If you had access to tons of cash and were tasked to put in a Hayward-esque track-only stadium anywhere in the US, where would you put it? Ideally, this would be a place with decent weather, a major airport, abundant hotels, fun nightlife, and a large population of sports enthusiasts.
If you had access to tons of cash and were tasked to put in a Hayward-esque track-only stadium anywhere in the US, where would you put it? Ideally, this would be a place with decent weather, a major airport, abundant hotels, fun nightlife, and a large population of sports enthusiasts.
the Hayward rebuild was botched. Lines at the men's urinals with small crowds. No utility space on the track. No equipment level in the stadium seats. No underground parking. Corrodors are too narrow, clog up with small crowds. No food service facilities inside the stadium. Instead thet make food twp blocks away, and used to cart the food on the asphalt street one hour before meets before the CIty of Eugene cited UO for food safety violations.
2024 indoors had the New Balance facility packed/sold out well in advance at 5,000 seats. They would have sold 5,000 more tickets if they could have. Great crowds, good airport, lots of fun things to do, mild summer weather.
2024 outdoors at Hayward looked mostly dead at 12,500 capacity.
One BIG question should be WHEN will it be used for its most important purpose? If it is the NCAA Championships, then average weather in early June is crucial.
Rule out Miami. I live in South Florida. It is a hellscape down here right now. Heat, humidity, torrential rain.
Northern city, access to multiple airports, lots of hotels, freeway system that doesn't constantly back up, track fans (sufficiently large population to have fans within an hour or two, driving), mass transit from hotels to the facility...
Boston? Chicago?
I find the NCAA Site Selection Process to be weak on detail about the city. Here is a copy for the 2027 and 2028 First-Round events:
In an easily accessible suburb of Philadelphia. Great population base, good track history, and lots of track fans within an 2 hour drive. And the weather is usually not too extreme.
Chicago. Central, relatively north so a bit cooler (though there's more wind than ideal), big city + transportation hub so easy to get to. Not sure where you'd put it though - can't be downtown, buying up a few blocks in a bad area would be relatively cheap but nobody wants to go there, so maybe somewhere north? Maybe build it in partner with Northwestern?
Cincy is a hell hole. Dirty, humid as hell, in a valley so air is trapped and anyone with allergies or asthma is miserable. It would be a horrible choice.
Columbus or Indianapolis, both about 100 miles from Cincy, would be much better choices though still not ideal because of the hot & humid summer conditions.