UCLA might not have to log a lot of travel mileage next
spring.
Already slated to host the Pac-10 Track and Field Championships
next May, the Bruins are exploring whether or not to make a bid to
host the NCAA West Regionals at Drake Stadium, as well.
First-year meet director Eric Peterson, in conjunction with the
rest of the coaching staff and Associate Athletic Director Bob
Field, have made an effort to improve the quality of UCLA’s
home schedule this season. The next step in that process, they
believe, could be to bring the Regional Championships to Westwood
next year.
“We would like to get into the rotation for championship
meets and even the NCAAs,” Peterson said. “Drake is a
beautiful stadium. We feel like we have the best facility in the
country.”
Over the next few weeks, Peterson and Field said they must
determine whether hosting Regionals would be feasible or not. UCLA
will only place a bid if it is cost-effective and the athletic
department can sufficiently staff the meet.
The NCAA will review each bid, and make a decision around
mid-July.
“Their concern is, “˜Can you host the
event?'” Peterson said. “Our concern is whether
we can host it better than anyone else.”
The completion of Parking Lot 7 and the installation of new
lights seem to make Drake Stadium a more attractive choice as a
host site. Peterson is unsure which other schools will make a bid,
but he believes Oregon and Arizona are likely candidates.
UCLA has asked for cost estimates from Stanford, last
year’s Regionals host, and Cal State Northridge, which will
host the meet this weekend.
“If it’s something that we can pull off, we’d
love to do it,” Field said. “We’ve tried to
improve our product this year ““ to put a little more into
it.”
Drawing fans to a meet in Los Angeles is never easy, but both
Peterson and Field are confident fans will come.
“There (have) to be 10,000 track and field fans in this
city. I’m confident of that,” Peterson said.
“What happened was, we’ve gotten out of the business of
hosting track meets. They’ve almost become a
novelty.”
“You’re always going to be competing for the
entertainment dollar,” added Field. “You can look at
Los Angeles as an obstacle or a selling point.”
Peterson is hopeful that the Regional meet will be just the
beginning for UCLA. The third annual Rafer Johnson/Jackie
Joyner-Kersee meet is slated for next April, and Peterson also
hopes to eventually land the California High School State
Championships and the U.S. Junior National Championships, as
well.
“We’ve got a first-class facility,” Peterson
said. “It’s time to take advantage of that.”