Olympic Velodrome Collection

The CSU Dominguez Hills Olympic 7-Eleven Velodrome was funded by the Southland Corporation and built in 1981. It served as the site for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic cycling events, and was eventually demolished in 2003.

The Southland Corporation was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1927 as the Southland Ice Company, when their retail ice outlets sold milk, bread and eggs. After restructuring in 1946, the company renamed their retail stores 7-Eleven, and changed its corporate name to 7-Eleven Inc. in 1999. As of 2012 the company has over 46,000 international retail outlets with over 1,000 stores in the USA.

In the beginning stages of planning for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, Jere Thompson, president of the Southland Corporation approached the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee's president, Peter Ueberroth, to express the company’s desire to become involved with the Olympics. Ueberroth recommended funding of the velodrome. Even though the principals knew little about cycling, Southland liked the idea in tying the concept of bicycling to 7-Eleven stores. The sites considered were: CSU, Dominguez Hills, Harbor College, Wilmington, CSU, Northridge, Claremont Men's College and the City of San Diego. Factors in the site selection were: site and soil suitability, accessibility to major and surface arteries, proximity to major utilities, lowest total construction cost and shortest completion schedule. CSU, Dominguez Hills was able to add to their proposal the donation of a 6.5 acre parcel to the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the velodrome, and their Board of Trustees authorized construction in their November, 1980 meeting. On February 5, 1981, CSU, Dominguez Hills was awarded the Olympic Velodrome. The 7-Eleven Olympic Velodrome was the only world class cycling track in western United States and the only one in the world on a university campus. Velodrome specification included: length, 333.33 meters (1,093 ft.); width, 7 meters (23 feet); bank turns, 33 degrees; attainable speeds up to 72 kilometers (47 miles) per hour; permanent seating, 2,000; Olympic seating capacity, 8,000 and velodrome surface of poured concrete track on concrete fill. The cost of the velodrome was $3 million, and the contractor Stolte, Inc.

Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on July 9, 1981 at the construction site. The ceremonies were kicked off at 10:15am with a race between Eric Heiden and challengers from the media, followed by a 10-lap club race by The South, Bay Wheelmen. Visitors from the Southland Corporation, Stolte Corporation officials and representatives from L.A.O.O.C. were present. On May 10, 1982, the International Cycling Federation Certification (FIAC) was received. The first trial high speed run performed by Jack Simes, 3-time U.S. Olympic Cycling team member and 2-time team coach, occurred on January 21, 1982.

The grand opening occurred July 8, 1982 with Eric Heiden (1980 Lake Placid 5 Gold Medal winner for speedskating) and Sheila Ochowicz (1976 Winter Games-Innsbruck, Gold Medal winner of 500 meter speedskating), cycling the first official lap. The grand opening ceremony was a three day event with July 9 and 10 devoted to the Grand Prix Finals. 3,000 people attended, including the official XXIII Olympiad mascot Sam the Eagle.

Some of the noteworthy events held at the velodrome were The Grand Prix of Cycling, SCCF Annual Far West Championships, International Human Powered Speed Championships, and United States Federation of Cycling (U.S.F.C.) cycling events (1983). The Grand Prix Finals were a series of bicycle track events to improve American cyclists at the international level. Emphasis was placed on Olympic track events, match sprints, individual pursuit, the kilometer and the points race. Grand Prix Cycling events were held at the velodrome in 1982, 1983 and 1988. The SCCF 20th Annual Far West Championships were hosted at the velodrome on September 17 and 18 of 1982, and on October 3, 1982 the 8th International Human Powered Speed Championships were held featuring unique pedal-powered vehicles. Other velodrome cycling events included the Murray/7-Eleven International Cycling Invitational (1983), the Christian Dior California Coast Classic Cycling Event (September 1984), Collegial National Champions Cycling (1987-1989), World Cycling Invitational (1989).

Surface problems of the track occurred in 1983 when cracks developed on the concrete, which were repaired on time for the Olympic games in 1984. Additional surface damage occurred again in 1987, which ultimately led to the demolition and replacement of the facility. An indoor velodrome with wood floors was constructed at the Home Depot Center on campus in its place and opened in 2004.

Among the many uses envisioned for the velodrome by the university were developmental classes and training, maintenance exercise/conditioning and cycling as a means of cardiac rehabilitation. Aspects of research related to sports medicine could lead to degrees in biomechanics, medical technology, sports and recreation with cycling emphasis. Public use time and races, both professional and amateur were available. After the 1984 Olympics concluded, the Southland Corporation donated the velodrome to the university. In order to continue their plans and development of the velodrome, the university established a Foundation which was responsible for operating and raising funds to run the velodrome.

The velodrome was used extensively for movie and commercial filming and as a sports and entertainment venue until the demolition of the facility in 2003. Non-sports related events included rock concerts, flea markets and circuses, and CSUDH commencements were held at the velodrome until the mid-1990s. In 2003 the structure was replaced with the Home Depot Center as a multi-purpose facility, and the ADT Event Center was opened in 2004 as an indoor cycling facility.