Field turf


DAHILL

DAHILL

Well-Known Member
I have noticed over the last 2 or 3 years, alot of schools going to the new field turf. Is this a trend that is going to eventually catch on to everyone? Will you see all SWAC schools with this in the near future? All of the new stadiums are getting them, and ALOT of high schools are getting it installed these days. Seems as if it can cut down on cost. Would you be opposed to your schools playing on the turf at your home stadium?
 
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Word is that it's going to be installed at Alcorn. It's supposed to be part of a $500,000 renovation to Jack Spinks Stadium. I don't know if that's true or not but it has been talked about for about two years.
 



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Dahill,

Bruh, that new field turf is The Truth! They have it installed at one of the local facilities here in the Houston area and my son them got a chance to play on the field. Before the game I was out on the field with them and that surface is NICE. Southern should have gotten it installed instead of spending all of that money on that new sod and drainage system.

It is much softer than playing on grass and is more durable as well........
 
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TruBluJAG said:
Dahill,

Bruh, that new field turf is The Truth! They have it installed at one of the local facilities here in the Houston area and my son them got a chance to play on the field. Before the game I was out on the field with them and that surface is NICE. Southern should have gotten it installed instead of spending all of that money on that new sod and drainage system.

It is much softer than playing on grass and is more durable as well........
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The field turf at the Dome is good. Tulane's practice fields are all field turn and Southeastern plays on field turf. The downside to field turf is playing early in the season/springtime. The heat bounces off of it just like old school AstroTurf.

However, the traction is always good and feels like grass. Plus no cost of maintaining and watering the field and what not. Southern's field (which was supposed to be the same style of turf at Reliant Stadium) is good though.
 
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Journalist said:
The field turf at the Dome is good. Tulane's practice fields are all field turn and Southeastern plays on field turf. The downside to field turf is playing early in the season/springtime. The heat bounces off of it just like old school AstroTurf.

However, the traction is always good and feels like grass. Plus no cost of maintaining and watering the field and what not. Southern's field (which was supposed to be the same style of turf at Reliant Stadium) is good though.
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There have been some complaints that it doesn't have quite the same give as grass, although it's not nearly as hard as astroturf. Plus, like you said, it doesn't absorb heat, and all of those dust and rubber particles that fly up all the time can be an eye hazard. There are also some concerns about some volatile organic compounds and aldehydes that are released from the rubber base, although no long term study of health risks are available to this point. I think the current lifespan on it is 13-15 years, so I guess it would come down to the cost of replacing the turf compared to maintenance of the grass field.
 
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I did a football camp here in Phoenix at a high school that has field turf and we had to move the campers to the grass practice field because of the daytime heat coming off of that thing. The AD at the school told us that they're field cost $300k and $10k a year for upkeep. They share a special lawnmower-like machine w/3 other schools in the district that they run over the field after every game. I assume it redistributes the sand/rubber particles.
 
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there are certain types of field turf and they can range from cheap to expensive...the type of sediment you put in there, sand or rubber, determines alot also

Louisiana Tech has a field turf that's not the best as it looks gray when you turn the stadium lights on...

Texas Southern has it but the grade they had wasn't the best and without consistent upkeep, it flattens out and doesn't look good over a period of time

in some cases, you got to install a high-tech drainage system underneath so it can move the water fast enough so it may cost more in the beginning to get it going and your going to have alot of events probably to break even initially
 
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the band fan said:
in some cases, you got to install a high-tech drainage system underneath so it can move the water fast enough so it may cost more in the beginning to get it going and your going to have alot of events probably to break even initially
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do you think its cheaper in the long run to have the field turf or maintain natural turf. At AAMU our turf looks great for the first half of the season... by the last 2 home games our field is almost brown with holes in it from the wear and tear.
 
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DAHILL said:
do you think its cheaper in the long run to have the field turf or maintain natural turf. At AAMU our turf looks great for the first half of the season... by the last 2 home games our field is almost brown with holes in it from the wear and tear.
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I don't know about the cost, but it sure does look good to seen green grass in November, instead of brown. That's one benefit from playing in Memorial, didn't have to worry about upkeep, and they keep that field looking nice. I'd venture to guess it'll be a great investment in the long term, as upkeep costs decrease. You ain't gotta mow it, fertilize it or re-sod it. As band fan pointed out, make sure you get good drainage.
 
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I watched the machine that they run over the field turf make a field look brand new,its pretty expensive though. If its not run on bi-weekly basis the field will look like what tbf describe.
 
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Robber said:
I don't know about the cost, but it sure does look good to seen green grass in November, instead of brown. That's one benefit from playing in Memorial, didn't have to worry about upkeep, and they keep that field looking nice. I'd venture to guess it'll be a great investment in the long term, as upkeep costs decrease. You ain't gotta mow it, fertilize it or re-sod it. As band fan pointed out, make sure you get good drainage.
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I agree Memorials turf still looks good at during the CCC. Ours is gone by the last game.

Im trying to find some before and after... these are the "before" pics

n77304778_30163799_9719.jpg


n77304778_30163801_2415.jpg
 
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I play indoor soccer on the field turf, and it's awesome. Great on the body as well, much better than playing on the old style artifical turf.

As for would I want my team to play on it, it depends on how often the stadium is being used. If the field is only used by the university for home games, then use real grass, but if it's a Pitt Panthers/Steelers/High Schools situation, then get the fake stuff. The constant state of disrepair of their field once late October rolls around is embarrassing.
 
I have been wanting this at Grambling for YEARS. I hope this new campaign we are donating to does this.


NUPE is on the move - Using Tapatalk
 
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We've had field turf on our practice field (Durley) for almost 10 years now I guess.

Tiger Stadium is natural grass however.
 



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C-LeB28 said:
Off Hwy 59 just east of downtown across from the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Ballpark.
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Ohh! Gotcha. Just never heard of a stadium with that name in Houston. Does it look something like this?

20120512_dynamoopener_jan_03.jpg
 
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DAHILL said:
I agree Memorials turf still looks good at during the CCC. Ours is gone by the last game.

Im trying to find some before and after... these are the "before" pics

n77304778_30163799_9719.jpg




n77304778_30163801_2415.jpg
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The turf at Memorial is grown/produced at Mississippi State from what I understand. Not sure what's in it but its still green in December
 
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