Track looks to pump up US fan base ahead of 2028 LA Olympics
FILE - In this July 28, 1984 file photo, balloons are released into the air from the field of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Track is a niche sport in the United States when it comes to the fan base, even while the country hosts its first track world championships. They say that with sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world, it's critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Dave Tenenbaum, FIle)

FILE - In this July 28, 1984 file photo, balloons are released into the air from the field of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Track is a niche sport in the United States when it comes to the fan base, even while the country hosts its first track world championships. They say that with sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world, it's critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Dave Tenenbaum, FIle)

Jul. 24, 2022 02:04 PM EDT
Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations.They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations.They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Jul. 24, 2022 02:00 PM EDT
Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations.They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations.They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jul. 24, 2022 02:00 PM EDT
Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations. They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Fans watch during the World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022, in Eugene, Ore. The running mecca that embedded Nike into American culture was an easy choice to host the first track world championships on U.S. soil. It will take time to determine whether Eugene, Oregon lived up to expectations. They say sagging viewership totals and flat revenue across the broader Olympic world make it critical to bring the cornerstone sport of the games back to its glory days in the U.S. before they return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jul. 24, 2022 01:59 PM EDT