How should historic Hayward Field be improved so it can properly host 2021 Worlds? Post your modication thoughts here.

Wow, a lot of hate here. Anyway, some real response to the question.

Clearly the west grandstand can be extended to the head of the main straight. It is just a parking lot. That will gain a lot of seats.

East grandstand is pretty much locked in by the street behind it.

Seems that I remember that they put temporary stands over the Bowerman Family building during the Oly Trials. They can do the same thing.

So that leaves the south grand stands to work with. Those can be seriously expanded. But it would mean moving the scoreboard, probably to the north end of the stadium.

Regarding the "shambles" for throwing. Other than for the Hammer Hayward is fine as one can easily watch all the competitions inside the stadium.

Last item of course is always parking and transportation. They will simply have to run a lot of buses. No other real solution that I can see.

I have been to Hayward field about a dozen times, a couple of times as an athlete and a few as a coach and/or spectator. I like the old school way they work around the limitations, kind of like they do at Franklin Field. There are a few simple changes that can be done without issue, but the major changes are too many and a few are almost impossible unless you rip up the track and reconstruct the stadium. Short of doing that, you almost need to build a new stadium. One of my biggest problems is actually with the city of Eugene. Me and my family were in Atlanta is 1996 and even with sporting events happening all over the place, about 80% of the time we were exploring the city. Albeit, I probably would have watched more sporting events if I had been by myself. With that said, I can't imagine flying from Japan, competing in the racewalk on day-one and having to spend the next 2 weeks hanging out in Eugene. For anyone who has never been to Eugene, it is a pretty cool place, especially for nearby outdoor activities. It is your typically college town, meaning, when you take away the college, it's just a small town. It is by know means a good tourist representation of America for the WC demographic. People from far away want to see and do things, they have heard all of these great things about America and Eugene quite frankly will be a downer. - Vin is a bright guy, but I don't see how he can make this happen.

Just call it Hayward Field, adding "historic" at every opportunity is just cheesy.

Move Hayward to a non shitty town.

It's a shame the IAAF can't get a big city to host it's sole major championships. I suppose big cities still can't find sponsors to pay for the 5-Star accommodations and entertainment for the IAAF's 5,000 member delegation of big shots, military generals, and national royalty.

Big Boy Pants wrote:

It's a shame the IAAF can't get a big city to host it's sole major championships. I suppose big cities still can't find sponsors to pay for the 5-Star accommodations and entertainment for the IAAF's 5,000 member delegation of big shots, military generals, and national royalty.

No kidding. It's a mystery why it's in Eugene.

I don't understand it at all. Pick some place like

Kansas City, which is centrally located, not

Eugene.

Eugene is a small town with limited everything. Limited hotels, public transportation, etc. Access is a real pain with the nearest decent size airport 2.5 hours drive away where flights are rarely cheap and are mostly regional. The venue is cozy and lots of local support, but filling the stands with 50% locals is not what the World Championships should be about. Eugene is just not the right place and no amount of modifications will change that.

Not sure who puts these bids together or if USATF is involved, but the choice of venues for USATF events has been terrible. There are probably 20 venues in the USA with easier access and a better stadium already suited to a larger crowd in a city big enough to support an event of this size.

Saying it should be in Kansas City, however, is an even worse suggestion. At least Eugene has the potential for good weather part of the time. KC will have heat & humidity late into the night, torrential downpours, possible tornadoes.

Ban the Blojos and their no-talent ilk...that's a great start!

Move the World Champs down the road to Portland or Seattle. End of story.

I honestly don't know how they plan to stuff a World Championships venue into the space around Hayward Field. They'll have to build it over the street and current adjoining structures.

RealSuggestions wrote:

Saying it should be in Kansas City, however, is an even worse suggestion.

but it does start with a 'K'. look again ;-)

Are you nuts? Taxpayers in Portland and Seattle REFUSE to front the lavish expeditures required to tickle several thousands of do-nothing sponges that tagalong at every IAAF Outdoor Championships

vivalarepublica wrote:

Move the World Champs down the road to Portland or Seattle. End of story.

I honestly don't know how they plan to stuff a World Championships venue into the space around Hayward Field. They'll have to build it over the street and current adjoining structures.

I am not sure of the city regulations or U of O policies (but i think both would be on board), but i think the easiest solution would be to close off the eastern portion of E. 15th St. (between Agate and the U of O student fitness center.

That would provide enough of a footprint to enclose the north end of Stevenson track without losing the Bowerman building (which could be attached to the new north grandstand).

It may mean that Powell Plaza is lost but that corner could serve as the connection between the new north grandstand and the historic east grandstand.

Such an improvement would also cut down on the wind that has aided the sprint times and killed the distance runners on the back stretch.

The south end (current scoreboard side) could have a similar grand stand constructed on the footprint of the current temporary stands used during the 08 and 12 Olympic Truals.

Best way to improve the stadium for the 2021 worlds is to move the

event to the LA Collesium.

a.k.a The IAAF Mafia wrote:

Are you nuts? Taxpayers in Portland and Seattle REFUSE to front the lavish expeditures required to tickle several thousands of do-nothing sponges that tagalong at every IAAF Outdoor Championships

vivalarepublica wrote:

Move the World Champs down the road to Portland or Seattle. End of story.

I honestly don't know how they plan to stuff a World Championships venue into the space around Hayward Field. They'll have to build it over the street and current adjoining structures.

Good point. The IAAF Mafia does suck. Move it all the way up to Vancouver, let the Canadians deal with it.

I agree. I've been traveling to Eugene for meets off and on since 2008 and as much as I love it once I'm in the stadium, the rest is a pain. It should be someplace else. They need to "happy up" the oficials roaming all over the place too. It's a track meet...smile!

Dynamiting the 1st 10 rows of the EAST and WEST grandstands to make more room is the only major renovation required by IAAF Regulations. Other than that the stands are big enough for a small town Worlds in North America. Remember Edmonton 2001 had poor attendance since internationals found Edmonton too expensive to get to, inconvenient, and an un-appealing tourist location.

RealSuggestions wrote:

There are probably 20 venues in the USA with easier access and a better stadium already suited to a larger crowd in a city big enough to support an event of this size.

.

While the number is probably hyperbole the stadium and access questions are probably true. But there has to be support at those "20" venues for an event like a national championships or Olympic trials. Both the city and the track community have to go in on a bid w/money attached and this has not happened. USATF does not award events to cities where there is no support, regardless of how appropriate the venue/access is.

Niche sports championships will alwAys be had at crappy dumps where nobody wants to live.

Please arrange with the airlines to have frequent shuttles from between LAX and EUG. Our teams will be based in Los Angeles.