Planning and fundraising efforts for the Olympic Track and Field Trials to be held at Hayward Field in 2008 are on-track and progressing, according to national and local organizers.
Craig Masback, USA Track and Field CEO, announced Wednesday that Lane County had approved a $250,000 grant for the event and said more funding partnerships were in the works.
“Hopefully, we’ll have follow through with the city of Eugene and the city of Springfield,” he said in a press conference at the Lillis Business Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
Greg Erwin, president of the Oregon Track Club and co-chairman of the trials’ local organizing committee, said the rest of the funds will be supplied through corporate donations.
The trials, which will run June 27 to July 6, 2008, are expected to bring several thousand people, including athletes, coaches and spectators. Masback said the event could have a significant economic impact on the area – estimates have ranged from $18 million to $20 million.
The organizers will also be asking for “in-kind” donations, such as public safety support, from the county.
Masback said his organization is looking to make the competition a destination event, and that attracted them to Eugene.
“This is our biggest event in any 4-year period,” he said. “The local organizing committee really took the big picture.”
The city of Eugene has already expressed interest in including athletes in local school curriculums, and is expected to contribute $150,000. Masback said this kind of community partnership won the city the right to host the trials.
Eugene, which hosted the trials in 1970, 1976 and 1980, beat out 2000 and 2004 host city Sacramento in October, but Masback cautioned that the demands for a host city have grown since Eugene last hosted.
“This is a very complex event,” Masback said. “It’s a much more complicated event than it was 26 years ago.”
Planned renovations for Hayward Field, which include increases in seating, a video display, a renovated press box, permanent lighting and changes to the infield, will cost an estimated $2 million to $2.5 million.
Vin Lananna, co-chairman of the Trials’ local organizing committee and associate athletic director, said the improvements will be permanent.
“When the event is over,” he said, “I think everyone wins. Come June 27, 2008, we will have a great place to conduct a great track and field competition.”
Masback also said the trials would also provide plenty of exposure for the University and the city. The competition will be broadcast live on NBC and USA networks to more than 100 countries.
 

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