The Track & Field Association (TFA), a privately-owned
organization designed to showcase the sport's top stars in a
schedule of North American meets, will debut June 6 with the
inaugural TFA ProChampionships in N.Y. The TFA ProSeries
will begin its full-season schedule in spring of 2000. The
events will be a "finals-only" format, with 12 event
disciplines taking place in a two-hour timeframe.
Participating athletes will wear uniforms with permanent
numbers and compete for cash prizes and a berth in the
season-ending TFA ProChampionships meet (TFA). The TFA has
already signed 100 athletes, including Maurice Greene, Inger
Miller and world-record holder Michael Johnson. Athletes
will receive appearance and prize money, but will still be
eligible for the Olympics (N.Y. TIMES, 4/23). TFA CEO Brian
Vandenberg said the series "really focused" on a 2000 start
for the tour, with '99 as "an operational and logistical
test" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/23). In Chicago, Larry Hamel
write that "the lack of a suitable venue will keep Chicago
out of the running" to host a TFA event. Vandenberg: "We
can only hope that the Bears will build a new stadium and
the city will put a track inside Soldier Field" (CHICAGO
SUN-TIMES, 4/23). Vandenberg added that the TFA's marketing
techniques "will be similar to the NBA's approach": "It's
not only basketball anymore, there's sound, lights,
cheerleaders -- that all comes with it. We will be doing
some of that" (Richard Oliver, NEWSDAY, 4/23).
