The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit.

Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site.

(See below for correction.) There may be new artificial turf at Franklin Field next August, pending approval of funding. Before any contract is signed, an estimated $1 million will have to be raised to finance the new turf. "Whether or not the turf project is done this summer or next summer is dependent on funding," Director of Athletic Facilities and Operations Dave Bryan said. The current artificial turf was installed in July 1992 and was meant to last between 10 and 15 years. While the turf has been kept in good condition over the last 10 years, the annual G-max test -- conducted to determine whether the turf is in proper condition -- revealed this year that it is "nearing or at its end of useful life," Bryan said. In addition to the G-max test, various coaches recently complained about injuries incurred because of the turf. "In my four years at Penn, this is the first time that there has been serious concern expressed by coaches about the turf," Bryan said. The new turf technology offers much more padding and will likely reduce the number of turf-related injuries, Bryan added. While a grass field would further reduce that number, it is much more difficult to maintain. "Because of the weather conditions, it makes more sense to install turf rather than natural grass," Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky said. Because of the G-max test result and several coaches' concerns, a committee was formed to evaluate the various types of new technologies that are available in the artificial turf market. The committee consists of Bryan, men's lacrosse coach Brian Voelker, women's lacrosse coach Karin Brower, field hockey coach Val Cloud, football coach Al Bagnoli, Associate Director of Athletics Earl Cleghorn, and various people from the Department of Facilities and Operations. They are in the midst of visiting several sites -- including NFL stadiums such as the Eagles' Veterans Stadium (which has Fieldturf) and Giants Stadium (Sprinturf) -- in order to choose a specific type of turf. "We are feverishly trying to gather information to see what the best turf surface would be," Bagnoli said. "We have narrowed it down to the three best companies that are out there," Bryan said, referring to Sprinturf, Astroplay, and Fieldturf. The main difference between the three brands of turf lies in the lower layer below the blades. While Sprinturf has a rubber crumb fill-in system, Astroplay has a sand base. Fieldturf's lower layer consists of sand and rubber. Sprinturf's all-rubber base provides more cushioning than the Astroplay sand base, but it is also more expensive. The committee must also take into account the different types of systems for absorbing moisture. "We need to decide which type of turf best serves our athletic and recreational needs," Bryan said. While Franklin Field is mainly used for athletic practices and games, its recreational purposes may ultimately determine the turf that is chosen. Bryan noted that the committee must determine which turf will best facilitate the Commencement ceremony. In terms of athletics, the new turf may affect how various sports teams recruit and play. For example, will the football team be losing a major home-field advantage? "I don't think so," Bagnoli said. "Most football players have either practiced or played on turf before." In the Ivy League, however, only Columbia and Cornell have football stadiums with artificial turf -- the rest have grass. "[Artificial turf] becomes an advantage for you because it remains a fast track regardless of weather conditions," Bagnoli said. Bilsky echoed Bagnoli's claim that the turf's speed provides Penn an advantage. "It's a fast surface, so we recruit quick players," Bilsky said. "I would like to believe that we win because of our talent and not because of the turf, though," Bilsky added. Penn will be the first Ivy League school to install this new technology of turf, Bryan said. That is not to say, however, that the new turf is uncommon among colleges nationwide. "A great number of intercollegiate facilities are changing to this new turf," Bryan said. In fact, there are even some high schools in Maryland and Pennsylvania that have used it, Bryan noted. While Bryan admits that it is not an "easy thing" to select, purchase, and install the new turf, all involved agree that the current turf must be replaced. The only question is when. There are financial matters that must be dealt with before anything is done. As such, the turf may not be installed until the 2004 summer. "We are hoping to get the new turf by this summer but it may not happen until next summer," Bilsky said. If the turf is to be installed this summer, a decision must be made by early-to-mid April, according to Bryan. "It will take six to eight weeks to demo the existing field and install the new one," Bryan said. "Then, it has to go out to bid, and then to production." "If they decide to install it this summer, it will be ready for use by early August," Bryan said. The new turf should last for about eight years, Bryan added.

Correction

This story indicates that Veterans Stadium has field turf. In fact, it has Nexturf.
Comments powered by Disqus

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.