Veterans Memorial Stadium (La Crosse)
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Veteran's Memorial Stadium is a stadium in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is primarily used for american football and track and field, and is the home field of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse "Eagles". Veteran's Memorial Stadium seats 2,849 in the main grandstand and another 1,700 on the visitor's side and portable bleachers. The 9-lane, 400 meter track complex is one of the finest track and field facilities in the state. This facility has hosted several NCAA Championships and continues to host the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Track & Field Championships every June. The Stadium Complex also houses the Veteran's Hall of Honor meeting room.
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[edit] Planned Expansion
This expansion will increase seating to around 10,000, improve Harring field and the surrounding track, and also provide additional athletic fields for soccer and intramurals.
The reasons for the expansion are to attract and retain large events such as the WIAA state track meet, as well as have fields and associated structures that will support both UW-La Crosse athletic and recreational activities and community events and programs. In the past, the New Orleans Saints had used the facilities for their summer practice and the university would be interested in attracting another NFL team back to the campus.
The expansion has an estimated cost of about $14.5 million and is expected to begin demolition of the current stadium in June 2008. The field and track will be completed in September 2008 and the whole project is scheduled to be finished September 2009.
[edit] Goals of Expansion
[edit] Stadium
- Provide seating capacity of 10,000 split between the main stadium structure and a “visitors side” seating section.
- Develop facilities within the stadium for ticketing, and public restrooms.
- Develop space below the stadium seating for a student fitness center.
- Install new lighting in stadium.
- (As budget allows) Develop facilities within the stadium for concessions, press box, chancellor’s box, corporate viewing boxes filming platform, etc.
- (As budget allows) Develop space below stadium seating for functions such as athletic training, classrooms, locker rooms, climate controlled storage, etc.
[edit] Track
- Construct a new, 9-lane (48”) lighted track with rubberized surface that meets all NCAA and WIAA guidelines for competition track facilities. Utilize a “broken-back” style track layout to achieve faster competition track and to afford ample infield space for field events.
- Incorporate long jump, triple jump, and pole vault within the field on the east (“visitors”) side of the football field. In corporate high jump into the south D-zone.
- Centrally locate the hammer throw, discuss and javelin near the stadium complex area with permanent runways and throwing pads and cages.
[edit] Harring Field
- Install new synthetic playing surface within the stadium. This will allow unlimited use of the field and it will also reduce the required number of football practice fields.
- Develop one natural turf football practice field immediately adjacent to the stadium to accommodate coordinated, simultaneous practice on both the synthetic and the natural turf fields.
[edit] Soccer
- Provide a minimally crowned, irrigated and lighted 225’x360’ natural turf competition field oriented north-south.
- Provide an irrigated and lighted natural turf half-size practice field adjacent to the competition field.
- Provide spectator seating with an approximate capacity of 300 seats.
- Install permanent press facilities, scorers table, score board and public address system. Also provide team benches opposite of the spectator seating.
[edit] Student Recreation
- Develop permanent, lighted student recreation fields on north end of Memorial Fields complex.
[edit] Tennis
- Provide spectator seating.
