The Rice Track Stadium, located on one of Rice's more important historical sites, officially enters its 28th competitive season in 2008. The Chevron 440 track, built in 1980 and dedicated on March 14, 1981, was built at the location of old Rice Stadium, the Owls' football home through 1949, using part of the grandstand of the old stadium. Located at the corner of University Boulevard and Main Street, the stadium is home to two major meets each spring: the Victor Lopez Bayou Classic for top college and high school athletes; and the RunSport/Rice Twilight Meet.
The stadium played host to numerous Southwest Conference Track and Field Championships. The 1986 and 1994 SWC meets were held on the new surface, and the track was the host of the 1998 and 2002 Western Athletic Conference meets. In 2007, the facility added it's first C-USA track and field championship to its list of events.
As the women's soccer program was added in 2000, so were changes to the stadium. A first-class soccer field was constructed in the existing track infield, and new and improved jump and throw areas were relocated. Some chairback seats were added to the stands, and the restrooms were renovated.
Thanks in large part to a generous donation from the Ley family, the Rice track was resurfaced and officially named the Wendel D. Ley Track in the summer of 2002. In 2004, the Owls captured men's and women's WAC titles, and the following year saw Rice's women's soccer team capture its first-ever Conference USA crown on its home field. In 2007, the Rice women captured the C-USA outdoor track and field title on their home grounds.
