Mike A. Myers Stadium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mike A. Myers Stadium
The interior of Myers Stadium
Location	Austin, Texas
Coordinates	30°16′57″N, 97°43′47″W
Broke ground	1997
Built	1997 - 1999
Opened	March 20, 1999
Owner	The University of Texas at Austin
Operator	The University of Texas at Austin
Surface	Natural grass
Construction cost	$13 MM
Tenants
Texas Longhorn track (1999 - present) Texas Longhorn soccer (1999 - present)
Capacity
20,000

Mike A. Myers Stadium is the home of The University of Texas Longhorn track and field and soccer teams and also home to the USATF Elite Running Circuit Austin Track Club. The 20,000 seat stadium hosts the historic Texas Relays annually in April, as well as the University Interscholastic League track and field state championship in May.

In 1996, plans were made to construct the stadium in response to the need to expand Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and convert it to a football-specific facility, the desire to move track and field events to a venue that was more fan and athlete friendly, and the need to construct an appropriate on-campus facility to house the varsity soccer program begun in 1994. Construction began in 1997, and the stadium was opened in March 1999, just in time to host the Texas Relays. The stadium is named for Mike Myers, a residential community developer who lives in Dallas, who is also a graduate of UT's law and business schools, in recognition of his $3 million donation to finance construction. The opening of the stadium now meant that track and field events could take place in the same venue; previously, field events had been conducted at nearby Clark Field out of concern for the condition of the football stadium's turf.

The stadium hosted the 2002 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, the 2004 NCAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and the 2003 Big Twelve Conference Outdoor Championship.

The stadium track is a nine lane European oval, with straightaways of 82 meters and curves of 118 meters in length, which creates a longer, smoother curve than the typical 100 m-by-100 m configuration. This smoother curve has given the track a reputation as one of the fastest tracks in the United States, if not the world. The field events area consists of several throwing circles, dual jump lanes, and two high jump aprons. The facility also houses a 21,200 square foot field house consisting of a press box, locker rooms for the UT track and soccer teams, visitors' and officials locker rooms, a specialized training room, and a lounge for track and soccer athletes and coaches. There is a scoreboard at each end of the stadium, and full lighting allows events to be conducted at night. On the west side of the stadium stands a 1,200 space parking garage.

ESPN's College Gameday was on hand at Myers Stadium on October 22, 2005 to preview and discuss the football game versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders and again on September 9, 2006 against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Gameday set was situated to take advantage of the dramatic views of downtown Austin and the UT Tower from the stadium.