Sacramento

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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/st ... 0213c.html

Track and field beat: City is hoping to become home for major events




By John Schumacher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 27, 2005
Now that USA Swimming has snubbed Sacramento, local sports officials can refocus their efforts on enhancing the city's reputation as a track destination.

Although its bid to land the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials came up short last week, the Sacramento Sports Commission has plenty of track-related work on its plate.







First up, the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, set for June 8-11 at Hornet Stadium.

On deck, commission officials hope, is the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. The bidding process is expected to begin soon, with a final decision likely sometime this fall.

While Sacramento is best known for its Olympic Trials work, having hosted successful meets in both 2000 and 2004, the NCAA event offers intriguing long-term prospects.

Coaches and athletes praised Sacramento for its efforts in hosting the 2003 NCAA meet. After thunderstorms disrupted the 2004 event in Austin, Texas, the NCAA Track and Field Committee bypassed Austin, Eugene, Ore., Carson and Columbus, Ohio, awarding Sacramento the meet for 2005, 2006 and 2007.

If all goes well, Sports Commission officials hope to make Sacramento the event's permanent home, much as baseball's College World Series has been a fixture in Omaha, Neb., since 1950.

"Our goal is to build this event very similar to how Omaha has built the College World Series," said Brian May, chairman of the Sacramento Sports Commission. "That absolutely was one of the goals of our plan when we went back to (NCAA headquarters in) Indianapolis to make our presentation. We wanted to take this event to another level."

The 2003 NCAA meet drew an estimated 32,000 fans to Hornet Stadium over four days, with the crowd peaking at 10,400 for the final day.

May hopes having hosted the NCAAs and the Olympic Trials boosts the NCAA attendance come June.

"What we're doing is building a fan base," he said. "Many of the people participating in the NCAAs are going to be athletes participating in the Trials. It's much like the River Cats; you see people playing here, (and) next year they're with the A's in Oakland."

It works in reverse, too. Some athletes who competed in the Trials here last year are expected back at Hornet Stadium for the NCAA meet. A handful of Olympians should be on hand as well, including Baylor 400-meter star Darold Williamson, Michigan distance ace Nick Willis, UCLA 400-meter standout Monique Henderson and North Carolina shot putter Laura Gerraughty.

Dustin Romero, the Sacramento Sports Commission's marketing manager, said the promotional emphasis will be on the teams competing for national titles.

"We're absolutely hoping for more attendance this year," he said. "Hopefully the excitement from the Trials will kind of spill over to this year and from the last NCAAs."

Tickets are slated to go on sale in mid-March, Romero said, with four-day packages available for $55 (reserved), $40 (general admission) and $25 (seniors and students). Single-day tickets won't be available until the beginning of the meet.