Schools

Mt. SAC Plans $62 Million Renovation of Hilmer Lodge Stadium

Mt. San Antonio College's historic Hilmer Lodge Stadium will get a $62 million makeover in anticipation of the school's plan to put in a bid for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Joe Jennum, Mt. SAC's athletic director, recently announced plans for what has been dubbed Project 2020.

The project will take 36 months to complete and cause the Mt. SAC Relays to be relocated in 2016 and possibly 2017, according to a news release.

"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 economy," officials wrote in the news release.

The following is a list of components the project 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

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  • 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

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  • 6,450 gross square feet
  • College shop
  • Stadium operations office
  • Ticketing
  • Concessions

Grading is expect to start in 2014, but the current stadium won't be demolished until after Mt. SAC's June 2015 graduation, officials said. 

The project won't change the Mt. SAC cross country course, however the facility will be enhanced to better viewing with a new spectator terrace at the start line, two bridges to ease pedestrian congestion during cross country events, and improved spectator areas at the "Gauntlet" and the "Guard Alley," officials said. An improved warm up area also is part of the plan.

Hilmer Lodge Stadium was dedicated in 1948 by then Congressman Richard M. Nixon.  It has been host to two Olympic Trials and the place where 20 world records in track and field were set, including one occasion dubbed "the greatest day in track in field" in which six world records were broken or tied in one evening, officials said.




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