The New York Velodrome
One hundred years ago today… The New York Velodrome Company broke ground on a stadium that was to become the New York Velodrome at 225th Street and Broadway, in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. The land was leased from the New York Central Railroad Company.
The Evening World. 13 May, 1920, p. 22. Newspapers.com.
The Velodrome was supposed to be built in months, but did not open until 1922,
1921 Municipal map showing (in-construction) Velodrome. Courtesy MyInwood.net.
Once it did, it hosted not just cycling, but track and field and boxing events.
According to MyInwood.com, ”Competitive cycling first gained popularity in the 1880’s and by the 1920’s the Velodrome was the hottest ticket in town.”
Ca. 1920s. Courtesy MyInwood.net.
The stadium burned down in 1930 in what has been considered suspicious circumstances.
– JONATHAN GOLDMAN. MAY 12, 2020.
TAGS: bicycles, racing, sport, velodrome, stadium, arson