Milwaukee MLS Group Mulling Soccer Pitch inside a NASCAR track

By: Bob | July 30th, 2007

If you’ve tuned into some MLS games you know that despite the best efforts of supporters groups the stadiums sometimes sound quieter than a morgue. A potential expansion team in Milwaukee could leap to the top of the list of the noisiest stadium in the league. That’s because they want to have the pitch on the inside of an auto race track.

Seriously, someone is actually spending time thinking about placing a soccer pitch on the inside of a NASCAR track. That someone is Milwaukee sports lawyer Marty Greenberg.

Greenberg’s new idea is to built a soccer field in the infield of the Milwaukee Mile at State Fair Park. How would that work? Simple, Greenberg says. The field would be built on a tray that could be moved when motor sports events are being held at the Milwaukee Mile. The concept is based on the stadium in Phoenix where the football field can be moved in and out of the stadium.

Greenberg says the Zimmerman Design Group, which is working with Greenberg on the plan, believes it could work. The cost? $40 million.

While this sounds like the worst idea since someone decided it would be fun to play MLS games in Arrowhead Stadium, the thought of players having to play Frogger with speeding cars while they case down balls that are kicked out of bounds is a bit entertaining.

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Steve M

I think this idea is fine. We have stadiums with running tracks around the field all over the planet, especially in soccer countries.

Oh and its 40 million thats a pretty good deal.

I am sure the tards that think someone elses money is expendable, will say stupid stuff like, 'hey why dont they just build it next door?" Sure genius that 60 acres sitting under that stadium would be free right??

We have come a long way since Columbus and its been a few years too. These days Lamar Hunt wouldnt be able to build a stadium like that for anything less than 30-32 million. MINIMUM
combat chuck

For $40 million couldn't they just build a decent soccer-specific stadium right next door? Why do they have to get all kooky and try to incorporate it into a race track? Plus, you know they're gonna name the team something stupid like Milwaukee Mufflers.
Clint

I would travel anywhere in the country to see a match played while a nascar race was going on in the same stadium at the same time.
Tom

As promised, here's some more on the plans at the pitch invasion blog.

I was able to see the stadium plans and it's not as nutty as it first sounds, trust me.
Mike

You will often find traditional tracks (for track and field events) surrounding football fields at college campuses all over the country. The same stadium or field is used for football or track and field. Why can't the same venue be used for soccer and auto racing?
Tom

From what I'm gathering there's a bit more to this story, I'll post another comment tomorrow. It's not as bad an idea as it sounds.
Peter

If that fails they could always play games out on the airport tarmac.