It won't go down without a fight but there is a rumor regarding the demolition of Edwards stadium, which is bad news for the Cal track and soccer teams. Relevant due to the football-induced debt to the University of California, and I would want more eyes on this than the Olympic sports BI page.

http://www.dailycal.org/2017/11/02/uc-berkeley-chancellor-proposes-assuming-portion-cal-athletics-debt-exchange-developing-edwards-stadium/

Renovate the field at Clark Kerr for soccer, has the best views of any soccer ptich in the conference. Too bad for track and field.

oskirules said:

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Renovate the field at Clark Kerr for soccer, has the best views of any soccer ptich in the conference. Too bad for track and field.

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That is, indeed, the current plan. Apart for the need for space on campus, Edwards needs to come down, as it is the most seismically unsafe place around (already, 1/2 of the stands are condemned).

I wonder if Cal is capable of building anything close to resembling the new dorms at U$C on the Edwards site. It would be unfortunate if another Unit 2 type set of buildings end up on that corner.

Maybe Cal track and field could schedule meets at either Laney College or Chabot College in Hayward. Most of their meets are Invitationals anyway except for the Big Meet.

Because it is central campus, the Edwards site won't be used for housing, but for classrooms, labs, etc. Housing is likely to be built as a public-private partnership--things like retail on the ground floor, etc. There are a few plots potentially available. People's Park, obviously, although that's going to take some time, the Oxford tract (which is now used for agricultural research), a couple of others on Southside.

With so much demand for playing facilities by intercollegiate athletic and intermural teams it would appear very short sighted to tear down Edwards and replace it with classrooms or dorms.
It is far easier for Cal to find and take over other buildings or small parking lots for classrooms and dorms than ever again find enough open space for intercollegiate and intermural play.

In addition there is no reason why a track stadium would necessarily be incompatible with dorms or classroom space. There are a number of college stadia/stadiums which are mixed use in that classrooms or dorm space are integrated into the structure.

Cal Junkie said:

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It won't go down without a fight but there is a rumor regarding the demolition of Edwards stadium, which is bad news for the Cal track and soccer teams. Relevant due to the football-induced debt to the University of California, and I would want more eyes on this than the Olympic sports BI page.

http://www.dailycal.org/2017/11/02/uc-berkeley-chancellor-proposes-assuming-portion-cal-athletics-debt-exchange-developing-edwards-stadium/

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The Chancellor is looking at the big picture. This move appears to be a win for everyone. The AD reduces its debt and the campus acquires additional (badly needed) space.

I hope it comes to fruition......

Lots of good memories for me. Among those I saw compete there: Pat Matzdorf (broke the World Record in the high jump in 1971); Steve Prefontaine; Tommy Smith; John Carlos; Lee Evans; Eamonn Coghlan; Steve Scott; John Walker; Mike Boit; Al Oerter; Ron Clarke; and George Frenn.

This is one of the best moves Cal has made in a while. Cal needs more classroom space. We're in the midst of adding several thousand more undergraduate students. Where do you want to cram them and their professors etc? I hope they build at least 1M Sq ft of class space.

Chancellor Christ has already mapped out the 9 available sites for housing on the North, West, and South sides of campus. She's getting things done.

for soccer, moving to a smaller venue is a good thing. right now it's just too big and feels empty even with a reasonable number of fans

not sure about track and field

Add Ivory Crockett to that list.

Good memories. Lots of Saturdays spent at Edwards with my dad and a stop watch. Don Bowden was one of my early heroes.

sonofabear51 said:

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Add Ivory Crockett to that list.

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Yes, I remember him. How about Mohinder Singh Gill?

As a 17 year-old, I also remember watching Matzdorf (and Jerry Lindgren) at that USA-USSR-World meet (along with a gorgeous blond female Russian long jumper whose name I never figured out). Also recall seeing Mary Decker (pre-Slaney), Frank Shorter, Dr. Delano Meriwether, Edwin Moses. And on the USC 4x110yd relay team at the 1968 NCAA Championships, OJ himself. I'd miss Evans if they tore it down, but when was the last time there was a big meet there? I live near Sacramento now, and while Sac State's stadium ain't much, they hosted the USATF this year.

Cal Junkie said:

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It won't go down without a fight but there is a rumor regarding the demolition of Edwards stadium, which is bad news for the Cal track and soccer teams. Relevant due to the football-induced debt to the University of California, and I would want more eyes on this than the Olympic sports BI page.

http://www.dailycal.org/2017/11/02/uc-berkeley-chancellor-proposes-assuming-portion-cal-athletics-debt-exchange-developing-edwards-stadium/

"Football induced debt" strikes me as a little harsh. Retro-fitting is kind of hard to lay at their door step.

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bearister said:

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Lots of good memories for me. Among those I saw compete there: Pat Matzdorf (broke the World Record in the high jump in 1971); Steve Prefontaine; Tommy Smith; John Carlos; Lee Evans; Eamonn Coghlan; Steve Scott; John Walker; Mike Boit; Al Oerter; Ron Clarke; and George Frenn.

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I worked the USA-USSR track meet for ABC in the late 70's so I assume I saw some great ones as well. Cash money and a Wide World of Sports huge banner out of the deal, I was thrilled.
I thought Track and Field could have/should have been the "4th sport" in this country (ahead of hockey), but they never had the leadership/creativity to take them to that place.
I guess if Cal drops T and F, then Cross Country goes with it for competitive reasons. Not sure if they would have to drop another Men's sport to be compliant.
You can make an argument for most any of the Cal sports to stay, but to think that there won't be cutbacks when the University has inserted themselves into the AD budget would be naive I think.

GivemTheAxe said:

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With so much demand for playing facilities by intercollegiate athletic and intermural teams it would appear very short sighted to tear down Edwards and replace it with classrooms or dorms.
It is far easier for Cal to find and take over other buildings or small parking lots for classrooms and dorms than ever again find enough open space for intercollegiate and intermural play.

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Edwards was coming down, even without the other plans. It is currently a death trap. The good news is people won't be in it when it is demolished. Despite the fond memories, it makes more sense to expand needed campus facilities since the university gains by increased admissions, dorm space and revenue producing retail, and to move athletic facilities where there is better access and parking.

bearister said:

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Lots of good memories for me. Among those I saw compete there: Pat Matzdorf (broke the World Record in the high jump in 1971); Steve Prefontaine; Tommy Smith; John Carlos; Lee Evans; Eamonn Coghlan; Steve Scott; John Walker; Mike Boit; Al Oerter; Ron Clarke; and George Frenn.

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Also, the assault on the World Record by Ku's Jim Ryan, and there were others . . . Ku's Wes Santee, Cal's Don Bowden, Herb Elliott, Cal's great Leamon King . . .

And how about other greats who performed at Edwards . . . Cal's great Olympians Jack Yerman (1960) and Jerry Siebert (1964), Jim Grelle,Charles Dumas, Willie White, Ray Norton, Max Truex, Glenn Davis, Lee Calhoun, Bobby Morrow, Daryl Burleson . . .

There was Maynard Orme, Brian Maxwell, and who could forget Scotty Smith.

Many many more . . .

Does anyone remember when Telegraph Ave was a 2-way street and you drove up to Sather Gate and turned west on what is now Frank Schlessinger Way and on to Oxford Street on the north side of Edwards?

wifeisafurd said:

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GivemTheAxe said:

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With so much demand for playing facilities by intercollegiate athletic and intermural teams it would appear very short sighted to tear down Edwards and replace it with classrooms or dorms.
It is far easier for Cal to find and take over other buildings or small parking lots for classrooms and dorms than ever again find enough open space for intercollegiate and intermural play.

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Edwards was coming down, even without the other plans. It is currently a death trap. The good news is people won't be in it when it is demolished. Despite the fond memories, it makes more sense to expand needed campus facilities since the university gains by increased admissions, dorm space and revenue producing retail, and to move athletic facilities where there is better access and parking.

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Interesting that is was coming down no matter what. That is a very well positioned piece of land, so it make sense to use it for something that takes advantage of the location. I mean who can honestly say a stadium that sits empty most of the time outside of a few practices with grandstands athat will never be full for the few events held there is he best use of space. If central campus is going to build a smaller venue somewhere that is safe and reapropriate the Edward field site and make it something that's not a death trap, it's a win win.

With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

SFCALBear72 said:

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With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

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Would make more sense to shift the field towards Edwards and add seats in the infield on the 3b side which are actually decent seats. But then with the impending mandate for the AD to be revenue neutral by 2020, baseball might not be around in a few unless substantial money is raised.

ColoradoBear said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

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Would make more sense to shift the field towards Edwards and add seats in the infield on the 3b side which are actually decent seats. But then with the impending mandate for the AD to be revenue neutral by 2020, baseball might not be around in a few unless substantial money is raised.

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What is the gap between the cost of the baseball program and the amount of money donated by Cal baseball supporters?

ColoradoBear said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

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Would make more sense to shift the field towards Edwards and add seats in the infield on the 3b side which are actually decent seats. But then with the impending mandate for the AD to be revenue neutral by 2020, baseball might not be around in a few unless substantial money is raised.

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Correct. Unfortunately, baseball is the most likely to be cut IF there are sports eliminated. It is the most expensive of the non-revenue sports, and doesn't tick the diversity box. Plus with a large roster, it affects Title IX. I can see the rationale for expanding Evans seating, but that has to be a low priority. As I posted before, housing won't likely be on the Edwards site since it is central campus. Instead it will go for classroom/lab/offices and perhaps some retail. Perhaps a part of the footprint may be used for an athletic field (with minimal bleachers), but that is still to be determined.

BearSD said:

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ColoradoBear said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

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Would make more sense to shift the field towards Edwards and add seats in the infield on the 3b side which are actually decent seats. But then with the impending mandate for the AD to be revenue neutral by 2020, baseball might not be around in a few unless substantial money is raised.

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What is the gap between the cost of the baseball program and the amount of money donated by Cal baseball supporters?

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I believe it's break even now, but some is from the fundraising push from a few years ago, so unless another effort is made to raise money, baseball will exhaust those funds in a few years. They also do have significant year to year revenues, but it's an expensive sport with lots of travel.

Improved track and soccer facilities at the Kerr Campus could be very nice, but what is the future of Hellman Courts and all of the Cal Camp facilities for the summer programs?

71Bear said:

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Cal Junkie said:

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It won't go down without a fight but there is a rumor regarding the demolition of Edwards stadium, which is bad news for the Cal track and soccer teams. Relevant due to the football-induced debt to the University of California, and I would want more eyes on this than the Olympic sports BI page.

http://www.dailycal.org/2017/11/02/uc-berkeley-chancellor-proposes-assuming-portion-cal-athletics-debt-exchange-developing-edwards-stadium/

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The Chancellor is looking at the big picture. This move appears to be a win for everyone. The AD reduces its debt and the campus acquires additional (badly needed) space.

I hope it comes to fruition......

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Well it's not a win for track & field. I find it very upsetting myself.

Then there was sprinter Charlie Greene in his shades and Army tank top. Dude had some swagger!

Every sport has some number of people that are going to be passionate about it (I have some very fond memories of being at Evans Diamond on sunny afternoons watching a couple of Cal Bears that would later play in the bigs). At the end of the day 30 programs is not sustainable and some things have to go. Baseball and T&F...if that's what it ends up being then so be it.

According to Wikipedia, there have been 12 world records set in Edwards Stadium. I was fortunate to see one of them, Henry Rono's world record in the 5000 m in 1978, in a dual meet with WSU.

ColoradoBear said:

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BearSD said:

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ColoradoBear said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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With the potential of the grandstands behind Evans Diamond coming down, would they add outfield bleacher seats to increase capacity (potential added revenue) at Evans Diamond? Just a thought. Asking for a friend.

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Would make more sense to shift the field towards Edwards and add seats in the infield on the 3b side which are actually decent seats. But then with the impending mandate for the AD to be revenue neutral by 2020, baseball might not be around in a few unless substantial money is raised.

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What is the gap between the cost of the baseball program and the amount of money donated by Cal baseball supporters?

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I believe it's break even now, but some is from the fundraising push from a few years ago, so unless another effort is made to raise money, baseball will exhaust those funds in a few years. They also do have significant year to year revenues, but it's an expensive sport with lots of travel.

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True, baseball and softball are more expensive than most other non-revenue sports, in large part because of the food and lodging expense for several 3-game road trips. Cal baseball had 8 such road trips in 2017; Cal softball had 9 such road trips in the regular season. Presumably, softball and other women's sports are immune from being dropped because of Title IX.

tabear82 said:

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According to Wikipedia, there have been 12 world records set in Edwards Stadium. I was fortunate to see one of them, Henry Rono's world record in the 5000 m in 1978, in a dual meet with WSU.

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Saw Ryan in 1966. Didn't see Rono.

I can see a very likely scenario in which nothing gets cut, as much as they may get reduced.

bearister said:

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Lots of good memories for me. Among those I saw compete there: Pat Matzdorf (broke the World Record in the high jump in 1971); Steve Prefontaine; Tommy Smith; John Carlos; Lee Evans; Eamonn Coghlan; Steve Scott; John Walker; Mike Boit; Al Oerter; Ron Clarke; and George Frenn.

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I also have great memories: 1954 state HS meet featuring future Bear greats Monte Upshaw (broke Jesse Owens' national LJ record), Don Bowden (broke his own half-mile national record) and Leamon King. Also future Oly gold medal decathlete Rafer Johnson and Charlie Dumas, who later was the first man to clear 7' in the HJ. In 1956, the U. S. Olympic team put on a meet that featured world record holders Glenn Davis (400 M hurdles) Al Oerter (discus) and Parry O'Brien (SP) as well as triple medal winning sprinter Bobby Morrow. IIRC, Morrow was beaten that day by King who was the alternate 100M guy on that team. Edwards was an iconic facility but it was pretty shabby by the time I got to Cal so I can imagine the shape it is in today.

I saw Jim Ryan at Edwards.