If you build it, they will come (Detroit)
 

It doesn’t always work out that way without a lot of dedication, passion and volunteer work (which was apparently missing in Chicago, but present in Cleveland). The Detroit Gang is determined to bring it up a notch, model things after Europe’s successes and inspire a new track racing league.

Interesting article about the developments in the last year in bicycling magazine: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a2688...drome-detroit/

Interesting tidbits: In addition to developing Detroit's native urban talent in its children, the plan is to create a track cycling league - American Cycling League. There is also a live stream of the "pro" races that gets a lot of views.

Cool read, thanks for sharing.

*A big budget is also a key difference that Detroit doesn't share with almost any other velodrome in the USA.

True (for the initial start up at least). I think the Chicago and Cleveland velodromes were about $100K to build (just for the track).
Detroit didn't quite break even last year. Its being used as a multi purpose facility - Corporations can rent it out for special events. Its used by multiple sports (aerobics, schools, rollerblading, Frisbee golf), and seems to put on a decent show on race nights. Anything to keep it viable. The trick is to make/keep it self funding.

Why is that sad?

A velodrome is a recreational amenity that appeals to a very small subset of people - as Carleton likes to note, we are a niche within a niche sport.

Bike lanes, and protected bike lanes, are transportation amenities. They appeal to a much larger group of bicycle commuters, many of whom do not bike recreationally. This is a the fallacy that many competitive cyclists fall into thinking that all bicyclists look like them. But the spandex set is not the majority of bicyclists. Not only will many of the people who use those bike lanes not wear spandex, they may not own a car.

Your complaint is like complaining that the city added another lane to the highway instead of building a NASCAR track.

thatI am a little suspect of the $100k number. The article notes the startup cost was $4.5 million.

If you read the article, you'll learn that the funding for the bike paths was part of a huge transportation levy including roads, bike paths, and sidewalks which was paid for by an increase in property tax. It would be illegal to use transportation funds to build recreational facilities.

The 4.5 million was the total cost of the Detroit velodrome. It's a very nice indoor facility.
I don't know about Chicago, but Cleveland's track is an outdoor facility. The 100k stated was for just the track.
PI

Wood 250m official built by one of the best = $ 1 mi only the track - Plus cover, with 700 seated places and complete, I said complete infra it reached $ 4 mi at Rio de Janeiro Pan Games 2007.
Concrete - serious steady and reliable well shaped track is more expensive than $1 mi, if you want it to last, no cracks and moves etc. Can be from $ 2 to 3 mi, only the track, few infra around, no cover, of course.
Ok, you can just shape a piece of land and cover with 2" of "thin wire structured concrete" = it won't last, I believe. Many examples.

And about Detroit... great iniciative, but.. many many hopes, for a non-official footage track, without seats, etc.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports...sustainability

True, and the key to making something like this a success in the Detroit model is to make it useful to a broad range of people, whether it be school children using it for recess, or seniors using the outside as a walking track, doing special events for local businesses, or putting on a show for race night – broad appeal is key.

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Sorry if It wasn’t clear, but the 100K number is the basic start up cost for the 166m outdoor tracks for Chicago or Cleveland (built by one of the best, lol). That is the cost for the track only. Everything else was volunteer and use of available land from the city (at least for Detroit’s northern outdoor track).​​​​​​​ The indoor track is obviously a whole different can of worms.

Detroit has seats, the infield has “suites” (roped off couch areas) and an open area with seating rather like a bar (including the beer) in the infield. Personally I think it is inspirational that someone had such a dream and the moxy and the vision to make it come true. I read about more track closings than success stories like this lately.