AstroTurf Delivers Unprecedented Athletic Facilities Expansion to the University of Delaware
Newark, DE (PRWEB) September 03, 2015 -- The University of Delaware Blue Hens football team will be ready for their home-opener against Jacksonville on September 4th. This preseason, the team has been practicing on brand new AstroTurf® fields. The Blue Hens recently wrapped up the installations of two more AstroTurf® fields, making a total of six premium AstroTurf surfaces installed in just the last two years that are benefitting student-athletes across campus.
These ambitious facility improvements have elevated the University of Delaware’s profile and given the school some of the most cutting edge facilities in the Colonial Athletic Association. The unrivaled facility upgrades are evidence of the investment the school has made into enhancing the Delaware student-athlete, club sport, intramural, and recreation experience.
“We are proud of numerous enhancements we’ve made to our facilities over the past few years,” said UD Director of Athletics and Recreation Services Eric Ziady. “Outstanding facilities are crucial to the success of our teams and to the student experience and AstroTurf has been a valued partner in this endeavor.”
The two practice football fields completed this past summer are high performance AstroTurf systems that were much needed replacements of previously installed fields. This time around, Delaware selected the 3DXtreme product by AstroTurf. This premium product style is ideally suited for high impact sports as it features a texturized RootZone®. The innovative product feature encapsulates and stabilizes the rubber infill, limiting rubber splash, particle migration and compaction. The result is a clean, consistent surface that has garnered critical acclaim for its performance, speed, and resistance to wear and tear.
Importantly, independently funded research at Michigan State University has shown turf with a RootZone to generate less torque on lower extremities. All in all, the Blue Hens will be training on 175,000 square feet of high performance AstroTurf, a major bonus when it comes to recruiting.
“We went through an exhaustive search for each field we installed, to find the best artificial turf surface available for our student athletes,” said UD Senior Associate AD for Facilities, Operations, and Sports Performance Joe Shirley. “The AstroTurf brand combines the family-owned feel, the control of the manufacturing process from design through completion and the research/development is the best in the business.”
When the previous fields needed to be replaced, using AstroTurf was an easy decision. The seamless installations and exceptional performance of the other AstroTurf fields on campus have been a great asset to the University. Just last fall, Delaware installed AstroTurf’s extremely durable XPE slit film product on an Intramural and club sport field. These fields are great assets to the college experience, and as such experience very heavy use. The University selected an AstroTurf field that blows away industry standards in accelerated wear testing, so students will have access to recreational space for many years to come.
The year before was also a busy year for the Blue Hens. In 2013, the school upgraded the Delaware Field House, laying down 59,000 square feet of AstroTurf 3DXtreme. The playing surface inside the Field House provides access to indoor training space for 16 UD athletic programs during inclement weather.
“We are extremely excited to be opening the 2015 season with completely renovated AstroTurf practice facilities,” said Delaware football head coach Dave Brock. “We feel that this AstroTurf renovation – along with our elite indoor facility – gives the University of Delaware the top practice facilities in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.”
Immediately following the Delaware Field House project, Delaware converted Bob Hannah Baseball Stadium to AstroTurf’s Diamond Series baseball line. This advanced range of baseball products is unique in that it incorporates custom products for each area of the baseball diamond, so that the skin areas replicate natural clay and the infield and outfield products replicate natural grass.
The result is a naturally playing baseball field that allows for an extended season and earlier practices. By selecting the Diamond Series, Delaware joined a growing league of elite Division I baseball programs that play on AstroTurf.
“Our new facility has been outstanding for many reasons,” said UD baseball head coach Jim Sherman. “With such a great playing surface, we are able to utilize our practice time much better and we don’t have rainouts. It has been great for recruiting.”
After six fields in two years, AstroTurf’s pride in being entrusted with the legacy-building campus improvements is palpable. Bryan Peeples, AstroTurf’s President, noted, “The opportunity to partner with Delaware Athletics & Recreation during such an exciting time for the University is one we appreciate. AstroTurf is committed to raising the bar in the synthetic turf industry for our clients, and Delaware is committed to enhancing the college experience for its students. Together, we make a great team. Delaware has implemented a grand vision for their campus, and AstroTurf is honored to play a part in bringing that vision to life.”
About AstroTurf
For athletes and sport enthusiasts, AstroTurf has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s first vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit http://www.astroturf.com.
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Sydney Stahlbaum, AstroTurf, http://www.astroturf.com, +1 5124235164, [email protected]
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