Field Turf Decision Announced

[Lumpy 2]

The new field turf will be the same type used in Paul Brown Stadium, The Superdome and 8 other NFL stadiums as well as many college fields.

 

[DACats86]

UBU Sports Synthetic Sports System. I would be interested to hear what GrumpyOldDawg knows about it.

Press Release

 

[bluegrass74]

I knew this was coming, but still, I hate to see the natural grass go.

 

[fuzz77]

UBU Sports

 

[1977 Cat]

Teammate and friend of mine is in charge of replacing the field. Doug Vescio played receiver at UK. Glad to see them award a former player the contract.

 

[bthaunert]

I mentioned UBU turf in the other thread about artificial turf as a good product. We installed it here at the University of Oregon in the soccer/lacrosse stadium and I have had the company do some repairs of other synthetic turf fields for me. It's a good product. Very similar to Field Turf, Astroturf, Sprint Turf, Shaw Sportex, etc. It will be a good product.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Originally posted by DACats86:
UBU Sports Synthetic Sports System. I would be interested to hear what GrumpyOldDawg knows about it.

Only time I worked in the flooring industry was one summer so I don't know much. Had a sister in law, who is now an ex sister in law, who works for one of the companies who sells the product, it could be this one, but I haven't talked to her in awhile. Her company does the installation so doesnt' sound like it from another poster below.

 

[UKgal82]

It is a good product. It allows players in cleats to plant their feet and twist like natural grass without the worry of knee issues like a lot of artificial turf. It is also very soft, almost almost squishy to fall down on. The only thing I don't really like about it are the little rubber-like pellets that are in-between the grass blades - they get in your shoes and socks from moving on it - they smash down so I am not 100% sure what they are made of but they are annoying.

 

[scarolinacat]

I live in Dalton. Industry down here is changing from carpet to engineered floors and turf. I might have to sneek in and get me a piece of that fake kentucky bluegrass!

 

[vhcat70]

Does it turn brown after a freeze?

 

[Beavis606]

Does it taste like the real thing?

 

[fballcats76]

How many of the SEC schools have fake grass? Ole Miss and Vandy?

 

[brian.mikeson]

I wonder what flavor of pesticide is Les Miles's favorite?

 

[BIGBLUEQ]

Here is the breakdown of current playing surfaces for all SEC teams stadiums.

Alabama- Grass
Arkansas- Turf
Auburn- Grass
Florida- Bermuda Grass
Georgia- Grass
Kentucky- Grass, will be turf in 2015
LSU- Grass
Mizzou- Field Turf
Miss. State- Grass
Ole Miss- Turf
Tennessee- Grass
aTm- Bermuda Grass
USCe- Grass
Vandy- Sports Turf

 

[Pharmboy007]

I just think with UK being the most northern school, it is almost impossible to maintain grass late in the season.

GO CATS

 

[ok-cats-computer]

Originally posted by bluegrass74:
I knew this was coming, but still, I hate to see the natural grass go.

Agreed. Really wish we were keeping the natural grass, the way it has always been at Commonwealth Stadium.

 

[BigBlueFan1963]

Football was meant to be played on natural grass.

 

[jpbky2]

I don't have a problem with it, less maintenance and better drainage. The people that I have know that have played on it complain about those little pellets getting in their eyes and they have to shake out their clothes, but I think even that has been "fixed" somewhat. I am curious as to what it would mean for Commonwealth Stadium. With a turf field, is there a possibility of some large outdoor concerts? Maybe the high school state championships or maybe even a high school football day of football with the teams from around the state? The state marching band contests or other events that could use Commonwealth Stadium. I've always marveled at the fact of how much money is in that stadium and it is only used six or seven times a year. I know how much money it brings in and yada, yada, yada, but it is still only use about 2% of the days of the year.

 

[KentUcKy-Kats]

Originally posted by jpbky2:
I don't have a problem with it, less maintenance and better drainage. The people that I have know that have played on it complain about those little pellets getting in their eyes and they have to shake out their clothes, but I think even that has been "fixed" somewhat. I am curious as to what it would mean for Commonwealth Stadium. With a turf field, is there a possibility of some large outdoor concerts? Maybe the high school state championships or maybe even a high school football day of football with the teams from around the state? The state marching band contests or other events that could use Commonwealth Stadium. I've always marveled at the fact of how much money is in that stadium and it is only used six or seven times a year. I know how much money it brings in and yada, yada, yada, but it is still only use about 2% of the days of the year.

This is more my view on the new turf as well. It will give the option to bring in more events throughout the year. Plus the team will get more practice time within the stadium.

Really hoping they move the high school football championships to Lex. I don't have the numbers, but would think the general attendance for them being in Bowling Green is drastically lower than Louisville or Lexington.

 

[BIGBLUEQ]

Originally posted by KentUcKy-Kats:

Originally posted by jpbky2:
I don't have a problem with it, less maintenance and better drainage. The people that I have know that have played on it complain about those little pellets getting in their eyes and they have to shake out their clothes, but I think even that has been "fixed" somewhat. I am curious as to what it would mean for Commonwealth Stadium. With a turf field, is there a possibility of some large outdoor concerts? Maybe the high school state championships or maybe even a high school football day of football with the teams from around the state? The state marching band contests or other events that could use Commonwealth Stadium. I've always marveled at the fact of how much money is in that stadium and it is only used six or seven times a year. I know how much money it brings in and yada, yada, yada, but it is still only use about 2% of the days of the year.

This is more my view on the new turf as well. It will give the option to bring in more events throughout the year. Plus the team will get more practice time within the stadium.

Really hoping they move the high school football championships to Lex. I don't have the numbers, but would think the general attendance for them being in Bowling Green is drastically lower than Louisville or Lexington.

The state football championships won't happen before 2019, I believe that KHSAA has agreement with WKU that the state football championships will be held in Bowling Green through 2018.

 

[KentUcKy-Kats]

Originally posted by BIGBLUEQ:

Originally posted by KentUcKy-Kats:

Originally posted by jpbky2:
I don't have a problem with it, less maintenance and better drainage. The people that I have know that have played on it complain about those little pellets getting in their eyes and they have to shake out their clothes, but I think even that has been "fixed" somewhat. I am curious as to what it would mean for Commonwealth Stadium. With a turf field, is there a possibility of some large outdoor concerts? Maybe the high school state championships or maybe even a high school football day of football with the teams from around the state? The state marching band contests or other events that could use Commonwealth Stadium. I've always marveled at the fact of how much money is in that stadium and it is only used six or seven times a year. I know how much money it brings in and yada, yada, yada, but it is still only use about 2% of the days of the year.

This is more my view on the new turf as well. It will give the option to bring in more events throughout the year. Plus the team will get more practice time within the stadium.

Really hoping they move the high school football championships to Lex. I don't have the numbers, but would think the general attendance for them being in Bowling Green is drastically lower than Louisville or Lexington.

The state football championships won't happen before 2019, I believe that KHSAA has agreement with WKU that the state football championships will be held in Bowling Green through 2018.

Thanks for the info, didn't know that. Maybe Lexington will make a push after that agreement is up.

 

[hmt5000]

we had a poster on here who installs this stuff. he said there wasn't really a big difference between makers and style.

 

[THE_OAK]

I'm personally not a fan of field turf (I hate those little beads of rubber), but I can understand why they would want to go in that direction. We had probably one of the best grass fields in the SEC, I remember being down on it for the LSU game and I couldn't believe how soft it felt walking on it.

 

[dgtatu01]

Originally posted by UKgal82:
It is a good product. It allows players in cleats to plant their feet and twist like natural grass without the worry of knee issues like a lot of artificial turf. It is also very soft, almost almost squishy to fall down on. The only thing I don't really like about it are the little rubber-like pellets that are in-between the grass blades - they get in your shoes and socks from moving on it - they smash down so I am not 100% sure what they are made of but they are annoying.

There is some early speculation that those pellets are poisoning athletes blood. Studies are starting now since there has been some anecdotal evidence of athletes playing on these fields with cuts on their skin and getting lymphoma.

This post was edited on 1/26 7:32 PM by dgtatu01

 

[maysvilleky]

Originally posted by dgtatu01:

Originally posted by UKgal82:
It is a good product. It allows players in cleats to plant their feet and twist like natural grass without the worry of knee issues like a lot of artificial turf. It is also very soft, almost almost squishy to fall down on. The only thing I don't really like about it are the little rubber-like pellets that are in-between the grass blades - they get in your shoes and socks from moving on it - they smash down so I am not 100% sure what they are made of but they are annoying.

There is some early speculation that those pellets are poisoning athletes blood. Studies are starting now since there has been some anecdotal evidence of athletes playing on these fields with cuts on their skin and getting lymphoma.

This post was edited on 1/26 7:32 PM by dgtatu01

Does it have to be rubber? Couldn't they just dump some dirt onto it to create a base? Then you could still get muddy and have the real football experience when the field gets wet!

 

[Chuckinden]

Originally posted by dgtatu01:

Originally posted by UKgal82:
It is a good product. It allows players in cleats to plant their feet and twist like natural grass without the worry of knee issues like a lot of artificial turf. It is also very soft, almost almost squishy to fall down on. The only thing I don't really like about it are the little rubber-like pellets that are in-between the grass blades - they get in your shoes and socks from moving on it - they smash down so I am not 100% sure what they are made of but they are annoying.

There is some early speculation that those pellets are poisoning athletes blood. Studies are starting now since there has been some anecdotal evidence of athletes playing on these fields with cuts on their skin and getting lymphoma.

This post was edited on 1/26 7:32 PM by dgtatu01

A recent study released a month or so ago stated there was no evidence that exposure to the turf was harmful.

 

[SmackDaddy38]

Good, it needs to go, this is far safer for the players.