanent indoor tracks in Texas.

A&M— that place is awesome

TxTech— I think their new track is supposed to be just like A&M’s, No longer a circle. I think it is now completed

Hardloper wrote:

Seems logical wrote:

Wouldn't it be easier to just host the meet at a venue that already has a track?

I don't think there are many permanent indoor tracks in Dallas.

I guess I don't understand why the meet has to be on an indoor track.

Measure once

Cut twice

Indoor track is becoming a thing in Texas for two reasons:

1) the promoters see a way to make a lot of money

2) UIL holds all the cards for outdoor track and doesn't have an official indoor season (not enough tracks). Clubs see an opportunity here and they are pushing it.

There really isn't a need for a season or even indoor track in Dallas.

Kids who want to compete can drive to Arkansas, College Station, Houston, or Lubbock and get 1-2 meets in and then wait a few weeks for outdoor.

My bad.

Forgot about the UH track

So, 3 indoor tracks in Texas

I'm from Dallas. Why were they having an indoor meet here? Where was it going to be? Who was it for?

Unless it's for college NCAA purposes (just go to A&M) I don't see the point. It's 75 right now and perfect. Why doesn't someone just host an outdoor meet?

I found this:

"The Dunamis Sports Group, after three decades, has brought indoor track & field back to north Texas. A replica of the track used in Portland for USAs, this track delivered blazing results inside The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. And we promise more dynamic events are forthcoming."

Same group that put on a meet at the Cowboys practice facility last year.

It must not be as expensive to put up a portable track. Anyone know the costs? Back in the day there were pro indoor meets all over the country (there was one at Reunion Arena in Dallas) and was the track transported around the country or did each venue have a track.

https://www.dunamissportsgroup.com/

wejo wrote:

I found this:

"The Dunamis Sports Group, after three decades, has brought indoor track & field back to north Texas. A replica of the track used in Portland for USAs, this track delivered blazing results inside The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. And we promise more dynamic events are forthcoming."

Same group that put on a meet at the Cowboys practice facility last year.

It must not be as expensive to put up a portable track. Anyone know the costs? Back in the day there were pro indoor meets all over the country (there was one at Reunion Arena in Dallas) and was the track transported around the country or did each venue have a track.

https://www.dunamissportsgroup.com/

It's tricky, but not as expensive as making the actual track...

So, the track for worlds in Oregon was actually a Beynon track, it was dismantled, reinstalled, and resurfaced in Iowa. This being a "replica" is probably only referring to the suspension system, as Dunamis is a separate company. So, as I understand it, Dunamis made this track, and paid for it, probably looking at an eventual payback, as their entry fee was pretty steep.

I'd say the track cost upwards of $700,000 (totally a guess, but if it topped 7 figures, I'd think they'd advertise it as a million-dollar track), only expense now is transport and storage.

It will be interesting to see how this track ages. As it isn't Mondo, in theory it should be a little better, but it's then messier to resurface lane one which takes a real beating. Also, since it is a suspended surface, in a few years, this thing is going to sound terrible and get slower. These two factors are a big reason Arkansas stopped installing and removing their surface at the Tyson Center for occasional events.

wejo wrote:

I'm from Dallas. Why were they having an indoor meet here? Where was it going to be? Who was it for?

Unless it's for college NCAA purposes (just go to A&M) I don't see the point. It's 75 right now and perfect. Why doesn't someone just host an outdoor meet?

1. They are having an indoor meet there because it is now Indoor Season.

2. High schools and colleges and unattached runners and clubs.

3. You can't just host an outdoor meet and it count for the Indoor Season.

And as far as "just go to A&M"...NOT EVERYONE IS INVITED TO A&M. It's D1 only and very limited even then to which D1 schools they allow in.

A&M has a bunch of meets. Schools usually get into one of them. One in January is specifically for smaller schools on the Friday before the major d1 meet.

It is only a problem if you're not invited because you're probably at a school with a small travel budget. Look for other meets or reduce the number you travel to.

The reason this meet was canceled was due to a size miscalculation and the track was too close to row 1 of the bleachers. Can't remember if it was posted above.