There may be things that do not go perfectly this year, and the two-year commitment will give them the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments for 2001. One of the biggest benefits of the moves for both divisions will be a return to a competitive setting that is more advantageous for both the student-athletes and spectators. Capacity for the home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts is 60,272. The Randal Tyson Track Center, on the other hand, is designed for a maximum of 6,500 spectators and is expected to be near a sellout for the championships. The actual 200-meter banked track in the facility is the same one used for the International Amateur Athletic Federation World Indoor Championships in Toronto in 1993.
Athletes enjoy full stands because it contributes to the excitement of the event.
When you take that dynamic and add to it the best fields in each event in the country, the top athletes really could take their performances to a higher level. DeGraw expects a similar reaction at the Division II competition in the 3,500-seat Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. The spectators will be much closer to the action. They should be much louder and bring a level of enthusiasm that was missed in the dome. Division II also will benefit from being at a separate site in terms of event scheduling.