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Earlier this month it was announced that the Armory Track and Field Center in Washington Heights will begin hosting the 104-year hold Millrose Games next year. PHOTO: Landa M. Towns
For nearly 100 years the Millrose Games, perhaps New York City’s most emblematic track and field event, has been held at Madison Square Garden. But times are changing, and next January, in anticipation of the 2012 Olympics, the games will move to the Armory Track and Field Center on Ft. Washington Avenue and W. 168th Street.
The Millrose Games were started in 1914 when employees of the New York City branch of Wannamaker’s department store formed a track club to hold a meet. Years later the games grew, attracting the biggest names in the sport and eventually making the move to the Garden.
However, although runners still show up every year to run the fastest times, the event has lost some of its cachet, struggling to maintain attendance levels, ticket sales, and television coverage.
But according to Dr. Norbert Sander Jr., executive director at The Armory Foundation, the Millrose Games’ move to Washington Heights will bring a positive effect, and maybe even a new luster to the athletic event.
“This is a better place for such an important event. We have one of the best facilities in the country, this is what the Armory is built for,” said Dr. Sander, referring to the track and field hub which has undergone $50 million in renovations over the last 20 years, turning it into a state-of-the-art 200-meter Mondo Track.
Nevertheless, some are not quite convinced the Armory can carry the Garden’s loyal New York City-centric stamp of approval, even though, with the move, the games will now be held on a better track. At the Garden, the much smaller track gives way to tighter turns that yield slower times, since there are 11 laps to the mile. At the Armory the bigger track means there are only eight laps to the mile.
“Madison Square Garden might be the entertainment center of the world. But when it comes to track and field, the Armory is the better venue for the event,” Sander said.
In regards to the game organizer’s concerns that the event’s fans will find the new location inaccessible and far away from the center of Manhattan, Dr. Sander said that Washington Heights is an easily accessible neighborhood with direct access to “major highways, the George Washington Bridge, subways, public transportation and airports.”
Changes for next year will include a revamped program of games over two days instead of what now takes place on one Friday in January. Dr. Sander is hoping that extending the games through the weekend will bring more of a family-oriented environment where they can enjoy the games.
He also notes that the thousands of additional visitors to the neighborhood will be good for Northern Manhattan.
“The positive economic impact of bringing the games will be a great consequence for the community and the neighborhood,” he said. “It’s going to be a well-attended event. We can accommodate 4,000 people each night, and we’ve already started selling tickets.”
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