The Track at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium is Officially Gone

[HkyMtneer]

With this season now underway at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium we have seen the number of NCAA FBS stadiums surrounded by tracks officially drop by one. Although the entire renovation project at Duke is not scheduled for completion until next year, the portion removing the track, and moving the seating bowl in closer to the field, via additional seating (though capacity hasn't really changed much due to conversion of some sideline seats to chairback) has been completed. Granted, the first row at Wade was always up much higher than our first row at KBS, making for an easier add, but alas. It looks pretty good if I do say so. Kudos, Duke!

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt- ... 82339.html

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... de-stadium

[moonshine]

Cutcliffe has that program headed in the right direction. The renovations look good.

Someone go win that $185mil Powerball!!!

[Gonzo]

Our turn.

Remove the track and expand... YESTERDAY

[WVAppsfan]

I agree, with would benefit everyone and increase the ability to attract Power Five teams to the Rock, with improved seating. We do need a larger score board and a sound system.

[NewApp]

Our turn.

Remove the track and expand... YESTERDAY

So where can we put the new track? This "ain't" ECU where everything is flat and they just take land when they want it.

[JTApps1]

The Broyhill Inn is being torn down. Why not put it there? Or we could put it in the State Farm parking lot where Freshmen park. We should have a parking deck closer to campus for them anyway.

[HkyMtneer]

The Broyhill Inn is being torn down. Why not put it there? Or we could put it in the State Farm parking lot where Freshmen park. We should have a parking deck closer to campus for them anyway.

Both of those might be good options but my idea has long consisted of using the long-discussed (though might never be realized) parking deck planned for Stadium lot. Being a stadium geek I've done a lot of thinking in regards to our stadium's footprint and surroundings. Build a 2/3 story deck sloped into the existing grade and cap that bad boy with a "sports deck". Yes, it might require strategically angling things, or "extending" the upper level of the deck closer to Owens FH but maybe we could tie it in to the new, eventual, structure in that endzone. For reference I have attached a link to the one at San Diego State, atop a parking deck on their campus. This would kill more than 2 birds with one stone and is becoming increasingly common on campuses in metro/urban environments. Our land problems are different than those schools, but the same in our own special way. We could put the soccer pitch up there, thus getting them back on campus, relinquishing the current field to the HCYSA, which I believe has been a stated goal, put up some nice stands up there and it would be ideal for students and spectators. And as a bonus the field and track up top would immediately become el-primo tailgate space, overlooking KBS and unobstructed by vehicles. I'm thinking our own version of the Grove (elaborate party tents, etc.) at Ole Miss would be fantastic, sans the trees obviously. Pipe dream? Maybe but it make for a great new home for track & field, soccer, intramural usage, etc.

http://www.goaztecs.com/facilities/sports_deck.html

[MtnDevil95]

Duke is moving the track and field to Koskinen Stadium where the soccer pitch currently resides. Based on this summer's Iron Dukes membership drive material, they are selling naming rights to various and sundry portions of the new athletics facilities. The new field at Wallace Wade is named "Brooks Field" for a alumnus who has pledged $20,000,000 over the next 6 years. For a cool $5,000,000 the West Gate at Wallace Wade has not yet been reserved for naming (East and South Gate already reserved with pledges). The new lobby of Camreon Indoor is up naming with a $10,000,000 donation. For those cheaper members of the Iron Dukes, a locker in the football training facility can be named for a low $25,000, or the Athletic X-ray lab for measly $10,000.

My fellow Apps, this is the athletic booster club league we're playing in now. . . .

[coachprouty]

I will donate money generated from my lucrative teaching contract and sponsorship deal with Paper-Mate .

We have a pretty good track program, think we would remove the track only if we made sure they had a really nice/new facility to replace it with. Also, WE DON'T HAVE DUKE MONEY.

[PBR1893-BEER-HAT-GUY]

I will donate money generated from my lucrative teaching contract and sponsorship deal with Paper-Mate .

We have a pretty good track program, think we would remove the track only if we made sure they had a really nice/new facility to replace it with. Also, WE DON'T HAVE DUKE MONEY.

Ur right... We don't have duke money but I'd love to play them and get some of that duke money....

[PhillyApp1]

Am I the only person that thinks a player will get hurt going out of bounds with those sharp corners.
It's nice but awkward with the cutouts.

[NewApp]

The Broyhill Inn is being torn down. Why not put it there? Or we could put it in the State Farm parking lot where Freshmen park. We should have a parking deck closer to campus for them anyway.

Is there room for an 800 meter track, stands, parking, equipment storage, lighting etc.? The track infield itself could practically house the area where the Broyhill site now stands. A heck of a lot of fill would have to be hauled in.

If prospective recruits turn down offers to play for the Mountaineers as implied by some kid on twitter last week solely because the Stadium looks high schoolish, we don't need him.
Never heard any of the broadcasters on ASU's televised games ever mention the stadium looking high schoolish or ever mention the track even. EVER. It offers a buffer zone between drunken students and the players and allows a space the cheerleaders and the "dance team" to perform. The d@mn track is the least of our worries.

[NewApp]

Am I the only person that thinks a player will get hurt going out of bounds with those sharp corners.
It's nice but awkward with the cutouts.

No you're not.

[NewApp]

I will donate money generated from my lucrative teaching contract and sponsorship deal with Paper-Mate .

We have a pretty good track program, think we would remove the track only if we made sure they had a really nice/new facility to replace it with. Also, WE DON'T HAVE DUKE MONEY.

Ur right... We don't have duke money but I'd love to play them and get some of that duke money....

RP, PBR. To boot, I might add that we have more than "good." We have an excellent track program

[NewApp]

I will donate money generated from my lucrative teaching contract and sponsorship deal with Paper-Mate .

We have a pretty good track program, think we would remove the track only if we made sure they had a really nice/new facility to replace it with. Also, WE DON'T HAVE DUKE MONEY.

Ur right... We don't have duke money but I'd love to play them and get some of that duke money....;)

Wonder how much Elon got when they visited Wallace Wade in 2010 and 2014?

[eggers76]

I figure Elon got well less than half what we got to play Clwmson.

[NewApp]

I figure Elon got well less than half what we got to play Clwmson.

Regardless that would be big money for an Elon of the world. And what, they had to travel only a couple hours?

[Yosef10]

The Broyhill Inn is being torn down. Why not put it there? Or we could put it in the State Farm parking lot where Freshmen park. We should have a parking deck closer to campus for them anyway.

Is there room for an 800 meter track, stands, parking, equipment storage, lighting etc.? The track infield itself could practically house the area where the Broyhill site now stands. A heck of a lot of fill would have to be hauled in.

If prospective recruits turn down offers to play for the Mountaineers as implied by some kid on twitter last week solely because the Stadium looks high schoolish, we don't need him.
Never heard any of the broadcasters on ASU's televised games ever mention the stadium looking high schoolish or ever mention the track even. EVER. It offers a buffer zone between drunken students and the players and allows a space the cheerleaders and the "dance team" to perform. The d@mn track is the least of our worries.

I would disagree; in my opinion that's not a productive way to build a program. Fact is we are one of the only, if not the only, FBS teams with a track. It's a huge problem if recruits are openly saying this is a factor in decision making. I know I took into account office space/location when I took my job, recruits do the same. Broadcasters aren't going to go out of the way to denigrate a school because of a facility but I can bet off-air at least a few comments were made.

As far as the "buffer between drunken students and players and allows a space for the cheerleaders": if that was the case every school in America would have a track around their football field.

On another note, did anyone else notice how close Michigan States crowd is to the sidelines? I would love for KBS to look something similar to that. It would be ridiculously loud

[HkyMtneer]

I figure Elon got well less than half what we got to play Clwmson.

Regardless that would be big money for an Elon of the world. And what, they had to travel only a couple hours?

Elon to Durham is about a 45 minute drive. As for money...we're hurting for a money A LOT more than Elon! Yes, our annual athletic budget is larger than Elon, obviously, but if Elon needs $$$ they make a few calls. If we need $$$ we have to make 10x as many calls to generate the same funds. Elon's endowment alone is approaching $200mil. while we are slowly but surely climbing towards the $100mil plateau, with an alumni base that dwarfs Elon's. Simply put, we have a Very different alumni base and there really isn't much we can do about that. Also, don't get me wrong - Elon needs those money games just as much as us, but they are essential to our life-blood whereas they are a bonus for Elon and offer the Phoenix a chance to maybe make their own Michigan moment.

[HeffnerIV]

In the short term, could we not paint the track the same green as the turf? At least it wouldn't stick out so poorly on TV or in person. Also, I don't think the field needs to be lowered to get closer, as discussed ad nauseam in the past. Our seats are right behind the visitor's bench on the east side. We're plenty close enough.