AstroTurf Magic Carpet II System Installation Underway at Fargodome

Work is underway at the Fargodome on the new AstroTurf Magic Carpet II system.

North Dakota State University has produced a great series of quick videos on the installation process.

Fargodome officials estimated that more than 125 events take place on the current playing surface, including half a dozen NDSU home football games, over 40 practices, over 20 high school football games, nearly 35 youth football games, as well as winter practices for baseball and softball teams from NDSU and area high schools.

Converting an indoor stadium to host multiple events is extremely important from the amount of time it takes to convert, to the expenses involved in the conversion.  Not only does the Fargodome host sporting events, it hosts concerts, conventions, and more events.  Converting the floor surface to be able to host as many events as possible is key because time is money.

The AstroTurf Magic Carpet II system allows for the conversion of a synthetic surface in a timely and efficient manner.

The Magic Carpet II system uses a series of air jets in the floor on which the entire AstroTurf field “floats” as it is unrolled from or rolled up onto a huge steel core that lowers into a covered pit.  Because the process is fully automatic and takes less than an hour for complete conversion, it helps facilities increase revenue and decrease labor costs by allowing more events.  It also keeps field performance and aesthetics at the highest level for years as the field is fully protected rolled up in the pit.

The turf will be AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D.  The field also has a face weight of 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber.  Most importantly, the Magic Carpet II system has been redesigned to allow for new generation rubber infilled turf systems.  This means the NDSU players will play on a grass-like surface and not a “rug”.

Here are the first three installments of the video profile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtXd8YmsXh4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddzYoOZNuM 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JG9oyuo0bo 

BOSTON COLLEGE OFFICIALS VISIT ASTROTURF TO SEE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR ALUMNI STADIUM FIELD

(DALTON, Georgia) - Boston College officials visited AstroTurf’s manufacturing facilities in Dalton, Georgia today to watch the final phase of the manufacturing process for the all-new field set to be installed at Alumni Stadium.

Tammy Stephens (AstroTurf), Kathy Storey (STR Prefabrication), Heard Smith (AstroTurf), Mike Tinch (AstroTurf), Ed Stokes (Boston College), Dave Wheaton (AstroTurf), John Kane (Boston College), Joe Shirley (Boston College), Bryan Peeples (AstroTurf)

 

On hand were Joe Shirley, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities; John Kane, Senior Associate Athletic Director; and Ed Stokes, Construction Project Manager at Boston College.  

The field is being completed this week and will be delivered to Boston College on Monday for the installation process.

The group saw the field being tufted, as well as the game-changing AstroTurf prefabrication process for the field.  Prefabricated panels are assembled at the factory and arrive on site with tufted yard lines, inlaid interior hash marks, and inbound lines.  A typical football field has 398 individual inlays inside the field.  This does not include any logos, end zone lettering, or goal line “G”s.  AstroTurf prefabrication eliminates 243 individual inlays from being completed at field installation. 

Each of these inlays is built into an AstroTurf field in a climate-controlled facility and are inspected to ensure full adhesion before it is shipped to the job site.  This means inlays are cut, placed, and glued by the same certified and skilled personnel every time.

Precision templates match STR Fabrication numbers and letters.  This method provides over a 60% reduction in inlaid markings on site.  The process eliminates approximately 145 man hours of work on site, conservatively estimated at 3-4 days of total installation time.  It also results in overall improved quality in the finished field installation.

“It was important for them and for us that they were able to see the manufacturing process,” said Dave Wheaton, Northeast Regional Sales Manager for AstroTurf.  “They want to know that they are getting the best product on the market and we were proud to be able to show them how we make the best fields on the market.”

“We went through an exhaustive search to find the best field available for our needs,” BC Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo said.  “We were impressed with what AstroTurf had to offer and they stood out as the logical choice.”

BC Senior Associate AD John Kane cited AstroTurf’s products, as well as their history, their vertically integrated manufacturing process, and the fact that the company is family-owned.

Bryan Peeples (AstroTurf), John Kane (Boston College)

“We felt like they came to us more as a partner than just a customer,” Assistant AD for Facilities Joe Shirley said.  “We felt secure because they are family-owned and control the manufacturing process from design through completion.  Another game-changer was their commitment to safety and quality.”

“We’re excited about our future with the great folks at Boston College,” said Wheaton.  “This is not about a single project.  It’s about a long-term relationship.”

Most teams installing a synthetic surface look at five major categories when choosing a turf.  Those include availability, performance, maintenance, safety, and aesthetics.

AstroTurf fields offer more than four times the availability of grass fields and this was a key element for Boston College.  The football team will be able to utilize the surface anytime for practice.  During the winter months, the school will install an inflatable dome over the field.  It can be used for winter workouts for football, as well as other sports like baseball.  It will also serve as a playing surface for several intramural sports programs.

From a performance standpoint, the make-up of the AstroTurf system stands out.  This surface features the all new Horseshoe fiber.  This new fiber is enjoying unprecedented success in the sports field marketplace, due to factors such as its unique shape.  The fiber’s horseshoe shape features two end columns with a thicker diameter.  The design imparts mechanical memory so that the fiber remains upright longer, unlike other fields whose fibers quickly flatten and split or shred at the spine.  The Horseshoe fiber continues to spring back to its original configuration, even after years of heavy foot traffic or exposure to ultra-violet radiation.

The field also has a face weight of 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

The Horseshoe fiber’s shape also allows it to reflect light and heat away from the surface.  That, in combination with AstroFlect heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

The field also has RootZone, a thatch layer which holds the sand and rubber infill in place for less splash and migration, making for a more consistent playing surface.

From a maintenance standpoint, the field will require periodic grooming, but maintenance efforts are greatly reduced.  This will be vitally important as it related to the amount of use the new field will get, but will not require the maintenance required by a grass field to accommodate this level of use.

Regarding safety, a study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems had performance values more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, making it the safest option.  In extensive testing, the Horseshoe fiber performs most like natural grass from ball roll, to slide resistance, to the biomechanical function of cleats penetrating and releasing properly.  

•  

From an aesthetics standpoint, the fields look amazing.  Making it even better is the fact that the football lines and logos are prefabricated and manufactured as part of the field, so the look is consistent.

There are a couple of added benefits.  One is the environment.  In 2010, BASF did a study comparing AstroTurf fields to natural grass fields.  In 11 environmental categories, AstroTurf had a lower environmental footprint than natural grass.  Factors contributing to this include reduced maintenance and mowing, which cause a variety of emissions.  Other factors include elimination of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the need for water.  AstroTurf fields also use soy-based polyols in the backing of products, reducing their dependence on foreign oil. 

From an economic standpoint, over 20 years, AstroTurf fields are, on average, 15% less expensive than natural grass fields, even when the cost of turf replacement is considered.

Finally, the biggest benefit seen by the most people will be the performance of the Boston College football team.

“The AstroTurf field will allow us to better prepare for games, which translates to better performance,” said Head Football Coach Frank Spaziani.  “It’s also important to recruiting, in that first-class facilities play a large role in recruiting success.  We believe the turf will help us bring the best student-athletes to Boston College.”

Installation will begin next week and will be completed prior to the start of football season.

KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL SET FOR NEW ASTROTURF FIELD

(LOUISVILLE, Kentucky) - Building an elite field hockey and lacrosse program is one step closer to reality for Kentucky Country Day School (KCD) in Louisville.

The installation of an all-new AstroTurf field will be completed this summer, just in time for the upcoming field hockey season.  It will also play a huge role next spring as Pat McAnulty’s Lady Bearcats lacrosse team goes after their fourth state championship in the last six years.

“Getting this new AstroTurf field is a gigantic step for our athletic programs,” said McAnulty.  “We’ve achieved a high level of success and this field will help build our program and help it remain successful for years to come.”

Amy Charasika, Head Field Hockey Coach and Assistant Athletic Director, said the field is being installed for three major reasons.

“First, this will help with the advancement of the program because it allows our players to prepare to play at elite levels,” said Charasika.  “Second, it’s a matter of convenience.  We don’t have to worry with inclement weather and the field is ready to go all the time.  Third, it’s a huge recruiting tool.”

Charasika said it also provides an added financial benefit since the field does not require recovery time from extended use, they will be able to rent it out to local club sports teams for their use.  She also said that the field will see use by the boys’ lacrosse and boys’ soccer teams.

“This allows us to take our already strong athletic programs to a higher level,” said Brad Lyman, Head of School at KCD.  “It also allows us to provide the same quality facilities in athletics that we have in other areas such as the upper school and the new fine arts center.  It adds to the quality of the overall experience of our students.”

Charasika said officials at KCD looked at three different companies and visited fields in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Tennessee.

“AstroTurf was definitely the right choice for us,” said Charasika.  “We felt like it was the best product for our needs and we felt a level of trust with the company and its people.”

At first, she expressed concern about using an infilled system for field hockey because of the rubber splash, and the need for a level, consistent playing field.  She was sold on the system after seeing the field at the McCallie School in Tennessee.

“I loved the feel,” she said.  “The RootZone gives better fiber density and encapsulates the infill so there is no splash.  The slit film also makes it a faster surface.”

The new surface is the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D52X, the most advanced in the synthetic turf industry.

The surface contains the AstroTurf XP fiber.  XP is a slit-film product which offers better infill encapsulation, best resistance to wear, and greater pile density.  The product also features texturized RootZone.  RootZone is a fiber which acts as a thatch layer, creating minimal rubber splash, uniform energy return, and better shock absorbency, while encapsulating the infill and reducing migration.

The field also has a face weight of 52 ounces of fiber per square yard, one of the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

“Kentucky Country Day is a great school with a great athletic program,” said Pat Davidson, AstroTurf Regional Sales Manager.  “They’re getting the best product on the market and we’re proud to be a part of that tradition.”

 

Sports Construction Management is handling the construction of the base and installation of the turf, which will be completed by mid-August.

ASTROTURF INSTALLATION UNDERWAY AT MARYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

AstroTurf President Bryan Peeples with Maryville Head Coach George Quarles

 (MARYVILLE, Tennessee) - George Quarles is not a man to shy away from big goals.

In fact, while most high school football coaches set a goal of winning even a single state championship in their career, Quarles starts every season with that goal in mind.

As the head coach of the Maryville Rebels, most would say he’s done pretty well.  This year, he will seek his 10^th state championship title in his 14^th year at the helm of the Tennessee powerhouse.  Quarles’ overall record at the helm is 179-13.

This year, however, will bring a major change.  As Quarles looks out over the football field this morning, crews will be rolling out the all new AstroTurf football field that the team will play on in their quest for another state title.

The change to the new synthetic was born of necessity and a desire to maintain pace with a growing trend.  First among the reasons was use of the field.

“We have an overuse problem,” said Quarles.  “We have, not only the high school using the field, but the middle school teams, our youth league teams, our band practices on it quite a bit, and our PE classes use it.  So, we just have a lot of teams that are using the field and by the end of the season, we don’t have any grass to play on.  We’ve been pretty fortunate that we’ve been playing in November and December, but by then you don’t have grass, just some mud.”

Maryville City Schools Board Member Denny Garner said the amount of use contributed to the deterioration of the field, as well as a drainage problem. 

AstroTurf's Mitchell Truban, Mary City Schools Board Member Denny Garner, AstroTurf's Thomas Mullins, Maryville Head Coach George Quarles

“It was going to cost something like $280,000 to re-drain and put natural grass back on the field,” said Garner.  “Then we started looking at AstroTurf and other products.  We came to the conclusion that we could come out ahead financially by changing to an artificial surface.  We spend about $30,000 a year on our field now for maintenance.  That’s a maintenance fee that will dissolve and go away.  We can put that money back and bank it for re-turfing down the road.”

Quarles also cited other reasons for the change, including aesthetics, a consistent playing surface that’s always available, and development of artificial turf that looks and plays more like natural grass.

Maryville, in the past, has conducted practices at the University of Tennessee’s indoor practice facility, which also has AstroTurf.  That surface caught their attention.  Officials and team members also visited a number of fields during the decision-making process.

“We did a tremendous amount of study and research,” said Garner.  “We decided that AstroTurf was, by far, in our opinion, the best turf product out there at this time.  When you visit a company like this, that pretty much does it all from start to finish, from the build of it to the install, you just feel so much more comfortable with the fact that you’ve seen their manufacturing operations.”

Quarles mentioned a couple of other intangibles in the process.

“We liked the product, for one,” he said.  “But we were really impressed with the people at AstroTurf.  Bryan Peeples, the company president came to our school.  The sales staff and project engineers have been very responsive.  We just developed a good relationship with them.  They were up front with us.  We didn’t hear any negatives about other competitors.  We just heard the good things about AstroTurf.  We appreciated that and we’ve not regretted our decision for a second.”

A contingent of officials from Maryville visited AstroTurf’s manufacturing facilities in Dalton, Georgia two weeks ago and that visit further solidified the decision.

“We learned a lot about the process,” said Quarles.  “What impressed me the most, though, was that during the visit to one of the plants, I watched Bryan Peeples take time to stop and speak to the line employees, calling them by name, and engaging them in conversation.  They truly are a family company and we like that.”

The field will be constructed of AstroTurf GameDay Grass Xtreme 60.  The surface contains the Horseshoe fiber, an Omega-shaped fiber which has better mechanical memory and remains upright longer, has a more grass-like ball roll, and offers the best aesthetics of any field.  It is combined with the AstroTurf XP fiber.  XP is a slit-film product which offers better infill encapsulation, best resistance to wear, and great pile density.  The product also features texturized RootZone.  RootZone is a fiber which acts as a thatch layer, creating minimal rubber splash, uniform energy return, and better shock absorbency, while encapsulating the infill and reducing migration.

The field also has a face weight of 60 ounces of fiber per square yard, one of the highest in the industry.  This adds to the durability provided by the fiber shape.

The Horseshoe fiber’s shape also allows it to reflect light and heat away from the surface.  That, in combination with AstroFlect heat reduction technology, can lower surface temperatures by as much as 18%.

“Maryville is one of the nation’s premier football programs and they are getting the finest synthetic playing surface on the market,” said AstroTurf President Bryan Peeples.  “We are excited that AstroTurf will play a role in continuing the winning tradition of the Rebels and Coach Quarles.”

The AstroTurf crew arrived on-site this morning to begin the installation process, which will take about two weeks.