(Walnut, CA) Today, Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Athletic Director, Joe Jennum, officially announced a $62 million dollar total renovation of Historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium and its intent to bid for the 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Trials. Announced as "Project 2020," Mt. SAC will embark on a 3 year journey to transform the stadium into a state-of-the-art and ADA compliant facility in order to bring the Olympic Trials and other large events back to Walnut, California, bringing millions of dollars into the local ecomony.
The major construction components of "Project 2020" will include:
TRACK/FIELD AREAS
- New 400M 9 lane IAAF compliant synthetic track (natural turf infield) with 4 throwing circles, 2 Long Jump/Triple Jump Runways, 2 Pole Vault Runways,2 “D” Aprons for High Jump/Javelin
- NCAA artificial turf football practice field
- 3 lane synthetic practice track with 6 lane straightaway, Long Jump/TripleJump Runway, Pole Vault Runway and Throwing Circles
- 2 natural turf flex fields
- 9 tennis courts with lighting
- Event plazas to support site activities
- Permanent seating for 11,000 spectators (East 4,000, West 7,000), expandable to over 20,000
- Increased and improved restroom facilities
- Broadcast quality lighting
STADIUM FIELD HOUSE (52,260 gross square feet facility located under the west bleachers)
- Professor/Coach Offices and meeting facilities
- 2 active learning lab classrooms
- Lockerooms for student/athletes and general students
- 2 weight rooms with adjoining mat room
- Athletic training facilities
- Athletic equipment facilities
PRESS BOX
- Control and broadcast booths
- Home and visiting coaches areas
- Restrooms
- VIP room
HERITAGE HALL
- 6,250 gross square feet
- Historical display space
- Large adjoining lecture hall
ENTRY/EVENT SUPPORT AREA
- 6,450 gross square feet
- College shop
- Stadium operations office
- Ticketing
- Concessions
The stadium project is expected to last 36 months and will displace the World Famous Mt. SAC Relays for the 2016 and possibly the 2017 years. Although grading will begin as early as 2014, the current stadium will not be demolished until after the 2015 Mt. SAC Graduation in early June.
The project will not alter the historic Mt. SAC Cross Country Course. It will however enhance the facility with a new spectator terrace at the start line, two bridges to improve pedestrian flow and congestion during cross country events, improved spectator viewing at the "Gauntlet" and at the "Guard Alley," and an improved warm up area.
CLICK HERE to "Fly Through" the new Hilmer Lodge Stadium!
For over 50 years, Hilmer Lodge Stadium has provided the track and field/running community with many special memories and historic moments. Mt. SAC is home to the world-famous Mt. SAC Relays, Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational, LA84 Foundation Youth Days, CIF Championships and Footlocker West Regional Cross Country Championships. The stadium, dedicated in 1948 by then local congressman Richard M. Nixon, has also been the site of two Olympic trials, 20 world records in track and field, football championships, commercials, movies, graduations and the “greatest day in track and field,” when six world records were broken or tied in one spectacular evening.