QuoteConstruction has begun on Valparaiso University's new track and field facility, as Valpo breaks ground on the eight-lane Warren G. Hoger Track at Brown Field, part of a wholesale reevaluation of the campus' athletics and recreation facilities as outlined in the Campus Master Plan.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/mtrack/news/2013-14/13721/valpo-begins-construction-on-new-track-and-field-facility/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/mtrack/news/2013-14/13721/valpo-begins-construction-on-new-track-and-field-facility/)
:cheers:
Exciting! can't wait to see it at Homecoming.
(http://i.imgur.com/CMMwhL2.jpg)
valpo04 edit: LAA, Google Chrome didn't like your memegenerator link. Apparently that site has been flagged for malware. I uploaded your image to imgur to get around it.
What exactly is meant by "part of a wholesale reevaluation of the campus' athletics and recreation facilities as outlined in the Campus Master Plan."?? The track was a part of the FITT program but was never realized.
I assume that it has something to do with the feedback we received from the MVC when they were entertaining us as an expansion option. We are 'reevaluating' the timeline of said projects, I assume, to hopefully get our programs up to speed with some of the better mid-major programs.
Let's hope so.
BTW, I sent ML an email requesting that the Athletic Department investigate the possibility of setting up a webcam to record the construction and link it to the VUAthletics web site. If that can't be done, I suggested a fallback of weekly Twitter/Facebook posts to publicize the construction.
It would be great to follow the progress, because I believe this is the biggest athletic facility upgrade since the installation of the Brown Field turf.
Hey valpopal, this has nothing to do with this thread, but would you mind posting photos, from time to time, about the track project? It would be much appreciated!
Quote from: vu72 on May 12, 2014, 09:22:28 PM
Hey valpopal, this has nothing to do with this thread, but would you mind posting photos, from time to time, about the track project? It would be much appreciated!
Already ahead of you on this. I went by there a couple of times Friday and Monday with my camera to check it out. So far, there is nothing much to show. At this point, they are just digging up the old tennis courts at the west end of the football field. I will keep an eye out for more interesting progress to photograph.
Does anyone know if the track will be the standard red and white, or a different color? I for one think it would be awesome to have a brown track with gold lines.
Quote from: valpopal on May 12, 2014, 10:00:43 PM
Quote from: vu72 on May 12, 2014, 09:22:28 PM
Hey valpopal, this has nothing to do with this thread, but would you mind posting photos, from time to time, about the track project? It would be much appreciated!
Already ahead of you on this. I went by there a couple of times Friday and Monday with my camera to check it out. So far, there is nothing much to show. At this point, they are just digging up the old tennis courts at the west end of the football field. I will keep an eye out for more interesting progress to photograph.
72 and Pal,
I contacted ML about doing a more widespread photo/constructioncam link to the athletic site. He said he'd try. Might be good to coordinate with him and get the pics (or video ) oy there to more than just this board. Sorry - :hijack:
ML told me in an email that it would be standard. The upcharge for non-standard is $40K and he wanted that money to pay for some new equipment (Hammer/discus barrier, jump pits, etc.) Couldn't argue that that logic.
Quote from: valpopal on May 12, 2014, 10:00:43 PMQuote from: vu72 on May 12, 2014, 09:22:28 PMHey valpopal, this has nothing to do with this thread, but would you mind posting photos, from time to time, about the track project? It would be much appreciated!
Already ahead of you on this. I went by there a couple of times Friday and Monday with my camera to check it out. So far, there is nothing much to show. At this point, they are just digging up the old tennis courts at the west end of the football field. I will keep an eye out for more interesting progress to photograph.
Just one other note, the big fence between the west end goalpost and the now torn up parking lot has been removed. I'm sure that was a bigger part of the work than most people would normally believe.
Great news about the track! Athletes in all sports will be in significantly better shape now that they can run intervals!
Quote from: VULB#62 on May 13, 2014, 07:47:35 AM
Quote from: valpopal on May 12, 2014, 10:00:43 PM
Quote from: vu72 on May 12, 2014, 09:22:28 PM
Hey valpopal, this has nothing to do with this thread, but would you mind posting photos, from time to time, about the track project? It would be much appreciated!
Already ahead of you on this. I went by there a couple of times Friday and Monday with my camera to check it out. So far, there is nothing much to show. At this point, they are just digging up the old tennis courts at the west end of the football field. I will keep an eye out for more interesting progress to photograph.
72 and Pal,
I contacted ML about doing a more widespread photo/constructioncam link to the athletic site. He said he'd try. Might be good to coordinate with him and get the pics (or video ) oy there to more than just this board. Sorry - :hijack:
Thanks for the picture of week 1 construction on the track on Twitter, pal! You do a GREAT job with your photo's.
[tweet]466743240775847937[/tweet]
As I've opined elsewhere, a track around the football field is for high schools / middle schools. For a bloody university, in 2014 (!!!), the track should have been put anywhere else. This development pisses me off, I don't know why everyone else is so happy. Yes, it was ridiculously embarrassing that we did not have an on-campus track. But it's nothing to get excited about to see hefty funds misappropriated for new construction that adds it to our football complex like we're a damn high school / middle school (or a small college from 100 years ago). What a joke. And I say all this based on 2014 standards. In 20 years, it will be even more laughable. Perception is everything, too bad our leaders are blind and stuck in the 1950s.
Quote from: rink on May 17, 2014, 04:41:57 PM
As I've opined elsewhere, a track around the football field is for high schools / middle schools. For a bloody university, in 2014 (!!!), the track should have been put anywhere else. This development pisses me off, I don't know why everyone else is so happy. Yes, it was ridiculously embarrassing that we did not have an on-campus track. But it's nothing to get excited about to see hefty funds misappropriated for new construction that adds it to our football complex like we're a damn high school / middle school (or a small college from 100 years ago). What a joke. And I say all this based on 2014 standards. In 20 years, it will be even more laughable. Perception is everything, too bad our leaders are blind and stuck in the 1950s.
While I agree that the track should have been placed somewhere else, I realize that our football "stadium" will never be like a FBS stadium and that's ok. I would rather see us build a track now despite its location because we've been lacking one for so long.
Quote from: rink on May 17, 2014, 04:41:57 PM
As I've opined elsewhere, a track around the football field is for high schools / middle schools. For a bloody university, in 2014 (!!!), the track should have been put anywhere else. This development pisses me off, I don't know why everyone else is so happy. Yes, it was ridiculously embarrassing that we did not have an on-campus track. But it's nothing to get excited about to see hefty funds misappropriated for new construction that adds it to our football complex like we're a damn high school / middle school (or a small college from 100 years ago). What a joke. And I say all this based on 2014 standards. In 20 years, it will be even more laughable. Perception is everything, too bad our leaders are blind and stuck in the 1950s.
Geez, we could build the Barclays Center on campus and people would be unhappy. What kind of a football program do you think we have? We're in the Pioneer Football League, not the SEC. Of all the schools in the conference only Butler and Campbell have separate tracks. Dayton, Devidson, Drake, Jacksonville, and Morehead State all have tracks around their stadiums. Marist, Mercer, San Diego, and Stetson have no tracks and either have no track program or use their local high school's track. In the OVC half of their football schools have a track around their football stadium - Austin Peay, EIU, Murray State, and Tennessee Tech.
I'm not sure why you think it's so ridiculous to build a track around a football field, but it's pretty common in FCS. Where would they even put a standalone track? I think it would've been a huge mistake to build it off campus... the only place they'd be able to put a standalone track would be east of 130, unless they did something more ridiculous like waste the land by the hospital site. Logistically, a track around Brown Field made the most sense because it takes up 0 additional land.
Let me get this straight. We live in the shabbiest house in the neighborhood that everyone in town laughs at, and we have family members discussing whether we should plant the flowers we just bought for the backyard around the plastic birdbath or put them in a area by themselves. So wrong on so many levels.
Valpo track construction photo from week 2 from Facebook.
It is what it is. Laid on the ground around the turf surface, it will be a good looking facility and will enhance the whole competition area. It will sure look better than that wide expanse of grass that blatantly screamed "Track Wanted." BYW, as I'm sure most of you have recognized, this was not a spur of the moment design decision -- the new score board was placed outside the outside radius of where a track would be a few years ago when the turf went in.
What will help to distinguish it from most "high school" stadiums is the way the fencing and landscaping are planned and implemented. IMO it will come down to:
:( High School Look = 4'-8' Black chain Link fence and grass around the perimeter
:thumbsup: College Look = 6'-8' Black metal bar fencing connecting to brick posts with granite cap stones; curbed walkways around outer perimeter to the visitor stands, some grass between walkway and fence area, and mulch and plantings all along the fence base, including coniferous trees that as they mature help to enclose the stadium.
It will be interesting to see what we get as a final product.
Austin Peays track is partially gone into a sink hole...so we are looking pretty good!
Here is a link to the article:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/austin-peay-state-university-sinkhole (http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/austin-peay-state-university-sinkhole)
From the picture with the article, they also look like they are making a major expansion to the 10,000 seat stadium. For those who are interested here is the quote from their website on the $6 million expansion:
When renovated, Governors Stadium will have four levels, with most of the offices and dressing rooms, as well as a training room, on the first floor.
On the second floor, there will be meeting rooms and an additional weight room.
Fans on levels 3 and 4 will find the amenities of club seating and skyboxes – new features to the stadium. The skyboxes are tiered stadium-type seating with up to 22 seats per viewing room. In addition, each skybox has a bar with locations for bar stools, tables and chairs to seat four to six people.
Like most skyboxes seen in professional sports stadium complexes, the skyboxes in Governors Stadium will have sliding glass at the front of the viewing rooms, a push button to control a public address speaker and two television monitors.
BTW there is a track around the playing surface.
Quote from: wh on May 19, 2014, 02:30:49 PM
Let me get this straight. We live in the shabbiest house in the neighborhood that everyone in town laughs at, and we have family members discussing whether we should plant the flowers we just bought for the backyard around the plastic birdbath or put them in a area by themselves. So wrong on so many levels.
I think in this case it's more like a slab is missing in the walkway to the house and when we go to pour some concrete, people start complaining it's not cobblestone.
We have to start somewhere. The administration has gotten in a terrible habit of creating unrealistic master plans without any sort of follow through. I think the most recent master plan is ridiculously optimistic, but at least they're following it. Do I have confidence they'll have a baseball stadium built across the ARC in the next 30 years? Not really, but at least they're not rushing out 5 years after creating a plan and plugging in campus holes with whatever donation comes along.
(http://i.imgur.com/SRrahbz.png)
The master plan is overly ambitious and a bit unrealistic in all of our eyes because the university has invested only a fraction towards athletics compared to this proposal. But hey, it's something. The track was certainly the first item on the list, and we'll see in the next few years if they're serious about athletics. Will they redevelop the hospital land to something completely different? Will they re-purpose LeBien Hall? Or are they going to start buying the land between Lincolnway and Laporte and start razing some of the shady businesses that operate out of barbie-sized houses?
(http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/downloads2/452419.jpg)
I'm one of those guys who is all in favor of a track around the football field. The other option -- to locate it in a different, separate area -- has already been tried, hasn't it? I mean, for the last 40 years we've had a track in that lonely outpost known as Eastgate. That didn't work out so well. To me a track around the football field "feels" right for a school our size.
I would agree with wh that the athletic facilities at VU are not highly thought of around the city of Valparaiso. Whether that means that the ARC is "laughed at" by folks in town, I don't know. I attended my youngest daughter's graduation on Sunday at the Knapp Center at Drake University (home of mens' and womens' basketball) and it is definitely a nicer facility than the ARC. That being said, the Drake library and student union do not hold a candle to the library and student union at VU. In my humble opinion, a "mere" single change to the ARC would make a big difference -- adding windows to the north side of the arena. Drake did this and it is quite nice. Natural light, not as dark. More inviting. Of course, such a change would just by itself probably cost several million dollars.
We like to bemoan the fact that VU has not in the past followed through with grandiose Master Plans. I would simply like to point out that right now there are three construction projects going on around campus -- a new track, a new dorm, and the Chapel addition. That is a LOT for a 4,000 student school. And it is two more projects than are currently underway at Drake (the one project they are doing this summer --dare I say it? This will stir the pot :) --is a basketball practice facility).
Paul
Quote from: 78crusader on May 20, 2014, 11:21:38 AMWe like to bemoan the fact that VU has not in the past followed through with grandiose Master Plans. I would simply like to point out that right now there are three construction projects going on around campus -- a new track, a new dorm, and the Chapel addition. That is a LOT for a 4,000 student school. And it is two more projects than are currently underway at Drake (the one project they are doing this summer --dare I say it? This will stir the pot --is a basketball practice facility).
For the first time in forever, I think we're seeing serious action on a grand plan, and that's why I'm more optimistic about them following it for athletics. But we'll see. I don't think it's a "hey there's some land available, lets put some tennis courts there" mentality. Greek Life will eventually go where Greek Life is planned to go now... they've seemed to change their mind a dozen times on this, from wanting it on the hill where the welcome center is now, to Eastgate, back to Mound Street, to now by the ARC. They're not building a new stadium, or waiting for one to be built for the area, so I think there's some form of a plausible strategy that involves building a cheaper athletics complex that isn't a new stadium (which I've argued would be a colossal waste of money). Maybe once they realized this, they can make improvements to the ARC without worrying that they're throwing money into a sinking ship. They got a new scoreboard and a new sound system, but there's a huge need to build out a concourse and create proper seats on both sides. They can't really do any of these things without an athletics complex, so I really think it's a project that will begin in the next 10 years.
Hey, are there any photo sites out there with progressive shots of the new track construction? I've seen like 3 shots on Facebook (nothing on Flickr), but none from the press box to give you an overall impression of progress. Pal, could you get up high and get some of those on a regular basis and post them to your photo site?
Quote from: wh on May 19, 2014, 02:30:49 PM
Let me get this straight. We live in the shabbiest house in the neighborhood that everyone in town laughs at, and we have family members discussing whether we should plant the flowers we just bought for the backyard around the plastic birdbath or put them in a area by themselves. So wrong on so many levels.
Plant them by the pink flamingos!
From what I could see from the parking lot between the ARC and Brown Field there has been a ring dug around Brown Field about 3 feet deep (just a guess, it could be deeper) that is about as wide as the 8 lane track will be. The ring extends out into what was formerly the tennis courts and then a parking lot west of the goalpost. There is some kind of structure being built to the left of the scoreboard. It's obvious that the placement of the scoreboard was perfect for where the track will sit. There are mounds of dirt in places. That I'm afraid was as of last Thursday, 6 days ago, so I'm sure there has been some progress since I last saw it. To me it's no more or less than expected. I am curious about what the structure to the left of the scoreboard might turn out to be.
Quote from: historyman on June 11, 2014, 08:31:54 PM
From what I could see from the parking lot between the ARC and Brown Field there has been a ring dug around Brown Field about 3 feet deep (just a guess, it could be deeper) that is about as wide as the 8 lane track will be.
With all that dirt being removed (and probably replaced with different fill for the track's foundation) I hope they use the removed soil to construct a 4'-6' high earth berm surrounding the track that would make the enclosed area look more like a stadium. It would be a nice touch to put a steel fence with brick pillar posts on top.
Quote from: historyman on June 11, 2014, 08:31:54 PM
I am curious about what the structure to the left of the scoreboard might turn out to be.
Probably for track, soccer and football equipment storage don't you think? Maybe a small spot in the building for visitor side concessions too?
Quote from: VULB#62 on June 12, 2014, 06:03:36 AMProbably for track, soccer and football equipment storage don't you think? Maybe a small spot in the building for visitor side concessions too?
That would make perfect sense. Your guess could be very accurate.
VULB#62 - I hope this is more what you were looking for.
[tweet]476035716934164484[/tweet]
Good shot Matt. Were we right in assuming the structure between the scoreboard and the visitor stands is for equipment storage?
I believe that is correct. The building should be storage for equipment, ie hurdles.
Looks really good, and anyone who is thinking that a track around our football field is 'small college,' needs to remember that we are Valpo, not UT ;)
Photo that is on Facebook showing week 5 progress on new track. Things seem to be moving alone nicely on the track project.
VU Athletics photo of new track construction week 6.
[tweet]479010826725367808[/tweet]
You can begin to visualize what it will look like when complete. It's gonna be a vast improvement visually for games played on the turf not to mention what it gives the T&F program in terms of practices and meets. Not talked about too much is the non-event usage by casual joggers from the community and the college. A couple of new tracks went in at a couple of colleges (Bridgewater State and Stonehill College) where I formerly lived in Massachusetts, and every time you drove by, whether it was early morning or at night there always were people jogging. This is well worth the investment.
I wouldn't think that VU would allow casual joggers from the community to use the track, would they? Since it is being paid for by the school, you would think that only VU students/personnel would be allowed the use.
I doubt there will be much community interest. There are outdoor walking facilities all over town, plus health clubs and an indoor track at the Y. You may see a handful of seniors in the morning and that will probably be about it.
Quote from: wh on June 18, 2014, 11:18:32 AMYou may see a handful of seniors in the morning and that will probably be about it.
Seniors in the Naples sense, not that VU sense :)
Quote from: wh on June 18, 2014, 11:18:32 AM
I doubt there will be much community interest. There are outdoor walking facilities all over town, plus health clubs and an indoor track at the Y. You may see a handful of seniors in the morning and that will probably be about it.
You guys know more about the local community, but I would think the university community will use it.
Quote from: valpotx on June 18, 2014, 10:34:49 AM
I wouldn't think that VU would allow casual joggers from the community to use the track, would they? Since it is being paid for by the school, you would think that only VU students/personnel would be allowed the use.
To do that they would have to lock the gates, I would think. Or they might just post a sign saying it's restricted to VU folks, but unless you carry a VU security badge in your shorts who's to know? If I lived close-by, I'd think about sneaking in to jog on a cushioned track ;)
I have to think that they would lock the gates. Even my HS doesn't allow community members on it, and we pay for it lol.
Quote from: valpotx on June 19, 2014, 12:47:21 AM
I have to think that they would lock the gates. Even my HS doesn't allow community members on it, and we pay for it lol.
I work on the Johns Hopkins campus next to Homewood Field and their track is open to the community. I see all kind of folks using it daily.
QuoteHomewood Track
Located around Homewood Field.
A single lane rubber padded walking/jogging track.
The facility offers JHU faculty and staff, as well as surrounding community members, a track for early walks or laps at lunch.
Please note that the track is closed during all Varsity Competitions.
What's funny is that people are so used to using it and feeling like they are entitled to it that when they installed the original Field Turf back in 2005, the AD actually received angry calls because they had to close the track and actually spent additional money to re-create it for them: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-06-10/news/0506100221_1_track-hopkins-homewood-field (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-06-10/news/0506100221_1_track-hopkins-homewood-field)
Quote
Runners lament loss of neighborly track at Homewood Field
Smaller oval will replace it as Hopkins resurfaces its lacrosse field this summer
For the past seven years - whether it was blisteringly hot, freezing cold, raining or snowing - Rudiger Ruckmann left his Northwood home every Wednesday at the crack of dawn, carrying his water bottle and beat-up Adidas shoes, to run on the Johns Hopkins University's Homewood Field track.
"We would meet there in any kind of conditions - 20 degrees below zero, three feet of snow," the 41-year-old Ruckmann said. "It would be driving rain, 90 degrees, but we're troopers, and that was always a great meeting place for us and other crazy runners and walkers in Baltimore."
Yesterday, the track was closed as workers prepared to renovate Homewood Field's surface --- a process that will upgrade the turf but eliminate the cozy, quarter-mile oval that wraps Hopkins' storied lacrosse field.
Beginning today, workers will begin to replace the hard, forest-green Astroturf with a state-of-the-art synthetic surface, and the field dimensions will be widened to comply with NCAA soccer regulations so that soccer teams can participate in postseason play.
Jerry Schnydman, executive assistant to the Hopkins president, said it was impossible to gauge how many people use the track on a daily basis. But from the number of phone calls he and others received from people expressing concern over the loss of the track, he said, "It was a lot of people."
In response to the protests, Hopkins officials set aside $43,000 to build a new, 6-foot-wide rubberized track between the field and the concourse. It will be completed along with the field by late next month or August.
But university officials acknowledge that the new rubber track will be narrower and will have a less-forgiving surface, which might not satisfy the runners.
"I think we heard from both our university community and the neighborhood that this was a resource that would be missed, and we can't replace it in the current location with exactly the same kind. But we can do this," said Hopkins spokesman Dennis O'Shea.
In some respects, he said, the new track will be an improvement, in that runners will be able to exercise while teams are practicing, and new safety nets will prevent errant shots on the goal from hitting runners.
But that doesn't matter to runner Bob Hilson. "Six feet does nothing for us," he said.
Hilson recalls seeing "everything you could imagine" on the track - different running styles, including people who preferred to run backward, and elderly women strolling.
On Sunday evening, a dozen die-hards - including 1977 Hopkins track captain Craig Snyder - gathered at the track for a ceremonial "last mile," organized by Falls Road Running owner Jim Adams, who has traveled from Towson to run the track since 1995.
"When you have a track - it doesn't matter if it's a university or high school - if it's convenient and the public goes there to exercise and get in shape, it becomes a part of your regimen," Adams said. "To lose that facility, it's just a major disappointment."
The mornings and evenings, Adams said, typically attracted a professional crowd. The middle of the day was favored by Hopkins students and athletes.
For Hopkins athletes, however, the field was becoming a nuisance. O'Shea said that in addition to the "rock-hard" surface's causing shin splints, stress fractures and other injuries, the men's and women's soccer teams could not host post-season games because the field was not wide enough.
The track team will be displaced for a season, according to Bill Harrington, a senior associate athletic director at Hopkins, as the location and cost of building a new facility are examined. He said that alumni of the lacrosse team have requested pieces of the turf, put down eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Ruckmann's running group, the Baltimore Pacemakers, has found a new track to run on at Gilman School. But Ruckmann said it will be hard to re-create the nostalgia of the Homewood track.
That's my experience too. Haven't ever seen small colleges locking down a facility like this except for when athletic events are taking place. They sometimes post rules at the gates (like no cleats on the running surface and stuff like that) but basically they are open to the general public. You can't lock out just the community. If the gates are locked, VU students, staff and families are locked out too.
TCU has attendants at every type of athletic facility on campus, and requires student ID to use (outside of game days for fans) :)
Quote from: valpotx on June 19, 2014, 05:02:34 PM
TCU has attendants at every type of athletic facility on campus, and requires student ID to use (outside of game days for fans) :)
This is kind of funny. I was in Fort Worth one day in 2010 and was driving around looking around the athletic facilities at TCU. I got out and was walking around looking at the track when an attendant came up and asked me to leave. At the time I just thought well, they got to make sure nobody messes with the facilities. But it doesn't make a good impression.
Caveat Please use the following filter: < one really large martini > while reading this post.
I hear what you're saying Tex and it remains to be determined by the athletic administration whether or not to open it to the general public. But TCU is big time, big money. We can't afford to hire "watch persons" (PC police are everywhere) and we certainly can't afford to alienate good towns people whose only motivation is to get a little exercise. Speaking as a septuagenarian (recently had my card punched), I will seek out cushioned walking/jogging/crawling surfaces wherever they are (especially if they are smooth enough not to make my walker bounce) -- BTW, I've noticed that they are really hard to come by.
Valpo HS has an all-weather track. Is it open to the public (yeah, I know, the public here is defined as taxpayers and they own it, but.....)? That's great for the north side of town. How about the south side where the "university-that-is-named-after-the-town-but-the town-doesn't- support-it" exists?
What's the risk? Graffiti? Kids on BMX bikes? Roller Blades? Just set and post some rules.
Anything VU can do to welcome the community into its midst, in my book, is well worth it.
This is a stretch, so bear with me: Maybe someone who never went to a MBB game at the ARC hears that there is this great track over at "that university." He becomes a regular jogger/speed reps guy on our spanking new track. The fact that he gets on our campus a few days a week piques his interest in "that university." He tells his friends that VU is a pretty user-friendly place. Maybe we should take in a BB game. He watches the Crusader clobber St. Louis University and he's hooked, and so are his buddies. Think positive now: we just sold 3 (count 'em 3) MBB season tix!!!!!!!! Fist bumps all around !
Sorry, I let my imagination run away with me.
But the idea, I think, is valid. Bottom line IMO: Suck the Valpo community into our world however we can. I'm reminded of an old axiom: "Grab them by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow."
I can definitely understand your view, don't get me wrong. I think my view stems from incidents while I was in school, where some bad community members caused issues on campus, when it wasn't related to athletic events. This includes when there were several individuals who would camp out in their cars on the street outside of Scheele, staring into the building with binoculars, hoping to catch a glimpse. Obviously, the vast majority of the community are good people, but the bad always ruin it for the good.
I could see the new track being open during non-game day hours with a student-worker/intramurals staff attendant during the day, then the facility is closed from say 3PM to 6 or 7PM for VU athletics use. Not sure how many general public runners or walkers would use this track with all the other walking/running paths in the Valpo area, but I could see a lot of Crusader Club members from the Valpo area coming to use it. Of course, I've been preaching that the university could open it to local high schools and AAU clubs for big invitationals or high school state qualifying meets, and make some money from it, that could be used for future upkeep of jump mats for the high jump and pole vault, or for track and cross country team use. They could even host some general public open track meets in the summer. Talk about a major moneymaker for the university from March to September/October.
There is a track at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valpo... used for their school events and the annual Greater Valparaiso American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This track has no fence...it's old... but more people walk around the Fairgrounds park 3/4-mile loop. and during softball season, it has a concession stand! I can see this being used by some local schools for their meets, but not the general public as a "place to go for a walk"... campus is too beautiful to just loop around the track!
If I recall, talksalot, the track at TJ became a concrete track oval/parking lot. I know we used to use the old cinder/packed sand track there for some cross country and track workouts, but once they put the concrete in, we moved over to Ben Franklin Middle School for track workouts. I would love to see the track be a moneymaker for not only the track and cross country programs, but the athletic department in general. I mean rent it out to local schools for big invites, and then fill the summer with AAU meets and OPEN invitationals for the Valpo and Northwest Indiana community to come run, throw, jump, or cheer on their favorite local runners. A lot of meets could be run on this track, but with all meet monies made, it will add to the athletic or xc/track budgets by the handfuls of money going to the accounts.
New Valparaiso track will be a first class facility
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/28264506-556/on-campus-new-valparaiso-track-will-be-a-first-class-facility.html#.U6zOxxYV9fM (http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/28264506-556/on-campus-new-valparaiso-track-will-be-a-first-class-facility.html#.U6zOxxYV9fM)
Here's an Instgram video update through week 9. Track inside curbing is in and the sub-surface for the space between the field and the curbing is in as well. The hospital demolition is complete and the whole area is grass-covered. Cool.
http://instagram.com/p/qWcPktDTb4/?modal=true (http://instagram.com/p/qWcPktDTb4/?modal=true)
When I was on campus Tuesday I stopped to check the track and spoke with the workers. They were putting in a concrete mow strip, which we joked also would work as a "moat strip," between the field/track and the stands. The foreman told me that they expect to have blacktop down within about 10-14 days, depending upon weather, and the more dramatic appearance of the track will be prominent at that time.
And not even one photo :( Tsk. Tsk.
Here's a photo for you. I hope it's a Brown and Gold track
(http://images.sportsworldreport.com/data/images/full/3446/allyson-felix.jpg?w=640)
Where the gold is in place of the white lines. That would look.........................................................like an outhouse section. ::) ::)
Brown and gold would be a good idea, but I stopped by the football field this morning and watched as they began laying the blacktop on the track, and it is black.
All tracks start off with black asphalt as a foundation. The asphalt is then covered with the rubberized layer that is colored. There is a standard redish brown, like the picture below, and then custon colors. The custom color option was not an option for VU as it would add $40K to the cost -- $40K that could be used for other equipment. That redish brown standard color, however, might work with yellow lines though.
It would be nice to have yellow lines along the track, but I think those lines are regulated by the NCAA Track and Field bylaws. We could have the Valpo logo on the track, but the lane lines are regulated. Can't help that.
Odd. I could see colors that did not provide enough contrast and that caused runners problems in making sure they stayed in their lanes, but yellow, like white, is a very sharp contrast. Oh, well, it'll still look great.
I don't make the rules.
Quote from: valporun on July 25, 2014, 12:55:59 PM
I don't make the rules.
How about eggshell? What colors are white enough? When do the white lines become too faded? Do they have to be repainted every year? Which NCAA track official checks out all the "white" lines? Can I apply for that job?
POSITION: NCAA Track & Field White Line Examiner
Quote from: valpopal on July 24, 2014, 02:39:26 PM
Brown and gold would be a good idea, but I stopped by the football field this morning and watched as they began laying the blacktop on the track, and it is black.
I for one would like to see more frequent updates on the track construction from the administration. This is big and the progress could be exciting.
Quote from: VULB#62 on July 28, 2014, 09:21:50 PM
Quote from: valpopal on July 24, 2014, 02:39:26 PM
Brown and gold would be a good idea, but I stopped by the football field this morning and watched as they began laying the blacktop on the track, and it is black.
I for one would like to see more frequent updates on the track construction from the administration. This is big and the progress could be exciting.
The Valpo Athletics Facebook page features almost weekly updates, and I think the main Valpo Facebook page has shown periodic updates as well. The updates weren't as frequent as first, but that's probably because there wasn't much to show at the time (just digging a little bit).
Yeah, I have been tracking those, but of late nuthin much. ValpoPal noted that the asphalt went down last week. Would have liked to see the results.
Quote from: VULB#62 on July 29, 2014, 07:30:33 AM
Yeah, I have been tracking those, but of late nuthin much. ValpoPal noted that the asphalt went down last week. Would have liked to see the results.
They posted the video of the asphalt on July 25th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HsLTlUhCyw&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HsLTlUhCyw&feature=youtu.be)
Yep. Just saw it. Taking shape.
Well, that was exciting!
Now the only questions remaining are what will the final design look like?
Will the lines be white or gold?
Will bbtds be around to inspect the lines?
Will the track & field teams care as much as VULB62 about the construction and look of the track?
Will football fans' minds wander to the construction of the track while watching the VU football team or will the games be exciting in general?
AND THE ANSWERS.........
Will the lines be white or gold? WHITE
Will bbtds be around to inspect the lines? ABSOLUTELY
Will the track & field teams care as much as VULB62 about the construction and look of the track? NO WAY
Will football fans' minds wander to the construction of the track while watching the VU football team or will the games be exciting in general? YES TO BOTH
:thumbsup:
Quote from: VULB#62 on July 29, 2014, 10:09:41 AMWill bbtds be around to inspect the lines? ABSOLUTELY
I can ask for more Chicagoland and NW Indiana (got to be the toughest region in the USA to say on the air) visits but I did not secure a job with the NCAA yet. Too many fat wallets are blocking the door to get in.
I am watching them apply the red topping. The track looks beautiful.
(http://cdn.meme.li/instances/500x/53563935.jpg)
(http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/glass-bowl-hot-sauce-red-topping-35916212.jpg)
Looks Yummy!
I wish it was more of a brown, as others have said previously. A brown track with gold lanes would have looked pretty cool. Kind of like some places that have blue or orange tracks, something distinctive. Still, glad to have a track in general, and look forward to seeing the end result!
Updated photo from the Valpo Athletics Facebook page:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10547721_716467508408969_7155509364492923717_o.jpg)
Too much rain lately, I guess. No lines yet. Do you think they decided to order gold lines?
Newbie to the forum here - my son is a freshman pole vaulter at Valpo and we are excited about the new facility. Honestly it was part of what put Valpo #1 on his list. To see a university committing monies to their Track and Field program is encouraging, and sadly not true everywhere.
Quote from: momofalex on September 03, 2014, 10:42:11 AM
Newbie to the forum here - my son is a freshman pole vaulter at Valpo and we are excited about the new facility. Honestly it was part of what put Valpo #1 on his list. To see a university committing monies to their Track and Field program is encouraging, and sadly not true everywhere.
"If you build it, they will come"
Sports like T&F, CC, tennis, golf and S&D can be successful at Valpo, as these sports generally carry strong academic performers. Valpo can easily get stronger recruits if we have the facilities in place, since we have that strong academic reputation.
Quote from: momofalex on September 03, 2014, 10:42:11 AM
Newbie to the forum here - my son is a freshman pole vaulter at Valpo and we are excited about the new facility. Honestly it was part of what put Valpo #1 on his list. To see a university committing monies to their Track and Field program is encouraging, and sadly not true everywhere.
Welcome to the board. My son was a vaulter in high school and college (not VU, but he is a VU Law School grad). I live locally and have been checking in from time to time during the building process. I'm excited to see what it will look like when they get the striping done. It should be a great place to practice and host outdoor meets. Good luck to your son. I hope he does well and, most importantly, enjoys his experience at Valpo!
Thanks for the warm welcome. If you come to any of the track meets, our son is the blond vaulter :)
[tweet]512279234903937024[/tweet]
Yay!
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Here's a panorama shot
https://www.facebook.com/valpoathletics/photos/a.167497749972617.58630.113914928664233/733724786683241/?type=1&theater (https://www.facebook.com/valpoathletics/photos/a.167497749972617.58630.113914928664233/733724786683241/?type=1&theater)
BTW for those of you who have not walked the new track, an added new feature is a man-made swamp. Yes, fairly large drainage ponds were built on the land immediately to the east of the scoreboard end curve. They are already filled with swamp grass and reeds. Great place to take biology classes to gather specimens. Originally, I thought that area would be where the weight throwers would ply their craft, but I was informed that would not be the case. All throwing events will happen at East Gate and the circles and javelin runway, I'm told, are being rebuilt for that purpose. So any home meet will require some bussing of the big guys with muscles.
Quote from: valpopal on September 17, 2014, 11:48:59 AM
[tweet]512279234903937024[/tweet]
I have told my buddies at the NCAA that the white lines were done on the Valpo track.
Here was their reaction:
(http://www.ibj.com/ext/resources/IBJ-Print/00-2010/101110/boehm-15col.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3lzFJhpZpNQ/Ubw-qZr-zXI/AAAAAAAADmQ/NGypcX5aw_Y/s1600/158159_10151148706566028_10151148693526028_9624_507_b.jpg)
Whoo Hoo! Glad to see you are on top of this important event!
That's the thing about Valpo people. They take their duties seriously. :cheers:
It looks great! I'm so glad that the administration decided to take the leap on this much-needed project. :thumbsup:
A closer look at the lane painting on the new track:
(http://i61.tinypic.com/287afm.jpg)
Quote from: valpopal on September 19, 2014, 11:40:39 AM
A closer look at the lane painting on the new track:
(http://i61.tinypic.com/287afm.jpg)
Now, THAT looks great! Probably all complete based on your photo Pal. Was the turf fully installed between the field and the track? It wasn't at the St. Joe's game.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 19, 2014, 12:00:47 PM
Quote from: valpopal on September 19, 2014, 11:40:39 AM
A closer look at the lane painting on the new track:
(http://i61.tinypic.com/287afm.jpg)
Now, THAT looks great! Probably all complete based on your photo Pal. Was the turf fully installed between the field and the track? It wasn't at the St. Joe's game.
Yes, the turf has been filled between the field and the track. You can see the new turf alongside the track in the photo.
It was laid down for the game, but not fully installed (needed some cutting and anchoring at the time. Thanks!
So they can put blue dashes but not gold lines. Anybody else think that is rather interesting?
I didn't think so either.
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 19, 2014, 01:20:21 PM
It was laid down for the game, but not fully installed (needed some cutting and anchoring at the time. Thanks!
As were some other things, it looked a "little off" for the St Joe game.
The toup looks great now, '62!!!!
(https://getwritedowntoit.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/sports-guy-with-bad-toupee.jpg)
I, for one, BBTDS, think it is now appropriate for you to file your lines report with the the NCAA. ;)
Quote from: VULB#62 on September 20, 2014, 08:00:35 AM
I, for one, BBTDS, think it is now appropriate for you to file your lines report with the the NCAA. ;)
I found out one thing. There is very little deviation between NCAA tracks.
(http://speedendurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tracklanes2_thumb.jpg) (http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/14766129/3/stock-photo-14766129-red-running-track-lanes-with-white-lines.jpg) (http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/replicate/EXID35841/images/running-track2.jpg) (http://thumb9.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/319576/196324532/stock-photo-close-up-of-red-running-track-with-lines-and-athletic-female-legs-196324532.jpg) (http://watermarked.cutcaster.com/cutcaster-photo-100205638-Track-and-Field-Lanes-1-Through-9.jpg) (http://thumb7.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1562174/148628075/stock-photo-the-starting-lines-at-stadium-white-lines-and-numbers-on-the-track-148628075.jpg) (http://slownewfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Staggered-start-lines-on-the-track-730x370.jpg)
ANDthat starter officials have guns
(http://dailyemerald.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140613.RJK_.EMG_.TRK_.NCAA_.OTFC_.0008.jpg)
DON'T MESS WITH THE OFFICIALS!!
Was at Concordia University Chicago this past weekend for Family weekend and was very surprised at their football and track facilities. The field turf and track can only be a couple of years old and really look great as this picture shows. (https://www.cuchicago.edu/globalassets/documents/community/track-aerial.jpg)
Quote from: FWalum on September 21, 2014, 11:01:58 PM
Was at Concordia University Chicago this past weekend for Family weekend and was very surprised at their football and track facilities. The field turf and track can only be a couple of years old and really look great as this picture shows. (https://www.cuchicago.edu/globalassets/documents/community/track-aerial.jpg)
My high school had a football mini-camp there in 2005 and the field was a couple years old back then (unless they completely replaced it since then).
http://www.cucougars.com/sports/2013/11/21/FB_1121131757.aspx?id=62 (http://www.cucougars.com/sports/2013/11/21/FB_1121131757.aspx?id=62)
Concordia Stadium was built in 2000 to accommodate the addition of Cougar women's and men's soccer teams, along with the Cougar football program. Field Turf was installed to replace the old natural grass surface, and new bleachers and a press box were constructed.
The facility was officially dedicated on Sept. 1, 2001
EDIT: I looked up the company that installed the Field Turf and their website shows dates of installation:
http://www.rycolandscaping.com/wp-content/resources/fieldturf-illinois-installations.pdf (http://www.rycolandscaping.com/wp-content/resources/fieldturf-illinois-installations.pdf)
Gage Park (CPD) (September '11)
Chicago, IL
Salvation Army-Ray Kroc Community Center (September '11)
Chicago, IL (Baseball field)
Aurora West High School (August '11)
Aurora, IL
Andy Lutzenkirchen (630) 301-5581
Concordia University (August '11)
River Forest, IL
Denny Witte (708) 209-3205
So FWalum is correct. The Field Turf was installed in August 2011 while the stadium was built in 2000 and dedicated in 2001.
We were on campus this past weekend to visit our son and also visited the track. The lines, etc. look great. Our only concern is whether there is room between the pole vault box and the 1st lane for the pit. Our son said the team has a standing argument between the sprinters and the vaulters as to what to do about it (give up lane 1 vs no vaulting)... seems like a basic booboo - our guess was that the pv boxes (one for each direction) will have to be moved "in" so as to make enough room for the new pits to fit, and still leave room for lane 1. A tape measure and some simple math is all that's needed.
momofalex, in most cases, sprinters never use lane 1, the 4x400 relay being the exception. They'll most likely move the pole vault in a little, if they can. The trouble of not doing the whole project at one time, so that changes are made accordingly.
An overhead view of the finished track. The track team will host its first event in the spring.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/nyb78m.jpg)
Awesome!!
Great shot!
Quote from: valpopal on September 23, 2014, 11:40:13 AM
An overhead view of the finished track. The track team will host its first event in the spring.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/nyb78m.jpg)
Quote from: momofalex on September 22, 2014, 09:23:03 AM
We were on campus this past weekend to visit our son and also visited the track. The lines, etc. look great. Our only concern is whether there is room between the pole vault box and the 1st lane for the pit. Our son said the team has a standing argument between the sprinters and the vaulters as to what to do about it (give up lane 1 vs no vaulting)... seems like a basic booboo - our guess was that the pv boxes (one for each direction) will have to be moved "in" so as to make enough room for the new pits to fit, and still leave room for lane 1. A tape measure and some simple math is all that's needed.
Based on this photo, it would appear that, from the planting box to the first lane/steeple chase lane at the curve, there is roughly 30' (10 yards).
This is from
Everything Track for NCAA requirements:
Minimum size 19'8"W x 21'5"L x 32"H with 16'5" padding behind plant box. Front portion of pit must be same width as back plus front sections must extend 5' toward runway from base sections. Common cover must cover the entire pit.
I don't know what pit was purchased so don't know the dimensions, but looking at the UCS Spirit website (which may not be the correct brand but gives an idea) the length can range from 23' to 33'. I couldn't post a link, but the website is ucsspirit.com. Hoping it fits with no problems.
Yes, I went there too prior to doing my reply to check on dimensions. I was shocked to see that pits are in the $10K-$23K price range and covers are $1K-$2K. My guess is that VU will go middle of the road in both price and size. If that is the case it should not compromise the running lane.
The first home meet for Valpo to host at the new track has been scheduled. The inaugural Crusader Open will be held April 25. :)
It will be interesting to hear what teams are coming to this meet. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of teams sending kids that are not going to be making their conference team rosters, or small schools from around the region.
Brandon shares some good news about 2016 as we get ready to begin 2015!
[tweet]550343211005538304[/tweet]
That is great news!
That's pretty cool to hear. Definitely a recruiting tool that we are now able to host the conference championships from time-to-time!
Quote from: valpotx on January 01, 2015, 04:15:14 AM
That's pretty cool to hear. Definitely a recruiting tool that we are now able to host the conference championships from time-to-time!
This is the reason why Coach Wingard kept trying to get Bill Steinbrecher to do something about a track. He wanted to be able to host a home meet or two, and then host the conference meet, but Steinbrecher wouldn't budge. Thankfully, Mark LaBarbera has found the importance in facilities for all of our programs. Conference championships can be an economic help to the area, with all the teams coming in for a weekend. It means restaurants, hotels, and entertainment benefit from these events. Just ask some of the restaurants and hotels around Valpo about the boom when VU hosts the softball or men's basketball championships. Even soccer helped with this, but not as much as softball and basketball.