Lexus Velodrome facts for kids
The interior
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| Location | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 42°21′08.0″N 83°03′01.4″W / 42.352222°N 83.050389°W |
| Field size | 166 m (182 yd) track |
| Acreage | 1.4 acre |
| Surface | Wood |
| Construction | |
| Opened | January 2018 |
| Construction cost | $4.5 million |
The Lexus Velodrome is a special indoor sports center in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It's a place where people can enjoy many activities. You can go roller skating, walking, running, or lift weights. It's also famous for track cycling, which is bike racing on a special track.
The Detroit Fitness Foundation runs the Velodrome. They even offer free programs for kids. These programs include free equipment, so everyone can try out cycling!
Contents
What is a Velodrome?
A velodrome is a track built just for bicycle racing. The Lexus Velodrome has a track that is 166 m (182 yd) long. It has very steep, or "banked," turns. These turns are angled at 50 degrees! The straight parts of the track are also banked at 15 degrees. This design helps cyclists go very fast.
The Velodrome opened in January 2018. It was built on the old site of Tolan Playfield. This field was named after Eddie Tolan, a Detroit athlete who won two gold medals in the Olympic Games.
Exciting Cycling Races
Many exciting bike races happen at the Lexus Velodrome. These include events organized by USA Cycling. One popular type of race is called Madison racing. In this race, teams of two riders work together. They take turns riding and even sling-shot each other forward!
The Velodrome has hosted the Madison National Championships for USA Cycling. These championships took place from 2021 through 2025.
Watching the Action
There are great spots to watch the races. You can find ticketed seats and general viewing areas. There is even a bar in the middle of the track. An announcer describes all the racing action. Sometimes, the races are shown on the local PBS TV station, Detroit Public TV.
The Dome Structure
The Velodrome is inside a huge, inflated dome. This dome is about 64,000 square feet. In December 2021, the dome had a problem. A power outage caused the backup generators to fail. This made the dome lose air and tear. But don't worry! The dome was quickly repaired and inflated again. It reopened to the public in February 2022.
The ET Oval Track
Inside the Velodrome, there's also an "ET oval" track. This track has two main sections. One section is marked in red, and the other in green. The red lane is about 214 meters long. The green lane is a bit longer, at about 226.5 meters. This surface is smooth concrete. It's where people walk, run, skate, and even learn to ride bikes.
See also
- List of cycling tracks and velodromes
