PHILADELPHIA – The wait is finally over. The University of Pennsylvania is excited to announce the opening of the much-anticipated Jane and David Ott Center for Track & Field, the first of its kind in the city of Philadelphia, on December 6.
The facility contains a banked 200 meter running track designed around specific geometric relationships between the straight and curved track sections to produce optimal conditions for running events, two long jump/triple jump runways, two pole vault runways, an eight-lane infield for sprints, hurdles and high jump, and a throwing area for the shot put and weight throw. With spectator seating of more than 1,000, the Ott Center will be able to host a series of exciting youth, high school and college events for years to come.
"We couldn't be more excited to open the Ott Center for Track & Field on December 6," Alanna Wren, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W'69 Director of Athletics and Recreation said. "I continue to be so thankful to Dave and Jane Ott and all the donors who made this dream of an indoor track at Penn a reality. Not only will this amazing facility be impactful for our cross country and track and field programs and the Penn Relays, but it will be a dynamic addition to the University and the local track and field communities."
The 73,000
-square foot facility on River Fields Drive is connected to the Hollenback Center, adjacent to the Schuylkill River and south of Penn Park. Designed to be filled with natural light, the new building features large, clear story windows which face the Schuylkill River and align with the multi-story windows on the flanks of Hollenback, which was originally the campus powerplant.
The facility is designed to honor Penn's long tradition of excellence in track and field and will enhance and provide support to the Penn Relays – the oldest and largest track and field event in the country.
"We are excited to welcome student-athletes from Penn and the Philadelphia area to this world-class facility," Jane and David Ott said. "Our wish is that all who compete at the Ott Center have as rewarding an experience in the great sport of track and field as we have had."
In its inaugural year, the Ott Center will host 43 indoor track and field meets including the first Penn Relays Winter Showcase presented by Toyota on January 31 and February 1, 2025.
Ott Center 2024 – 2025 Indoor Track and Field Schedule
| Dec. 6-7 - Penn Opener |
College |
| Dec. 12 – PPL Season Kick-off |
High School |
| Dec. 14 – SJTCA Meet #1 |
High School |
| Dec. 19 – PPL Meet #1 |
High School |
| Dec. 21 – SJTCA Meet #2 |
High School |
| Dec. 28 – SJTCA Meet #3 |
High School |
|
|
| Jan. 2 – PPL League Meet #2 |
High School |
| Jan. 3 – La Salle Meet #1 – Boys |
High School |
| Jan. 4 – La Salle Meet #1 – Girls |
High School |
| Jan. 4 – SJTCA Meet #4 |
High School |
| Jan. 5 – UAGTCA Meet #1 |
Youth |
| Jan. 8 – La Salle Meet #2 – Boys |
High School |
| Jan. 9 – PPL League Meet #3 |
High School |
| Jan. 10 – DVGTCA Meet #1 |
High School |
| Jan. 11 – Penn Select |
College |
| Jan. 12 – UAGTCA Meet #2 |
Youth |
| Jan. 15 – La Salle Meet #2 – Girls |
High School |
| Jan. 17-18 – Quaker Invitational |
College |
| Jan. 19 – Marche Invitational |
High School |
| Jan. 19 – T&FCAGP Meet #1 |
High School |
| Jan. 22 – SJTCA Meet #5 |
High School |
| Jan. 24 – Widener DIII Invite #1 |
College |
| Jan. 25 – Penn 10 Elite |
College |
| Jan. 26 – PPL League Meet #4 |
High School |
| Jan. 26 – PFTCA Meet |
High School |
| Jan. 29 – PAISAA Open |
High School |
Jan. 31- Feb. 1 – Penn Relays Winter Showcase
presented by Toyota |
High School |
|
|
| Feb. 2 – PPL League Meet #5 |
High School |
| Feb. 2 – T&FCAGP Meet #2 |
High School |
| Feb. 5 – La Salle Meet #3 – Boys |
High School |
| Feb. 7 – Henderson HS Meet |
High School |
| Feb. 8 – Penn Classic |
College |
| Feb. 9 – PPL League Championship |
High School |
| Feb. 12 – La Salle Meet #3 – Girls |
High School |
| Feb. 14 – DVGTCA Meet #2 |
High School |
| Feb. 15 – T&FCAGP Meet #3 |
High School |
| Feb. 15 – Widener DIII Invite # 2 |
College |
| Feb. 16 – PAISAA Championship |
High School |
| Feb. 16 – UAGTCA Meet #3 |
High School |
| Feb. 21 – Philadelphia Metro |
College |
Feb. 22-23 – NJAC Championships
|
College
|
| March 1 – Trials of Miles Open |
All Comers |
| March 8 – PRTC Open |
Adult/Open |
Penn Indoor Track and Field Announces Schedule
The University of Pennsylvania's James P. Tuppeny/Betty J. Costanza Director of Track & Field/Cross Country,
Steve Dolan, has announced his program's indoor schedule, highlighted by six home meets to be contested in the brand-new Jane and David Ott Center for Track & Field.
The Quakers will kick off the new season in Philadelphia on Dec. 6-7 hosting the Penn Opener.
Penn then returns from winter break to host three consecutive home weekend meets, starting the new year with the Penn Select on Jan. 11, followed by the Quaker Invitational on Jan. 17-18, and the Penn 10 Elite on Jan. 25. The Penn 10 Elite will feature a highly competitive field with athletes traveling to Penn from Virginia, Penn State, Connecticut, Georgetown, Villanova, Harvard, Cornell, Brown, and Howard.
In February, the Quakers will host the Penn Classic on Feb. 8 and the Philadelphia Metro on Feb. 21. The Philadelphia Metro will provide a last chance opportunity for athletes to qualify for the championships during the regular season.
Cornell will host the 2025 Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championships on March 1-2 in Ithaca, N.Y. at Barton Hall. The indoor championship season concludes in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 14-15 at the NCAA Indoor Championships, hosted by Norfolk State.
"We are extremely excited to start competing in one of the best indoor track and field facilities in the country," Dolan said. "We have an outstanding list of colleges scheduled to compete here this upcoming season including elite schools from the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Coastal Athletic, and Big East conferences."
University of Pennsylvania 2024 – 2025 Indoor Track and Field Schedule
| Dec. 6-7 - Penn Opener |
Ott Center |
|
|
| Jan. 11, 2025 – Penn Select |
Ott Center |
| Jan. 17-18 – Quaker Invitational |
Ott Center |
| Jan. 25 – Penn 10 Elite |
Ott Center |
| Jan. 31- Feb. 1 – Penn State National |
State College, Pa. |
|
|
| Feb. 8 – Penn Classic |
Ott Center |
| Feb. 14 - 15 – Tiger Paw Invitational |
Clemson, S.C. |
| Feb. 14 - 15 – Valentine Invitational |
Boston, Mass. |
| Feb. 21 – Philadelphia Metro |
Ott Center |
|
|
| March 1-2 – Ivy Heptagonal Championships |
Ithaca, N.Y. |
| March 14 – 15 – NCAA Indoor Championships |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
Training Memberships
The Ott Center will offer public training memberships with specific days and time blocks for various age levels for adults, college, high school and youth beginning December 9.
Adult and collegiate blocks will be weekdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., with an early morning block being added in January. High school blocks will be Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. and youth blocks will be Wednesday evenings in December and Thursday evenings starting in January from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Memberships will be sold by team or individual and available at a seasonal rate or daily rate. More information on availability, pricing, discounts, and sales schedule will be made available later in October.
Sean Diminick named Manager of the Ott Center for Track and Field
Sean Diminick, the new Manager of the Ott Center for Track and Field, comes to Penn from the Southern Conference, where he served as the associate commissioner for championships for the past three years. He oversaw all aspects for the SoCon Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, and Outdoor Track & Field Championship events including event management and tracking, championship awards, hospitality, and official hiring.
Prior to working at SoCon, he began working at the University of Virginia in 2017 as an assistant director of event management. During his tenure, Diminick oversaw the commissioning of UVA's brand-new Palmer Park softball stadium, the installation of a new turf field for the Cavaliers' field hockey team, the resurfacing of the Lannigan Field track, and the construction of the department's new athletic training facility.
"We're extremely excited to welcome Sean and his family to Philadelphia to support our planning and operational goals for the Jane and David Ott Center for Track and Field", said
Scott Ward, Executive Associate AD/COO of Penn Athletics and Executive Director of the Penn Relays. "Sean is a proven facility manager with experience in track and field meet management and we look forward to him executing our goal of delivering an overwhelming experience for all the student-athletes that will compete in the Ott Center."
Diminick served as meet director for the 2019 ACC Track & Field Championships and the 2017 and 2019 NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships. He also developed, submitted and was awarded the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships host bid on behalf of Virginia.
"I am incredibly honored for the opportunity to be the manager of the impressive Ott Center and to join the Penn Athletics team," Diminick said. "I'd like to express my gratitude to Executive Associate AD
Scott Ward and Associate AD
Noah Gustkey for entrusting me with this position. I look forward to relying on both my conference and institutional experience, and working with Coach Dolan, to enable Penn Athletics and our greater community to capitalize on this state-of-the-art facility."
Diminick earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from James Madison University in 2008. In 2012, he completed a dual degree program at the University of Massachusetts earning an MBA and master's of science degree in sports management.
Diminick will be responsible for the daily management and operations of the brand new, state-of-the-art, 73,000 GSF indoor track and field facility.
Social Media
For the latest news on the Jane and David Ott Center, follow @ott_center on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com
Stay tuned on social media for more information, including the launch of the official Ott Center website coming soon!
