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Tuesday, May 19, 1998

State track meet next year moving to much smaller venue

By CHIP BROWN

Associated Press

AUSTIN - Tickets may be a little harder to come by for the annual state track meet, which is moving out of Royal-Memorial Stadium after nearly 75 years, University Interscholastic League officials say.

Next year's track meet will be in the University of Texas' new track facility - Mike A. Myers Stadium - which is expected to hold 26,000 spectators in 20,000 permanent seats and 6,000 portable seats.

UIL director Bill Farney said, however, that the seating capacity estimates have ranged from 15,000 to 26,000. The stadium isn't expected to be completed until December.

"We probably won't know until it's done," said Farney, addressing the Associated Press Sports Editors on Monday.

But for one of the largest track meets held in the world each year, one thing is clear - tickets will be tight.

Royal-Memorial Stadium, site of the UIL track meet since 1925, can seat upwards of 70,000 and has hosted state track meets in the past that have drawn more than 35,000.

UIL athletic director Charles Breithaupt said the meet may be divided up into separate sessions, with tickets being sold for each, similar to the state basketball tournament.

That way, if someone wants to see only the Class 1A and 2A running and field events, they can buy a ticket for that and free up seats for someone who wants to watch the 4A and 5A competition.

"We've got to look at a different format," Breithaupt said. "We may have to go to different sessions and do some presale tickets with reserve seats. But we're not sure that capacity will be there. We don't know if the seats are numbered. We'll just have to wait and see."

It will also be more difficult for those covering the state meet. Royal-Memorial's press box accommodates more than 90. Myers seats only 25.

Breithaupt said there hasn't been any consideration given to moving the meet out of Austin.

In other UIL developments, Breithaupt said he anticipates a proposal during the summer Legislative Council meetings that would expand the football playoffs and allow for a single champion in each class.

Classes 3A and 2A recently approved a move already instituted in 5A and 4A - allowing for three teams in each district to qualify for the playoffs. That system requires the playoffs to be divided into "big" and "small" school divisions, with two state champions being crowned in each class.

Some have said that system dilutes the playoffs and never realizes a true champion.

Breithaupt said at least one coach has proposed expanding the playoffs to allow for a single champion to be crowned in each class.

Such a proposal would allow four teams in each district to qualify for the playoffs and would require schools to begin their season in the last week of August to ensure the larger playoff field in each class reaches a championship game before Christmas.

"Right now, it's just a proposal. It's one person's idea," Breithaupt said.

He said the proposal may be opposed by smaller schools in each class, which feel they are at a competitive disadvantage in the playoffs by facing the largest schools in their class.