A $1.6M track in Concord is expected to attract top athletes, reel in tourists
A new $1.6 million state-of-the-art track surface at a high school in Concord has Cabarrus County tourism officials hoping the outdoor facility can become a national tournament destination for high-level athletes.
Jay M. Robinson High School recently upgraded its track with a rubber surface known as the most durable in the world, and endorsed by World Athletics and Paralympics organizations. It was built by Mondo, a producer of surfaces, sports flooring and equipment used by college and professional athletes. More than 300 world records have been set on Mondo’s surfaces, according to the company.
Donna Carpenter, president and CEO of the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said JMRHS is the first school in North Carolina to have a track striped for more than just high school competitions.
She said the intent is to attract events that will become mini-vacations for friends and family members who come to cheer on athletes.
“It’s going to make a huge impact,” Carpenter told The Charlotte Observer. “When we have visitors here, they buy gas, eat in restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop and do other things while they’re here for an athletic event.”
Cabarrus County tourist attractions
Already, there are signs it’s working: CCCVB signed a contract Tuesday to host an annual competition in April 2024 for the USA South Athletic Conference, which includes a group of NCAA Division III schools. More than 250 athletes will compete. Six other organizations are considering using the facility, according to Carpenter. She said a two-day track and field tournament is expected to have an economic impact of $300,000.
The facility is funded by occupancy taxes paid by people staying at Cabarrus County lodging facilities. Carpenter emphasized that no local residents were taxed for it.
“We have these really beautiful upgraded facilities that we can can use from a tourism aspect and it’s all paid for by the visitor,” she said.
In 2022, Cabarrus County tourism generated $566.7 million in visitor spending, $157.8 million in salaries paid to tourism-related employees, $37.7 million in state and local taxes and more than 4,000 jobs, according the CCCVB. The new project is expected to add more to those totals.
CCCVB approached county government and Cabarrus County Schools leaders with the idea of upgrading a track surface to benefit students and tourism, and it was approved in February. JMRHS was selected because it’s close to area hotels and the infrastructure already is in place for the sport.
It was also one of three high schools previously picked by the CCCVB for turf improvements to host events. Other upgrades included a stadium field at Cox Mill High School and two auxiliary fields at West Cabarrus High School. The fields have cooling technology and are made for football, soccer and lacrosse competitions.
Work on the fields started about five years ago and opened in April 2021.
Steve Morris, chair of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, said the the upgrades were welcome improvements.
“These top-grade surfaces are used at the Olympics — to have that in our backyard is a strong asset for our growing community,” he said.
A preeminent athletic facility
Construction on the track started in April and a grand opening celebration was held Oct. 17. The 3,500-seat facility at JMRHS also includes chutes for straightway sprint races; long jump and triple jump runways; pole vault space; and a throw zone for hammer, discus, shot put and javelin competition.
Dr. John Kopicki, school district superintendent, said the facility investment will benefit student-athletes and the community as a whole.
“This facility will now become one of the preeminent athletic facilities within Cabarrus County and the state of North Carolina,” Kopicki said in a news release.
Greg Walter, CCCVB board chair and executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, said the tourism group views the facility as a county-wide investment.
“The opportunity to equip this venue with such dynamic features sets Cabarrus County apart as a competition destination and will greatly impact our tourism industry, visitors and citizens well into the future,” he stated.
