How one high school makes money with AstroTurf

By Steven Matthews

http://www.journal-news.com/

Six years ago, Princeton High School's Viking Stadium was utilized only five times a year for home football games.

Then in 2003, the high school installed AstroPlay turf and Princeton officials say they could not have made a wiser investment.

Last year, Viking Stadium was used 300 of 365 days. Community groups, private soccer clubs, athletic organizations and physical education classes use the field — in addition to Princeton's athletic teams.

"I do believe it's a no-brainer for schools," Princeton athletic director Scott Kaufman said. "There's a sticker shock at first, but you have to look at its value for kids and the community. Schools are starting to get it because they understand the impact — the revenue impact, the safety impact and the usage impact."

The turf cost Princeton $680,000 and the district's goal was to have it paid off in seven years. But because the field generates about $40,000 a year in revenue from outside groups, the Hamilton County school is ahead of schedule and hopes to pay it off this upcoming school year.
Renting Princeton's field costs $60 an hour without lights and $75 an hour with lights. About 90 percent of the revenue comes from November to March.

The rental fee for tournament soccer games ranges from $200 to $400, while it's $1,500 to $2,000 for playoff football games. All of the gate receipts from tournament games goes to the Ohio High School Athletic Association; the Princeton boosters get the parking and concessions revenue.

Princeton's old grass field cost $60,000 a year to maintain, which included cutting, watering and painting. Now, all that's done to maintain the turf is grooming it three times a year, and Kaufman does that himself with a brush pulled by a tractor.

The life expectancy for Princeton's field is 12 to 15 years. But the revenue generated in years six through 12 will be put aside to pay for the replacement turf.

"It's a pretty good situation where we've done something great for our teams," Kaufman said. "It's great for our community, and ultimately through the life of the turf, it will save taxpayers money and generate revenue that wasn't possible before."