Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: Dec. 2, 2000

National Track and Field Hall of Fame Moving to New York City

New York, Dec. 2, 2000 -- The National Track & Field Hall of Fame will relocate to the Armory Track & Field Center at 168th Street, it was announced today by Craig Masback, CEO of USA Track & Field and Dr. Norbert Sander, President of the Armory Foundation.

With an anticipated opening in 2002, track and field will become the only sport with a Hall of Fame or museum in New York City.

Dr. Norbert Sander

Most Recently located in Indianapolis, home of USATF, the National Track & Field Hall of Fame was founded in 1974. Until 1983, its home was in Charleston, West Virginia.

"There is no better location in America for the National Track & Field Hall of Fame," said Masback. "What they build will be more than a Hall of Fame. It will be a complete, interactive learning center that uses our sport, its outstanding athletes and its rich history as a vehicle for sharing the excitement of our sports with a large audience. We believe that we will immediately establish ourselves as the most-visited sports Hall of Fame in the world, based on the number of athlete/participants who visit the Armory on a daily basis."

Terry C. Lane, President and CEO of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, said, "I am delighted to have been instrumental in having the National Track & Field Hall of Fame move to upper Manhattan. UMEZ has committed $1.8 million to the creation of what will be a most outstanding museum and a new destination in upper Manhattan. The project will create more than 50 permanent jobs and numerous construction and indirect jobs, further spurring economic revitalization in Washington Heights."

Dr. Norbert Sander

Under the guidance of Dr. Sander, the Armory this season will host more than 80 track meets and serve as a training site for over 40,000 athletes. In total, it will attract more than 300,000 athletes and family members. It is now recognized as one of the fastest tracks in the world.

Dr. Sander said, "The expanded Hall of Fame will make the Armory a monument to the sport of track and field. It will accelerate the growth of the sport for our youth, our future Olympians."

We're delighted to welcome the National Track & Field Hall of Fame to its permanent home in New York City," said Cristyne Lategano-Nicolas, President & CEO of NYC & Company - the Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The winning combination of track and field's international popularity and the record breaking numbers of visitors that come to New York each year will certainly ensure that the center becomes a major sports tourism destination for domestic and international visitors alike. The successful bid to bring the National Track & Field Hall of Fame to New York City underscores the tremendous importance of public and private cooperative efforts in attracting major sports facilities and events to New York."

The Hall of Fame became a traveling exhibit in the mid-1990s before closing due to space limitations in Indianapolis. Earlier this year, USATF solicited bids from cities around the country, nine of which chose to participate in the process.

There are presently 187 athletes enshrined in the Hall of Fame.