Coney Island Velodrome
The drome was a popular venue for both Coney Island vacationers and New York City residents. At the height of popularity for both American bicycle racing and boxing in the 1920s, Coney Island drome was host to regional and state championship bicycle races, and boxing heroes including Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Sugar Ray Robinson.
As the Great Depression began, bicycle racing on the Eastern Seaboard collapsed. On August 3, 1930, the velodrome was destroyed by fire but due to its location and use was rebuilt. The last event was an Old-Timers reunion and bicycle race on September 4, 1950. Coney Island Velodrome was torn down and replaced with high-rise housing.
Included in the New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics were plans to build another velodrome elsewhere on Coney Island. These plans were scrapped when New York lost the bid to London in 2005.
References
Notes
- ^ "Board Track Outboard". Petersen's Circle Track: 77. September 1984.
- ^ Thompson, Cole. "New York Velodrome". My Inwood. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (September 12, 2000). "Plan to Put Olympics In New York Draws Fire; Site for 2012 Games Outlined by Backers, Including City Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
40°34′40″N 73°58′50″W / 40.57778°N 73.98056°W