by RBR Admin
Hayward Field, artist rendition, courtesy of the University of Oregon
Well, I’ve tried to explain, for some time now, that we will not feel normal until 2022, and it should take until 2023-2024 until we find the new normal.
The folks at Tracktown are the ones I feel sorry for. Lane County changes its dystopian view of the the track capital of Lane County on a weekly time frame.
How many will be allowed in Hayward Field? Our sources suggested that last week it changed from 50% of seats back to 15 % of seats, due to upsurge in Covid cases in Lane county.
Good news is that Oregon is upping vaccinations, with students at Oregon just getting access.
Stay tuned. Know that Michael Reilly is a great guy who loves track, as does Tracktown. The USOPC makes the decisions, tells USATF, who then alerts Tracktown..and somewhere in there is Lane County, who seem a bit overwhelmed.
Just stay safe, and know that it will get better.
EUGENE, Ore. – TrackTown USA, the local organizing committee (LOC) for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, today announced ticketing updates as part of preparations to ensure event safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on state and local health regulations for stadium capacity and the high volume of tickets that already have been sold, the LOC has determined that the tickets held by existing customers cannot be fulfilled. As a result, all ticket customers will have their tickets refunded. A revised ticketing program with an updated seat inventory that is compliant with new regulations will be announced in May.
“Demand for tickets to the Olympic Trials continues to be at an all-time high and we are confident that some number of spectators will be able to attend the event if regulations allow. Unfortunately, we now know that we won’t be able to both comply with important public health regulations and fulfill the tickets that already have been sold,” said TrackTown USA CEO Michael Reilly. “We have considered numerous alternatives and have determined that taking this action now is in the best interest of our customers. By starting over with an updated seat map and policies that account for new regulations, we are providing the public with the opportunity to make purchasing decisions based on information that is very different from when tickets were originally on sale.”
Since the postponement of the Olympic Trials last spring, the LOC has been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 landscape with public health officials, USA Track & Field, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The State of Oregon recently changed its regulations to allow spectators at sporting events, but those regulations specify limitations on stadium capacity based on the county’s risk level. Additionally, social distancing will be required in the seating bowl. Those two components will significantly reduce the number of seats and limit the distribution of seats that will be available for the Olympic Trials. As a result, existing ticket purchases can’t be accommodated. Ticket customers will be contacted directly by the LOC with details of the refund policies and procedures.
We will continue to work with public health officials in the hope that the county risk level in June will allow for spectators. The revised ticketing program that will be announced in May will focus on creating opportunities for as many people as possible to attend at least one session of the Olympic Trials, with the following key principles:
- Athlete families will have the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public.
- The next level of priority will go to ticket customers who retained their tickets until this point.
- Tickets will be sold only for individual days of competition and customers will be limited in the number of seats and the number of days that can be purchased.
Event updates will be published on TrackTown20.com as they become available. Those wishing to stay informed on the 2020 Olympic Trials are encouraged to sign up for email updates here.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials is a collaboration between the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Track & Field (USATF). TrackTown USA serves as the LOC for the event, which is scheduled to take place June 18-27, 2021 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The event will be presented across NBC platforms.
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About TrackTown USA, Inc.
TrackTown USA, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to setting a standard of excellence in the sports of track and field and running by hosting premier events, creating a supportive environment for elite athletic performances, improving facilities, being a leader in sustainability and inspiring the next generation of track and field athletes and fans. The organization is responsible for organizing the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, the 2015 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials–Track & Field, and the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials–Track & Field.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world’s oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.
About the USOPC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. The USOPC is focused on protecting, supporting and empowering America’s athletes, and is responsible for fielding U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, and serving as the steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the U.S. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
