Track meet in financial trouble

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A well-known Albuquerque event is in some trouble and that could cost the city a lot of tourists and a lot of money.

The Great Southwest Track and Field Classic at UNM’s Track and Field Stadium attracts hundreds of high school athletes and their families from about 20 states to Albuquerque every summer.

“This will be our 37th, the second longest running track meet in the United States, we’ll have over 600 athletes, quality athletes invited its been in Albuquerque since 2000,” said Track Meet Chair John Haaland.

For the last 11 years, Haaland said they’ve been quite successful, but that changed last year.

Haaland said the non-profit organization is about $10,000 in debt.

“Last year expenses and unexpected expenses and lower income because of the economy from sponsors have produced us in a situation where we’re in the hole,” he said.

It costs the Great Southwest Classic between $60,000 and $75,000 a year to put on the track meet.

Haaland said this year’s event will happen, but next year is up in the air.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do if we can’t make up the expenses, I really don’t know,” said Haaland.

Besides giving athletes a platform to get recruited by colleges, the track meet also helps the local economy.

The Albquerque Convention and Visitor’s Bureau said the three day meet brought in just under $100,000 last year, from people staying in hotels, to shopping and eating in restaurants.

Haaland said they are cutting their expenses but that will only go so far.

He is hoping fans and sponsors will step up and help keep the event afloat.

“It’s been here too long, I’d hate to see it go, its really a gem,” he said.

The three day track meet is set for May 31, 2012.

Aside from the money, the convention and visitor’s bureau said losing any event that puts Albuquerque on the map is bad.