Where would be the best location in the US to put a track stadium that would actually draw fans?

Americans want to buy a ticket to a game, 2-3 hours, that’s it. What is this “four 15-hour days” business? Do we show up for a 3 hour block on one day and hope we see something we understand and can get behind? What color do we paint our face if we don’t know who “we” are in an “us and them” war? This sport is for insiders.

(Anyway, the stadium is not the problem.)

I think there are a couple right answers. Mass participation wise, the sport lives in the Northeast. That’s where so much of the money, along with youth and senior participation is. See where the clubs that take club cross seriously are located, and they’re there. With big airports, short driving distances, and AMTRAK, you could get to any of these cities with relative ease.

I think the White Stadium inside Franklin Park in Boston could use some major enhancements and be ready to host some big meets. Harvard Stadium or the Boston college one have the capacity but the physical footprint of it wouldn’t allow for a sizable track to be put there.

Under Armour just built a new fancy track in Baltimore. They put some stands there but the site would need some serious revamping to be world class. It would also be healthy for the sport to have another brand competing for Their facility to be showcased by usatf.

Finally, Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Penn Relays already get really good attendance numbers. The fan base is there. Many easy hotels and it’s near downtown, you don’t need to have a long in-town commute as if you were building in the boonies. Host USAs there as-is and I guarantee attendance would easily surpass whatever eugene is getting

Some good thoughts here. The problem with Franklin is the first 3 (I believe) lanes aren't regulation length. I don't understand why no one has ever proposed renovating the stadium to account for a 8 or 9 lane regulation track. You already have 5 regulation size lanes, knock out a few walls, take out some seats, voila, you've got a regulation track capable of holding national and international meets (ie NCAA, Olympic Trials, Diamond League).

I was going to say this too, except that Stanford's facility doesn't hold enough people. But premise here is building a new stadium and the Palo Alto area is perfect. Perfect weather (not windy like San Francisco nor brutally hot in summer like Sacramento or parts of the East Bay); low crime; lots of nearby airports (SFO, San Jose, even Oakland); lots to do; big, wealthy population; sophisticated track fans. There aren't a ton of nearby hotels but the Bay Area has plenty.

Track would have to be brought to WA global level standard.

Kern County, California

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There was big missed opportunity in LA after the 84 Olympics. There was non-profit youth sports foundation and library created with the surplus funds first known as AAF and now LA84. It would have been possible to headquarter USATF in LA and develop Mt SAC or other university stadium as a main competition site. It just shows the ineptitude of those managing the sport. Headquarters of major sport in Indianapolis? What a joke. The LA84 sports library has also been dismantled in recent years. It was amazing archive of track and field and now gone. Some of it sold off to highest bidder. So we have lost continuity and connection to the history of the sport as well.

Building a stadium anywhere will not solve the problem that the governing body is self-serving and interested only in their own well-being. They are clueless how to promote the sport. Sad to say I think we are past the point of no return for national and international competitions in the US. High school invitationals will continue to proliferate since most are not connected with USATF and promoted by sponsors. This is largest potential audience - everyone wants to watch their kids compete. Though all of the events are in competition with each other to attract athletes which dilutes the competition for each. This week alone there are five different competitions with USATF JO and AAU nationals later in the summer. Wouldn't it be nice to have one big nationals? That won't happen because none of it is about developing the sport.

USATF Junior/Under-20 Championships, Eugene, OR, June 12-13

Nike Outdoor Nationals, Eugene, OR, June 12-15

Brooks PR Invitational, Renton, WA, June 12

New Balance Nationals-Outdoor, Philadelphia, PA, June 13-16

adidas Track Nationals, Greensboro, NC, June 13-16

Nashville

You are spot on. A friend of mine was able to rent a house for the trials at $300 a night, a bargain compared to Eugene hotels. He has it for ten nights and when you factor in his airfare (East Coast to Portland then a drive down to Eugene) and incidentals, 10 nights in Eugene are costing him more then a week in Paris for the Olympics.

Mt Sac is a great facility in walnut ca.

Sports betting on races seems like a no brainer.

Renovate Franklin field in Philadelpia so it is a standard track. It would cost less, seats 60,000 would Host PENN Relays, NCAA, and Olympic Trials.

Adjacent to MSG.

Boston or Kansas City

Las Vegas

Nashville could work. City infrastructure is already there and the airport is already being expanded. Weather is good and is centrally located. They are building a new indoor football stadium for the Titans, so take Nissan Stadium and renovate it for a track.

Nashville also needs a legit 200m indoor track and could be a great Hotspot for the sport.

I think Minneapolis-St. Paul would make a good site. Centrally located between the coasts, not an elevation. Good airport plenty of hotels.

El Paso

In that case Minneapolis, most years it would be cold for the NCAA, but the nationals would be nice!