Since track is in it’s off-season I thought this might be something interesting to discuss and get a few people interacting. I have seen in other forums lots of talk about Cessna Stadium and what will happen to it in the upcoming years. Some of it has educated thoughts and some does not.
It appears that at some point in the near future the East side of Cessna Stadium will be removed, potentially for a parking garage. So if that is the case, what would you like to see Cessna Stadium become?
Keep the following things in mind:
-Wichita State and Cessna Stadium is host to the Kansas State Track and Field Championships that draw over 20,000 in attendance each day (40,000+ total). This has been told to me as the single most important weekend to the city of Wichita every year in terms of economic impact. More than any other sporting event or concert.
-Wichita State’s track and field program is not only one of the best in the MVC, but it’s often a top-25 type national team as well. They deserve a facility that is to the quality of their team – at least it appears that is the WSU athletic department’s vision based on facilities of other teams on campus.
-The track/cross country program accounts for 6 of the departments 15 MVC championship competitions (40%). They are, without a doubt, the most significant part of WSU’s all-sport trophy goals.
-WSU has hosted national level competitions in Cessna Stadium in the past and as recently at the 2011 USA Junior Olympics. Cessna also has the annual KT Woodman Classic in April, which hosts over 100 college and high schools and 3000 athletes annually.
If the East side is going to be gone, this is what I would like to see (obviously it’s a dream but that’s the point right?):
Put an overhang on the West side stands so that fans are protected from the sun or rain. Make the East side (where the parking garage will be) a grassy and tiered area for a few thousand people to put lawn chairs or just hang out. Plant trees down the backstretch to provide natural shade. Make the south end where the rock wall is in levels a bit more accommodating to seat fans. With the dorm so close it could be kind of a “party spot” like the outfield at Eck Stadium. Put a jumbotron in the Southeast corner of the stadium. Get rid of Kapaun football so you can move the Discus and Javelin inside the stadium as well as putting a Shot Put area on the infield. And finally, put a new indoor track in the bottom level of the parking garage so you could use it as a warmup area for outdoor meets as well as the home of the indoor teams.
For those of you who think Cessna Stadium is an eyesore, I disagree. I think it is a historic place (for track and field) that has seen world records and Olympians as well as great Shocker teams. It has a lot of character and is used by the community all the time for various reasons. I think it could be redone as a place that could hold national level meets often as well as add to the new philosophy of the campus.
Anyone have any better ideas?
It appears that at some point in the near future the East side of Cessna Stadium will be removed, potentially for a parking garage. So if that is the case, what would you like to see Cessna Stadium become?
Keep the following things in mind:
-Wichita State and Cessna Stadium is host to the Kansas State Track and Field Championships that draw over 20,000 in attendance each day (40,000+ total). This has been told to me as the single most important weekend to the city of Wichita every year in terms of economic impact. More than any other sporting event or concert.
-Wichita State’s track and field program is not only one of the best in the MVC, but it’s often a top-25 type national team as well. They deserve a facility that is to the quality of their team – at least it appears that is the WSU athletic department’s vision based on facilities of other teams on campus.
-The track/cross country program accounts for 6 of the departments 15 MVC championship competitions (40%). They are, without a doubt, the most significant part of WSU’s all-sport trophy goals.
-WSU has hosted national level competitions in Cessna Stadium in the past and as recently at the 2011 USA Junior Olympics. Cessna also has the annual KT Woodman Classic in April, which hosts over 100 college and high schools and 3000 athletes annually.
If the East side is going to be gone, this is what I would like to see (obviously it’s a dream but that’s the point right?):
Put an overhang on the West side stands so that fans are protected from the sun or rain. Make the East side (where the parking garage will be) a grassy and tiered area for a few thousand people to put lawn chairs or just hang out. Plant trees down the backstretch to provide natural shade. Make the south end where the rock wall is in levels a bit more accommodating to seat fans. With the dorm so close it could be kind of a “party spot” like the outfield at Eck Stadium. Put a jumbotron in the Southeast corner of the stadium. Get rid of Kapaun football so you can move the Discus and Javelin inside the stadium as well as putting a Shot Put area on the infield. And finally, put a new indoor track in the bottom level of the parking garage so you could use it as a warmup area for outdoor meets as well as the home of the indoor teams.
For those of you who think Cessna Stadium is an eyesore, I disagree. I think it is a historic place (for track and field) that has seen world records and Olympians as well as great Shocker teams. It has a lot of character and is used by the community all the time for various reasons. I think it could be redone as a place that could hold national level meets often as well as add to the new philosophy of the campus.
Anyone have any better ideas?
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