Major Taylor Velodrome
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The Major Taylor Velodrome in 2014
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| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 39°49′17.2″N 86°11′57.7″W / 39.821444°N 86.199361°WCoordinates: 39°49′17.2″N 86°11′57.7″W / 39.821444°N 86.199361°W |
| Field size | 333.34 m (364.55 yd) track |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Opened | July 1982 |
The Major Taylor Velodrome is an open-air velodrome in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., named for Marshall Taylor. The 333.34 m (364.55 yd) track with 28 degree banked turns and 9 degree straights. The Velodrome is located immediately north from Marian University campus and is the home track of the Marian University Cycling Team.
The velodrome was opened in July 1982 for the U.S. Olympic Festival. It was built at a cost of 2.5 million dollars. It was a facility required to host that year's National Sports Festival, with money coming from a partnership between the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department and the Lilly Endowment. It was the first building built with public money in Indianapolis to be named after an African American. The proposal to name the facility for Taylor came initially from Tom Healy, a writer for the Indianapolis News, who contacted Taylor's daughter, Sidney Taylor Brown. The two advocated among the city's business community and Mayor William H. Hudnut III.
It has played host to many national and international competitions, including the 1987 Pan American Games, USA Cycling's Collegiate Track National Championships in 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2017, and USA Cycling's Masters Track National Championships in 2005, 2013, and 2016. In May 2011, Marian University took over operation of the Velodrome property, known as the Indy Cycloplex, which includes a BMX track, mountain bike trails, cyclocross course, and public green space.. In the years following the shift of operation, the facility has focused on promoting youth health and fitness as well as well as the continuous development in the sport of competitive cycling. Weekly & daily programming takes place on the Velodrome from April through September, including a Thursday night race series, the Major Taylor Racing League.
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