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Rendering of Utah's new FieldTurf playing surface.
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May 12, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY--Final preparations are underway for the installation of a new FieldTurf surface in Rice-Eccles Stadium. It will replace the FieldTurf that has covered the field in Rice-Eccles Stadium since 2002.
The old turf was torn out following a Supercross event in the stadium on April 25. On May 18, the installation of the new field will begin. The field is expected to be ready for play by July 1.
The first game on the new turf will be Utah's 2009 football season opener on Sept. 3 vs. Utah State. The Utes will hold scrimmages and some practices in the stadium during fall camp, which begins on Aug. 6.
The new surface will feature red end zones with UTAH in white block type and black trim. There will be a red Block U in the center of the field and red and white outlined and Mountain West Conference logos will be positioned between the 20- and 30-yard lines on the southwest and northeast sidelines.
The end zones, type and logos are inlaid, meaning they are created with red and white synthetic fibers and are not painted.
Said Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham of the new surface, "We are looking forward to the installation of the new FieldTurf in Rice-Eccles Stadium. It's a great product and the new surface will only add to what we feel is already one of the finest football stadiums in the country."
FieldTurf is the global market leader in synthetic sports fields with more than 3,000 installed, including 50-plus NCAA stadiums and 21 of the 32 NFL stadiums. The advantages of FieldTurf, which looks and feels like real grass, include significantly reduced water consumption, the elimination of fertilizers and pesticides, and superior durability and drainage.
The Utes enjoyed two undefeated seasons in seven years playing on their first FieldTurf surface. Utah, which went 6-0 in Rice-Eccles Stadium in both 2004 and 2008, has an overall record of 33-7 on the Rice-Eccles Stadium FieldTurf. Commemorative pieces of the old turf will go on sale to the public at the beginning of June in the University Campus Store. For more information, call the bookstore at 801-581-6326.
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