Virginia Tech Band Gets Home Field Advantage
BLACKSBURG, Virginia (PRWEB) June 23, 2015 -- The Marching Virginians will soon have their very own Shaw Sports Turf field to practice on. The new field is part of the new Marching Virginians Center on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Established in 1974, The Marching Virginians are known to Hokies everywhere as The Spirit of Tech. The band has formerly practiced on a shared natural grass field inside the track. For the first time in Virginia Tech history, the band will have its very own home.
The new field will feature synthetic turf that will sustain regardless of weather conditions and high traffic use. It will also give the band more bounce and resilience when marching.
The Marching Virginians will share the field with Recreational Sports in the spring, as well as evenings after 8:30 p.m. in the fall.
Shaw Sports Turf was selected as the synthetic turf provider for Virginia Tech Band Field and Indoor Practice Facility because of their hard work and relationships built with the athletics department.
“Our athletics department has wonderful things to say about Shaw Sports Turf,” says David McKee, Director of The Marching Virginians. “I have truly enjoyed partnering with Shaw Sports Turf. Their attention to detail was astounding, and I thank them for the dedication in making our field a great success. It is simply beautiful, and I can’t wait for the students to have the opportunity to use it.”
The almost $5 million project consists of the Shaw Sports Turf synthetic turf field, field lighting, a storage facility, and a rehearsal pavilion.
There were numerous private donors who contributed to the project with gifts ranging from ten dollars to a million dollars. There was also unique collaboration in raising the funds between the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, Recreational Sports, and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
The field features Shaw Sports Turf’s Momentum system.
The Momentum synthetic turf system features a Strenexe slit film fiber, a proven technology known for its durability and overall performance. The slit film fiber construction results in an “umbrella” effect that helps hold infill in and reduce overall fly-out.
“It was great working with Snyder & Associates and Virginia Tech,” said Shaw Sports Turf Territory Manager, Andrew Barksdale. “I know both the band and recreational sports will benefit from the new surfaces.”
The first day of practice on the new field will be on August 14th.
About Shaw Sports Turf:
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Shaw Industries is a full flooring provider to the residential and commercial markets. Shaw supplies carpet, hardwood, laminate, resilient, and tile/ stone flooring products, as well as synthetic turf. Shaw Sports Turf is one of the leading synthetic turf companies in North America and has represented quality and innovation for more than two decades with over 1,500 successful installations, including an impressive list of high-profile field installations. For more information please visit http://www.shawsportsturf.com, call 866-703-4004 or find us on Facebook.
About The Marching Virginians:
Members of the Marching Virginians are enrolled in nearly every major in the university, a true representation of the Virginia Tech community. The Marching Virginians are proud of their years of spirit and dedication since the founding of the band in 1974. Throughout their history, the Marching Virginians have performed for hundreds of nationally televised football games and parades. The band has also received praise for outstanding performances at Virginia Tech’s recent bowl games, including the 2014 Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland, the 2013 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, and the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The unique show band style and extraordinary spirit of the Marching Virginians has been a hit with Hokies and football fans everywhere.
Members of the Marching Virginians volunteer their time and energy toward service projects, both local and national in scope. Over the past several years, the Marching Virginians have raised over $70,000 to support research and services for the ALS Association through their Marching for ALS and Ice Bucket Challenge programs. The Marching Virginians have sent a one hundred-member pep band to Craig County High School for almost ten years to play for a football game in a community where there is no band program. Other activities have included a series of blood drive challenges, performances for school, community, and campus events and eighteen Hokies for the Hungry canned food drives – the Marching Virginians are truly the model of Ut Prosim.
The strong level of dedication, enthusiasm, and talent of this ensemble has led the Marching Virginians to become an irreplaceable element of Virginia Tech football. The Marching Virginians are proud of their reputation with fellow students, faculty, and fans and are honored to be The Spirit of Tech!
Todd Britton, Shaw Industries, http://shawfloors.com/about-shaw, +1 (706) 217-9690, [email protected]
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