Breaking: Announcement About New Outdoor Track Looming

[SycamoreStateofMind]

My guess is in the next couple of weeks an announcement will be made about more solidified plans to build an outdoor track and field complex at Indiana State. This will provide a more solid timeline to a project that had already been acknowledged as a top priority in the Indiana State Master Plan.

Project will be funded by a significant donation and will also include some grant dollars. This should be considered a "solid" rumor at this time and nothing more than that. However like I said I expect an official announcement to come in the next 2 weeks or so.

No doubt in my mind this will be a first rate facility, that will allow Indiana State track teams to host meets that they were otherwise unable to do on the current track which is in dire need of repairs or demolition. My guess is that it will be bulldozed once the new complex is complete, hopefully by 2012???

Location? Per the Master Plan it would appear that they are going to put this thing on the east bank of the Wabash River and on the west side of 1st St. So in-between the river and 1st st. Those who have trouble with navigation, 1st st. is just west of 3rd st. or US41.

Great News! More to come, just wanted to see if anyone else maybe new anything else?

[IndyTreeFan]

Any big time transfers coming with the track???:bigsmile:

Just havin' some fun with 'ya!

This will be a great addition to campus. Why not go for "Track And Field Town, USA" to complement "Cross Country Town, USA?" I hope they do this "big time" and not the way they've done it in the past...

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Any big time transfers coming with the track???:bigsmile:

Just havin' some fun with 'ya!

This will be a great addition to campus. Why not go for "Track And Field Town, USA" to complement "Cross Country Town, USA?" I hope they do this "big time" and not the way they've done it in the past...

I suspect that it will be done up right. With the people involved in this project, based on how they have done things in the past - it will be a first rate facility. I don't doubt that a bit.

[IndyTreeFan]

I suspect that it will be done up right. With the people involved in this project, based on how they have done things in the past - it will be a first rate facility. I don't doubt that a bit.

Very awesome!!!

[XTreeXC]

Why not go for "Track And Field Town, USA" ...

As cool as that would be, I'd be surprised if Oregon doesn't already have that trademarked. But, hey, being the mecca of cross country is just as prestigious, and no one does it better than the folks at ISU!

Can't wait for the track facility rumor to become reality! :sycamores:

[Sycamore Proud]

It's been too many years, and I'm not sure about the location. Question that comes to mind concerns flooding. What is the possibility of problems with flood waters on that location? And I guess the same concern applies to the location being mentioned for a new football stadium.

[Bally #45]

SP, I can't really see them taking on the whole "Wabash" campus if they didn't have an answer for floods. Either a levy wall or the insurance people say it is safe to build there, period. In the 44 years i've been around campus, I don't ever recall those buildings down there on 1st street being under water but I suppose you Hautians will have an answer for that. Even if it is in a 50 or 100-year flood plain, engineering can "fix" that by putting in a levy. My guess is that they won't have to do that or they wouldn't be building there.

[IndyTreeFan]

From my recollection, the flooding usually hits the west side of the river. I don't know that I've ever seen the east side flood, at least in that area...

[ISU_TREE_FAN]

Doesn't water usually flow downhill? Thinking the West T side is the downhill side?

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Yeah I am sure it has some scientific explanation, however it doesn't flood on the east side. The banks on the east side are also significantly higher than on the west side. It not until you get further south (down around Fairbanks Park) does it actually flood on the east side.

Logic would tell me that the location that they are purposing to build this track on is actually being built at a higher elevation than it would be if built on the west side of the Wabash. So it's not out of the question that they would call it Mile High Stadium... Doubtful though, I will say no more.

[True Blue]

It has never flooded on the east side that i know of. It would have to be a 1000 year flood. Even the bad flood in 08, the east side was fine.

[Ong Hop]

Guys, ...Terre Haute literally means "land high". The town is built on the "high" side of the river and has NEVER flooded.

[treeman]

i can see that area now. brand new track and field facility with a soccer field in the middle, along the wabash. with a brand new football stadium next door. get a new softball field, a couple of academic buildings or dorms, bars, and that would be freaking awesome. i'm guessing in the next 5 years you will see a transformation, and the next 15 years a major transformation with a football stadium, then 5 years after that you'll start to see other touristy things start to sprinkle in. That area has the potential to be amazing. as far as boosting terre haute and ISU.

[ISUCC]

this is a loooooong time coming, can't wait to hear more about this in the future!
:sycamores:

[Sycamore Proud]

i can see that area now. brand new track and field facility with a soccer field in the middle, along the wabash. with a brand new football stadium next door. get a new softball field, a couple of academic buildings or dorms, bars, and that would be freaking awesome. i'm guessing in the next 5 years you will see a transformation, and the next 15 years a major transformation with a football stadium, then 5 years after that you'll start to see other touristy things start to sprinkle in. That area has the potential to be amazing. as far as boosting terre haute and ISU.

That does sound great doesn't it? And well past due.

Thanks for the responses on the flooding question. Like I said, I just didn't remember it that clearly.

[XTreeXC]

That does sound great doesn't it?

All except for the part about a soccer field being in the middle of the track. :D

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I'd be surprised if they did this - although if it was a synthetic surface I think it'd be tight.

You know something to keep in mind, if they wanted to build a so-so track and field complex they probably could have done it right now. It would make no sense for them not to go all out on this thing. I am sure they will put some nice lighting and I suspect stadium style seating all the way around. Probably not as big of main grandstand as you see at IUPUI. But maybe something like at IU?

Will be more interested to see what type of surface that they put on the track - would have to be a mondo surface wouldn't you think? That's going to cost them a boat load of cash, but that "was" my favorite surface to run on!

[Sycamore Proud]

All except for the part about a soccer field being in the middle of the track. :D

Know what you mean, but if that's what it takes to get the complex moving forward--do it!

[XTreeXC]

Will be more interested to see what type of surface that they put on the track - would have to be a mondo surface wouldn't you think?

Mondo is about the only surface I'm familiar with these days. Of all the choices out there, I wonder which ones meet the ideal of being hard enough for competition but soft enough to train on regularly?

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Mondo is about the only surface I'm familiar with these days. Of all the choices out there, I wonder which ones meet the ideal of being hard enough for competition but soft enough to train on regularly?

Well they have polyurethane surfaces, laytex surfaces aswell.

University of Central Arkansas recently added a sweet new Mondo track and Drake has a great mondo surface. It's the best shit for sure!

[XTreeXC]

As long as it's blue, I guess I'll be happy. :bigsmile:

[The One and Only]

I'd be surprised if they did this - although if it was a synthetic surface I think it'd be tight.

You know something to keep in mind, if they wanted to build a so-so track and field complex they probably could have done it right now. It would make no sense for them not to go all out on this thing. I am sure they will put some nice lighting and I suspect stadium style seating all the way around. Probably not as big of main grandstand as you see at IUPUI. But maybe something like at IU?

Will be more interested to see what type of surface that they put on the track - would have to be a mondo surface wouldn't you think? That's going to cost them a boat load of cash, but that "was" my favorite surface to run on!

"Counting your eggs before they are hatched"

I have learned one thing in my life- Hype and Speculation based on rumors only gets people excited, just to shoot them down. I'm not being a negative Nancy, but a realist. Believe me I'd love to see this new track as much as anyone on this message board. I've seen way too many construction projects over the past three years get scratch due to the economic downturn. Even many projects with so-called "significant donors" It takes more than one donor to make a large project break ground.

Also, speculating on how nice or extravagant, type of lighting and seating, and track surface adds no value to the subject. These are completely unknown aspects at this point, a wish list at best. The only thing that can be certain (“I’m sure” as suggested in other posts) is the university will build the best facility will the funds allocated.

I suggest holding your excitement until the rumor is reality- made public. The only thing certain in this world is the sun rises in the east and sets in west. Until contracts for donors are signed and earth is being moved, I’d wait on picking out padded seats vs. bleachers when deciding which you’d like to purchase for Pacesetter Classic.
Je. Kunz

[SycamoreStateofMind]

"Counting your eggs before they are hatched"


Oh Lord knows I have never done this ^

[treeman]

bumping this up because it's slow. doubt anyone knows but aren't they suppose to start building this thing pretty soon? i know that they had plans on doing it. did it fall to the back burning? does anyone know what is going on with the new track?

[4Q_iu]

SP, I can't really see them taking on the whole "Wabash" campus if they didn't have an answer for floods. Either a levy wall or the insurance people say it is safe to build there, period. In the 44 years i've been around campus, I don't ever recall those buildings down there on 1st street being under water but I suppose you Hautians will have an answer for that. Even if it is in a 50 or 100-year flood plain, engineering can "fix" that by putting in a levy. My guess is that they won't have to do that or they wouldn't be building there.

Insuring a 'temp' use facility like a T/F stadium and football stadium is much different than insuring homes and businesses in a flood plain.

I also don't remember any flooding on the east side of the river.

Levy / Schmevy -- if you build it, fine but ya gotta keep on top of it (a la N'Awlins)

[BankShot]

My only concern would be the impact of historic underground MINING SUBSIDENCE. This has been the primary problem with virtually every ISU facility over the years.

[4Q_iu]

Not only did it survive razing plan but picked up a $1.2M rehab...

http://www.ibj.com/iupui-track-stadium-dodges-wrecking-ball/PARAMS/article/28373