FieldTurf bid about $300k less than allotted cost
The athletics department will spend less than expected on Kelly/Shorts Stadium’s new surface by following a recent trend in football turf replacement.
FieldTurf, a type of synthetic grass filled with sand and rubber, will be put in the stadium for an approximate cost of $638,000. The Board of Trustees approved $975,000 for the resurfacing.
“We’ve identified the contractor, but there is still some paperwork that we need to fill out prior to awarding the bid,” said Tom Trionfi, director of purchasing services. “We hope to have them starting as soon as possible, and it definitely will be competed by the start of the football season.”
The Detroit Lions installed FieldTurf at Ford Field in 2002 and the University of Michigan installed it for the 2003 season.
Athletics Director Herb Deromedi said it would be nice if the final cost remained at what was bid.
“We don’t know how much it is going to cost until it’s completed,” Deromedi said. “If it does end that way, then that would be a great number and end result.”
Trionfi said the leftover money would remain within the athletics department.
“It is good to come in well below what the Board of Trustees approved,” Trionfi said. “When we save the department money, they have the opportunity to use that money elsewhere.”
Officials are eager to begin the FieldTurf project.
“We want them to start as soon as possible,” Trionfi said. “It is taking a little bit longer getting the rest of the drawings, but we still have adequate time to get it done by the start of football season.”
The surface is not suitable for the field hockey team to play on, so they will no longer play at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
If nearly $335,000 is left over, the department could use the money to address some of the need for a new field hockey venue.
Football coach Brian Kelly said his team’s practice schedule will not be affected.
“It will be a six-to-eight week process, and even if it runs a little long, we will still have time to complete it,” Kelly said. “We can practice on the grass field, although that is not the best situation.”
Kelly added that both fields will be used throughout the season.
“When you have FieldTurf, it’s great to practice on,” Kelly said. “We’re going to utilize both fields, and we are primarily going to be outside. We will use the Turf Bay of the Indoor Athletics Complex when there is inclement weather.”
A portion of the old turf will be sold and other pieces that are still usable will be used by the athletics department for various uses such as the inside of the softball and baseball batting cages.
