Two new exciting outdoor track projects potentially being built in New England, one at UMaine and the other at Boston's historic/dilapidated White Stadium in Franklin Park.
As part of a major athletic facilities project UMaine had been planning to build a domed practice facility with a 300-meter indoor track - in addition to their existing one - but they were also going to demolish the outdoor track. Thankfully New Balance has stepped up with $7 million for a dedicated outdoor track facility and a separate soccer stadium. I know these are just early renderings but it looks pretty nice:
The University of Maine and University of Maine Foundation announced today plans for the state-of-the-art New Balance Track & Field and Soccer Complex, made possible
Over in Franklin Park, a group is planning to redo crumbling White Stadium as an 11,000 seat women's soccer stadium. There aren't many details in the filing but it looks like there would be a track underneath moveable bleachers for the soccer field, so would probably seat 8,000 or so for track. That would mean they could potentially host some major professional meets (Icahn stadium holds 5,000). Only issue is the renderings appear to show a non-standard layout with "flattened", multi-radius curves; let's hope that gets changed (track layout and renderings on pages 52, 135 and 146)
Any other stadiums have portable bleachers over the track? The Olympic stadium in London attempts to do this but for soccer I know people complain the angles aren't that great.
As a former UMaine Black Bear, I love this. There are a lot of local kids that end up running track at Maine. It will be great for them to have a state of the art track to run on.
City officials say football will be prohibited at the stadium during the professional soccer season, which in 2024 is scheduled to run from March 16 until Nov. 3.
Boston Unity Soccer’s core ownership group is composed of women who are investing in a women’s team that is expected to inspire young female student-athletes.
"It’s kind of ironic because I’ve spent my career coaching football and softball, and I put as much effort into coaching girls as I do coaching guys," Zizza said. "I understand they’re trying to empower women’s sports. No one is for that more than me, but at what expense ? For the football teams, this is kind of a kick in the butt."
What I was trying to describe was, instead of a standard track with two straights and two semi-circles of constant radius - the World Athletics standard is a 36.5m radius to the curb - each curve starts with a tight radius, then has a large radius in the middle, and ends with another tight radius. Sort of, but not exactly, like the path a steeplechaser has to take to the water jump. It allows a track to be built within a smaller, more rectangular footprint. There's plenty of room on the endzones of White Stadium though so I'm not sure why they'd do this, other than to get an endzone scoreboard a little closer to the field.
Boston Unity Soccer’s core ownership group is composed of women who are investing in a women’s team that is expected to inspire young female student-athletes.
"It’s kind of ironic because I’ve spent my career coaching football and softball, and I put as much effort into coaching girls as I do coaching guys," Zizza said. "I understand they’re trying to empower women’s sports. No one is for that more than me, but at what expense ? For the football teams, this is kind of a kick in the butt."
This is LetsRun.com, not LetsFootball.com.
The reason we now have so few venues capable of hosting major track meets in this country is that, everytime a football/track stadium gets renovated, the track gets booted for more football seating/better sight lines. This appears to be the reason Maine was going to eliminate its outdoor track. So I'm all for a stadium getting renovated and they actually expand the track. And there's no shortage of alternative high school football venues in Boston.
Boston Unity Soccer’s core ownership group is composed of women who are investing in a women’s team that is expected to inspire young female student-athletes.
"It’s kind of ironic because I’ve spent my career coaching football and softball, and I put as much effort into coaching girls as I do coaching guys," Zizza said. "I understand they’re trying to empower women’s sports. No one is for that more than me, but at what expense ? For the football teams, this is kind of a kick in the butt."
So the one instance ever where another sport was prioritized over football.
Interesting on the UMaine piece so will they now have an outdoor track and a 300m indoor track?
White Stadium: the Boston Unity will own 20 dates (I believe all weekend) plus 20 weekday practices per year. I wonder what the turnaround time will be on the temporary seats. Could a track meet be held all day Saturday if the Unity play Sunday afternoon?
Regarding football, its sad because this is supposed to be a stadium for local high schools. Of course we did not invest in upkeep and have let it fall into disrepair and no one wants to invest in our young people anymore. Instead we sell out to private companies who maintain total control. Only hope here is that womens soccer fails and the stadium is returned to the city all renovated, or women's soccer succeeds so much that the team moves to the new Revolution stadium as they outgrow White.
Nothing like supporting that rich tradition of Maine track and xc🥴
Could Hayward finally have a competitor in the Northeast?
New Balance has 3 footwear factories in Maine. This move is about continuing to support those communities and employees.
"Along with the gift, New Balance and the University of Maine will partner for a newly developed 'Future Scholars' endowed scholarship in the amount of $2,500 annually. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a graduate of Skowhegan Area High School, with preference but not limited to youth of New Balance associates, who plan to attend one of seven universities within the University of Maine System."
The problem with this facility is that it could have a negative effect on the Cross Country course. The stands on what is the backstretch in the stadium will be taken down and a new building will be put up and will most likely alter the 1st and 4th loop. There's a chance that Cross Country will no longer be able to be held at the course. Also, if the stadium is being built for women's soccer, the track is going to be the secondary priority. I'm a big believer in the promotion of women's athletics but there are many more options of locations for this stadium that won't have such a negative effect on so many other sports.
It looks like the new White Stadium will encroach on the xc course. It seems like they think they can move the course onto the paved road. It's clear no one from the tfxc community was consulted on this. There are also no throwing or jumping areas shown, and the pro soccer team certainly won't allow throwing events on the infield.
Any other stadiums have portable bleachers over the track? The Olympic stadium in London attempts to do this but for soccer I know people complain the angles aren't that great.
sounds like a track being built around a soccer field. IE, If thats the case, no pro meets will be held there but it could be used for training by local clubs
Any other stadiums have portable bleachers over the track? The Olympic stadium in London attempts to do this but for soccer I know people complain the angles aren't that great.
Stade de France has moveable seating that gets pushed back for when the track is in use.
The plans all show a swath of green remaining between the east grandstand and Playstead Road, so it shouldn't alter the course. There may be a few additional sidewalks to cross but they could always coat those sections with a rubberized surface. No more "clack-clack-clack" when everyone hits the concrete section in the first mile.
Stade de France has moveable seating that gets pushed back for when the track is in use.
Stade de Maine won't have the same kind of budget.
You're conflating two different projects. The Maine project is a nice new track for the campus, maybe they'll host conferences but not much bigger. Don't worry, your beloved Hayward will continue to host every single national championship for the next 50 years.
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