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Board decision will concentrate UIL track meets at Veterans Stadium
Summary
With the removal of the track at Sams Stadium, Brownsville ISD staff said Veterans Stadium will host district UIL track and field events; coaches and administrators cited safety and liability issues tied to dispersed throwing sites and transportation.
Trustees heard that Sams Stadium no longer meets track needs and that moving track meets to Veterans Stadium centralizes throwing areas and reduces liability.
Chief Financial Officer Alejandro Cespedes said Sams' track is more than 20 years old and "resurfacing is no longer an option," and explained that while the district had previously held some track events at Sams, discus and shot-put logistics required transporting athletes to other properties in recent years. Athletic Administrator Gilbert Leal said having all throwing events on-site at Veterans removes the need to bus athletes and avoids splitting coach supervision.
Staff told trustees that Veterans has the discus and shot-put pads to host all UIL events and that resurfacing Veterans' track would likely cost about $150,000–$175,000 next year if not done now. The board's approval to remove the Sams track means district athletics will plan to host middle- and high-school district meets at Veterans going forward, with scheduling and practice-field consequences for affected schools.
