If history is to repeat itself, then Hayward Field should host more close finishes with fans creating deafening noise when the stadium hosts the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials this summer. Renovations to the historic track and field stadium aim to make these moments more memorable.
University track and field officials have orchestrated remodeling projects in the stadium since 2006 in preparation for the Olympic Trials that will be held at Hayward Field from June 27 to July 6. Significant upgrades include a grass infield, a video scoreboard and new lighting. The stadium’s capacity will be expanded from 10,500 to about 16,000 thanks to temporary bleachers lining the track. The remodel costs about $8 million, and the upgrades have been funded primarily from private donations.
The facility requirements of hosting the Olympic Trials drove the Hayward Field renovation, said Michael Reilly, an assistant athletic director.
University track and field officials, for example, had to change the old configuration of Hayward’s infield.
The infield must provide two stages for every field event, Reilly said. This means athletes in events such as the shot put can compete next to each other in similar conditions.
Major championship meets also require stadium lighting that is capable of hosting a national broadcast, Reilly said. NBC is airing the Olympic Trials nationally for a total of 11 hours during the 10-day event.
Hayward’s new lighting system by Musco Sports Lighting is environmentally friendly and is about 40 percent more efficient than traditional lighting, said Tim Butz, a sales representative with Musco.
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The lights use a reflector system that requires fewer bulbs and shines directly onto the field instead of the surrounding area, Butz said. This means neighbors won’t be bothered by the lights.
“That way all the attention is focused on the track,” Butz said.
Few major track and field stadiums use this kind of lighting, he said.
“It’s probably the only one in the United States,” Butz said, adding the system was made available in 2005.
A new video scoreboard will also greet track and field fans at the Olympic Trials.
Former University track athlete and University architecture department alumnus Tinker Hatfield, who is now a designer at Nike, Inc. in Beaverton, created the new video scoreboard.
The new “videoboard” at the south end of the track stands about five stories tall, and it will be capable of showing replays and past clips from Hayward Field. Nike donated the $1.5 million for the video scoreboard.
“The real benefit of the videoboard will be providing us an unparalleled opportunity to tell the story of Hayward Field and the great performances there – to really change the way track and field is presented to the fans,” Reilly said. “We have so many stories to tell here, and we can really do that with our state-of-the art videoboard.”
Crews also added sod to create a green infield, and the leftovers of the infield’s old crown was removed.
“Hayward Field looks different than any other track and field stadium anywhere in the world,” Reilly said. We didn’t want to have a rubber athletic surface out there that looked like everything else.”
The extra grass is aimed to link the stands with the field, Reilly said.
“That’s what makes Hayward Field special – that connection between fans and the athletes,” Reilly said. “It motivates the athletes to have great performances.”
Former Oregon women’s track and field coach Tom Heinonen said a green infield is rare in track and field stadiums across the U.S. He added that the former elevated infield, which stood roughly two feet above the track, was a pain for coaches and runners.
“Good coaches want to be able to see their runner’s style, including their foot plant, and you couldn’t see that at Hayward,” Heinonen said.
Those involved in the Hayward updates hope to keep the character and spirit of Hayward Field similar to its storied past.
Robert Thompson, the principal designer of Portland-based TVA Architects, called the stadium the “mecca” of track and field.
“It’s an honor to work on a facility with that kind of reputation,” Thompson said. “You have a real obligation that the facility is brought up to a level that supports such a reputation.”
TVA, which is also designing the University’s new basketball arena, started working on plans for Hayward Field about two years ago. The firm wanted to keep Hayward’s flavor the same, said Thompson, who graduated from the University’s architecture department in 1977 and once lived across the street from the track.
“We wanted to bring Hayward Field up to the highest level possible for the Olympic Trials,” Thompson said. “It’s probably the most significant track and field event you could ever ask a facility to host or support. We want to make sure it’s in tiptop shape for this global event.”
TVA also created a long-range master plan about a year ago which shows what Hayward Field might look like in the next 20 years or so. The plans explored the idea of an indoor facility.
“It doesn’t mean anything will be done, but we just wanted to look at what the possibilities are for Eugene and Hayward,” Thompson said.
He added he plans on attending the Olympic Trials to see Hayward Field and the athletes in action.
“I’m excited,” Thompson said. “Now the fun part is actually watching the games.”
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