Stambaugh Stadium getting synthetic turf

The new Sprinturf is nearly twice as thick as the oldsurface and closelyresembles grass.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Stambaugh Stadium always has been one of the premier stadiums in Division I-AA football.
Now, the 20-year old stadium also will have a state-of-the-art playing surface as well.
Wednesday, workers from Sprinturf began taking up the old surface at Stambaugh to make way for the new one, which according to Bruce Cheskin, vice-president of the company, will be ready for use in about 30 days. Stambaugh Stadium, home to the YSU football and soccer teams, will be getting its third surface since it was first opened in 1982. The first two were both Astroturf surfaces.
The new surface also is considered artificial, but is entirely different from Astroturf. It is a synthetic fiber, but nearly twice as thick as the old surface and is then filled with rubber particles.
"It is as close to natural grass as you can get, without the maintenance of grass," said Cheskin.
Reserve fund
The new project is being funded from a reserve plant fund dedicated solely for the replacement of the stadium's turf. Estimated cost of the project is around $500,000.
Cheskin, who is based in Conshohocken, Pa., where the company headquarters are, said that his company will need two or three days to take up the old surface and padding.
"We hope to have everything picked up and the base surface cleaned up by Friday," Cheskin said. "We hope to start laying our drainage mat by next Tuesday and hopefully start laying the new surface by May 20.
Cheskin said that to put down a new Sprinturf surface from scratch takes about eight weeks, but since a base is already in place, this project is expected to be completed in 30 days.
He said that Sprinturf has been put down on over 100 fields throughout the country since 1997.
"I've been in the business for over 15 years and my partner for over 30 years," he added. "This is the best surface on the market today. It's all rubber with triple backing, more resilient and it's as close to natural grass that you'll ever find."
Main difference
The main difference between Sprinturf and Astroturf is the thickness and the softness.
"Our turf is 21/2 inches thick, compared to 1 inch for the old surface," he said. "Then we fill the entire surface with rubber particles that are brushed down into the fabric and set the base for the playing surface."
Cheskin also added that all of the markings on the surface, the sidelines, the yard lines, the hash marks and logos are all inlayed into the carpet, not painted on.
"Some of the lines, like the sidelines and 5-yard lines, will come already on the turf when it is laid, but the hash marks and all the logos have to be inlayed into the surface," he added.
At Stambaugh Stadium, the logos will include the word "Penguins" in each end zone and a big "Pete the Penguin" at midfield.
"These all are produced separately and then brought down and we inlay them right into the surface. They are all of the same materiel, but just different in color," he continued.
The new surface comes with an eight-year warranty, but Cheskin said the life expectancy is 10-12 years.
Drainage
A drainage mat is laid under the entire surface, which allows the water to filter down through the surface and then run off the sides of the field.
YSU athletic director Ron Strollo has been working on this project for a long time.
"We are very excited to have Sprinturf working with us on this project," Strollo said. "This was a very intensive process that started nearly five months ago when we first looked at the status of our Beede Field turf. After an examination of the field and discussing the situation with our student-athletes and coaching staff, we felt this was the proper time for a new surface to be installed."
The stadium surface was last replaced in 1991.
Sprinturf was selected by a committee comprised of members of the YSU facilities department and the athletic department. John Hyden, director of facilities, along with associate athletic director Dan O'Connell, soccer coach Liz Bartley and assistant football coach John Klacik, helped in the selection process.
Other schools
Cheskin's company installed a complete playing surface at the University of Montana last year. They also have installed fields at the University of San Diego and State University of New York, and will begin work shortly at Western Connecticut University.
YSU will become the fourth member of the Gateway Football Conference in the past two seasons to install a new playing surface. The other three are Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State and Indiana State.
mollica@vindy.com