With another track season steadily approaching some major changes had to be made so that the University of Louisiana Monroe Track program could move forward. The biggest obstacle was the facility the track team had been using for fifty years. In that time ULM has produced NCAA Champions , World Champions and American Record holders. The last few years the Warhawks have been doing it on a track that was falling apart.
The renovated Brown Stadium and Groseclose Track will house the ULM Soccer Team and ULM Track and Field Program. The renovations for the new facility will cost $5 million. The funds were secured through ULM Facilities, Inc. Dr. Bruno insured that the student’s fee bills will not be affected, that all the funding needed for the project has already been taken care of.
With the opening of the new track, the track team can now host meets. The Warhawks haven't been able to do that since 2013 due to poor facilities.
The stadium will also host soccer games, which will allow more fans to come and have an area to be seated. The soccer team has been playing its games at the Soccer Complex in the Grove since 2006.
Dr. Bruno said “the track is a project that needed to be worked on and had been trying to get done since his tenure started at ULM.”
Bruno said "The new track it can help out not only the school but also the community having an economic impact, with schools coming in they would have to get hotel rooms and buy food which puts funds into the community. "
The new track would be up to USATF regulations so that Regional and District meets could be held here as well which would bring in revenue also. Coach J.D. Malone says he excited for the track, “It is a dream come true.” “It means everything for recruiting, because the kids look at facilities so it’s a game changer.”
Brown Stadium and Groseclose Track is scheduled to be complete May 1,2018 with a grand opening May 18, 2018.