t-and-f: Elite Track in Astrodome
Well, even after seeing an artist's rendering, I'm still having a hard time picturing it, but here's the idea for converting the Dome into a tf venue (scroll down to Athletics): http://www.houston2012.com/thegames-venues/reliant_park.html The design looks pretty ingenious. I didn't think the place was wide enough to hold a track. Given the heat/humidity in summer and the lack of zoning, I can't see Houston being an ideal OG venue, but who knows? At least it would appear to be a viable candidate to host the Worlds. Isn't that good enough? And I guess it could host speedskating in the winter (although I imagine Houston doesn't have much of one). And soccer. Oh...Astroturf came about because they couldn't grow grass there. So is there a plan for that, too? Perhaps a removable field like in the new Sapporo Dome? Marko Velikonja __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
Re: t-and-f: Elite Track in Astrodome
Oh...Astroturf came about because they couldn't grow grass there. So is there a plan for that, too? Perhaps a removable field like in the new Sapporo Dome? When it first opened back in the 60s, the Astrodome had nice natural grass. The dome had clear glass windows that permitted the grass to grow with no problem. The problem was that the artsy pattern of the windows overhead made if very difficult for outfielders to see (and hence catch) fly balls. The dome was good for grass but bad for baseball. The solution was to paint over the glass, which solved the fly ball problem but killed the grass. Hence the necessity for the invention of Astroturf. Since it's not a baseball park anymore, they can simply scrape the paint off the glass and grow natural grass again if they want to. No special new technology is needed. Kurt Bray _ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
According to an Associated Press report Houston Olympic officials, hoping to attract the 2012 games, plan to complete a total conversion of the Astrodome into an elite track and field facility by 2007. So would the marks there be considered as indoor performances (if the Dome makes it completely closed facility) despite the track being the standard outdoor 400 meters per lap?
Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
According to an Associated Press report Houston Olympic officials, hoping to attract the 2012 games, plan to complete a total conversion of the Astrodome into an elite track and field facility by 2007. So would the marks there be considered as indoor performances (if the Dome makes it completely closed facility) despite the track being the standard outdoor 400 meters per lap? Perhaps I'm just lacking in imagination, but I cannot conceive of how a 400 meter track could possibly fit inside the Astrodome. You wouldn't just be talking about a conversion, but practically building a whole new stadium. As it is, the dome only holds 50,000 (too small for Olympic desires, I'm guessing), and if memory serves, the stands were right up against the field. It would be perfect for an indoor track, but it seems to me you'd have to eliminate almost the entire lower section to fit a regulation outdoor oval in there. But maybe I just don't understand the overall architecture of the building. As to your original question: Wasn't the stadium in Montreal 1976 indoor? I think basic logic would dictate that any marks on a regulation 400m would be considered as no-wind outdoor marks. -- Lee Nichols Assistant News Editor The Austin Chronicle 512/454-5766, ext. 138 fax 512/458-6910 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
They used to have an indoor track meet at the Dome. I believe that it was 5 laps to the mile. So, possibly a 400 meter track could be placed within the confines of the stadium. Where they might put all the field events would remain to be seen. Lance Phegley Editor Runner Triathlete News / Inside Texas Running [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.RunnerTriathleteNews.com / www.InsideTexasRunning.com (281) 759-0555 - Original Message - From: Lee Nichols [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 3:13 PM Subject: Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome According to an Associated Press report Houston Olympic officials, hoping to attract the 2012 games, plan to complete a total conversion of the Astrodome into an elite track and field facility by 2007. So would the marks there be considered as indoor performances (if the Dome makes it completely closed facility) despite the track being the standard outdoor 400 meters per lap? Perhaps I'm just lacking in imagination, but I cannot conceive of how a 400 meter track could possibly fit inside the Astrodome. You wouldn't just be talking about a conversion, but practically building a whole new stadium. As it is, the dome only holds 50,000 (too small for Olympic desires, I'm guessing), and if memory serves, the stands were right up against the field. It would be perfect for an indoor track, but it seems to me you'd have to eliminate almost the entire lower section to fit a regulation outdoor oval in there. But maybe I just don't understand the overall architecture of the building. As to your original question: Wasn't the stadium in Montreal 1976 indoor? I think basic logic would dictate that any marks on a regulation 400m would be considered as no-wind outdoor marks. -- Lee Nichols Assistant News Editor The Austin Chronicle 512/454-5766, ext. 138 fax 512/458-6910 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
In a message dated Wed, 26 Jun 2002 2:43:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, Post, Marty [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: So would the marks there be considered as indoor performances (if the Dome makes it completely closed facility) despite the track being the standard outdoor 400 meters per lap? IAAF removed indoor from the WR definition several years ago (i think the Congress of '97 in Athens), although it went generally unnoticed, even by most statisticians. So long as other conditions are OK (like no banked track), makes no difference whether or not a facility has a roof. As it should be. gh
Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
Well, even after seeing an artist's rendering, I'm still having a hard time picturing it, but here's the idea for converting the Dome into a tf venue (scroll down to Athletics): http://www.houston2012.com/thegames-venues/reliant_park.html -- Lee Nichols Assistant News Editor The Austin Chronicle 512/454-5766, ext. 138 fax 512/458-6910 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome
Would they keep the seats the color of those ugly old Astro uniforms? - Original Message - From: Lee Nichols [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 5:26 PM Subject: Re: t-and-f: elite track at Astrodome Well, even after seeing an artist's rendering, I'm still having a hard time picturing it, but here's the idea for converting the Dome into a tf venue (scroll down to Athletics): http://www.houston2012.com/thegames-venues/reliant_park.html -- Lee Nichols Assistant News Editor The Austin Chronicle 512/454-5766, ext. 138 fax 512/458-6910 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
