Stadium upgrade?

[NickSMU17]

Not with our offense....

Turf is good...

[mrydel]

Word I get is that the powers in control heard that Mestengo was moving to the other aisle putting himself about 20 seats farther from the video screen. They decided to improve it and the sound system to accomodate his seating change.

[Mestengo]

Word I get is that the powers in control heard that Mestengo was moving to the other aisle putting himself about 20 seats farther from the video screen. They decided to improve it and the sound system to accomodate his seating change.

Think their going to keep it on the same side?

[ponyboy]

I'd like us to go retro and re-install a real grass turf. Of course that didn't work out so well when the stadium was built, but we should be able to maintain natural grass in Dallas. Football (and soccer) should be played on grass...

I agree wholeheartedly despite its theoretical effect on our offense. The other thing I would add would be an AAC-type standing bar in the south endzone.

[Longtime]

Gotta keep the fake grass, if only to have an "all-weather" practice surface (until the indoor gets built).

In addition to upgrading the scoreboard and sound system, we need a small scoreboard and clock in the north end. It would be neat if it were a retro, analog clock and maybe a manual scoreboard - although I wouldn't want the job of sitting there changing the score during our four hour games.

High school stadiums only have a scoreboard in one end. Most major college stadiums have the score and game clock at both ends. Even minimalist Notre Dame Stadium has scoreboards at both ends.

[SMUFan]

I seriously doubt we ever go back to grass — artificial surfaces cost a lot, but in the long run (considering costs to maintain, etc.), it's cheaper, and we all know that governs all.

Sorry — cleaned out a ton of e-mails and nuked it. I'll see if I can get it re-sent.

[expony18]

I seriously doubt we ever go back to grass — artificial surfaces cost a lot, but in the long run (considering costs to maintain, etc.), it's cheaper, and we all know that governs all.

Maintenance
It is a myth that synthetic fields require less maintenance than natural turfgrass fields or to say that artificial turf fields are maintenance free. Synthetic fields require 1) additional infill, 2) irrigation because of unacceptably high temperatures on warm-sunny days, 3) chemical disinfectants, 4) sprays to reduce static cling and odors, 5) drainage repair and maintenance, 6) erasing and repainting temporary lines, and 7) removing organic matter accumulation. In a recent presentation by the Michigan State University, Certified Sports Turf Manager, she cited that the typical annual maintenance costs of her artificial turf fields ranged from $13,720-$39,220, while the typical annual maintenance costs of her natural turf fields had a similar range of $8,133-$48,960 (1).
long-term costs
Long-term costs are less with natural turf fields compared to synthetic turf fields. Artificial fields need replacing every 8-10 years, whereas a natural turf field does not need as frequent renovation and can be renovated at a much reduced price compared to an artificial field. In a 16-year scenario, Fresenburg came up with an annual average cost for each field type as follows: the natural soil-based field, $33,522; the sand-cap grass field, $49,318; the basic synthetic field, $65,846; and the premium synthetic field, $109,013 (2).

isposal costs
When artificial turf (in-fill systems) needs renovating every 8-10 years, there is a hidden cost of disposal. Because the field is filled and top-dressed with a crumb rubber material (typically made from ground automobile tires), the material may require special disposal. Disposal costs are estimated at $130,000 plus transportation and landfill charges (3).

http://turf.uark.edu/turfhelp/archives/021109.html

[NavyCrimson]

very interesting - great read!

[ponyscott]

Its not the costs, its the wear and tear week in and week out and the ability to add additional events at SMU. The HS playoffs and doubleheaders at Ford Stadium etc give SMU additional revenue and exposure is much, much more important. Not even a consideration on this.

[Uncle Bill]

Maintenance
It is a myth that synthetic fields require less maintenance than natural turfgrass fields or to say that artificial turf fields are maintenance free. Synthetic fields require 1) additional infill, 2) irrigation because of unacceptably high temperatures on warm-sunny days, 3) chemical disinfectants, 4) sprays to reduce static cling and odors, 5) drainage repair and maintenance, 6) erasing and repainting temporary lines, and 7) removing organic matter accumulation. In a recent presentation by the Michigan State University, Certified Sports Turf Manager, she cited that the typical annual maintenance costs of her artificial turf fields ranged from $13,720-$39,220, while the typical annual maintenance costs of her natural turf fields had a similar range of $8,133-$48,960 (1).
long-term costs
Long-term costs are less with natural turf fields compared to synthetic turf fields. Artificial fields need replacing every 8-10 years, whereas a natural turf field does not need as frequent renovation and can be renovated at a much reduced price compared to an artificial field. In a 16-year scenario, Fresenburg came up with an annual average cost for each field type as follows: the natural soil-based field, $33,522; the sand-cap grass field, $49,318; the basic synthetic field, $65,846; and the premium synthetic field, $109,013 (2).

isposal costs
When artificial turf (in-fill systems) needs renovating every 8-10 years, there is a hidden cost of disposal. Because the field is filled and top-dressed with a crumb rubber material (typically made from ground automobile tires), the material may require special disposal. Disposal costs are estimated at $130,000 plus transportation and landfill charges (3).

Being someone who has designed, managed and analyzed the cost of construction of both natural and synthetic football facilities, I strongly disagree with the data released by the University of Arkansas "Turfgrass" department. The most amusing statement was the addition of an irrigation system (is this some kind of Aggie joke?) I can show you synthetic fields that are 10 years old still in perfect condition. Who is doing the "maintenance" on these synthetic fields? Tony Soprano and Polly Walnuts? Just a little info from someone that has spent a carreer designing and constructing natural and synthetic playing surfaces..maybe I'm not as informed as this individual from Arkansas.
I assure you there is a lot more involved than was discussed in this article.

[mrydel]

It is my understanding that the UA study included the Astroturf that Bill Clinton put in the back of his El Camino. It constantly needed repair and maintenance.

[Mexmustang]

He was sleeping there...

[smuuth]

They need the indoor facility and then maybe have the field turf for Ford. Their turf looks terrible, kind of like an outdated artificial turf. A beautiful stadium on a beautiful campus. Do the possible expansion plan possibilities include filling-in the horshoe or an upper deck to get to the 42-45k figure?

[expony18]

Being someone who has designed, managed and analyzed the cost of construction of both natural and synthetic football facilities, I strongly disagree with the data released by the University of Arkansas "Turfgrass" department. The most amusing statement was the addition of an irrigation system (is this some kind of Aggie joke?) I can show you synthetic fields that are 10 years old still in perfect condition. Who is doing the "maintenance" on these synthetic fields? Tony Soprano and Polly Walnuts? Just a little info from someone that has spent a carreer designing and constructing natural and synthetic playing surfaces..maybe I'm not as informed as this individual from Arkansas.
I assure you there is a lot more involved than was discussed in this article.

guy who wrote the article

http://hort.uark.edu/overview/faculty/patton.html

further comparison of yearly costs

Bottom Line: Michigan State University synthetic field costs $22,760 per year to maintain.
Bottom Line: North Scott Community School District’s sand capped football stadium field costs $13,997.77 per year to maintain.
Bottom Line: North Scott Community School District’s sand based soccer field costs $20,378.49 per year to maintain.

http://www.stma.org/_files/_items/stma- ... fields.pdf

Charlie Coffin, sports field manager for the Detroit Lions, shared stories about the challenges of managing a synthetic infill......
"We were sold these fields on the basis that there would be no maintenance," Coffin said. "That just wasn't true."

Coffin said planners decided the covered field didn't need a drainage system. But with no rain to flush through the infill system, contamination has become a worrisome issue. What to do about erasing paint lines alone has become a major headache. Because so many types of sports are played on the field, Coffin is painting and erasing lines every week of the year.

http://www.superbowlsod.com/pdfs/real3.pdf

But Devitt said watering fake grass that’s installed specifically to save water “seems like an oxymoron,” adding that as the director of the Center for Urban Water Conservation he wouldn’t advocate the practice. He said other universities have found that the false turf needs to be irrigated every 30 minutes to keep it cool enough to play on.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/ja ... tudy-says/

Break Down for Michigan State Maintenance

Seam Repairs (outside contractor; $30 per linear foot)
$8,000
Apply Crumb Rubber (1 time per year; 20 hours per application; 10 tons of topdressing at $500 per ton)
$5,000
Spray Field (4 times per year; 3.5 oz rate per 1000 square feet; 3 hours each; 12 hours per year)
$216
Fabric softener at $7 per 64 oz container
$120
Disinfectant at $5 per gallon
$100
Sweep Field (Parker Sweeper; 4 times per year; 8 hours each; 32 hours per year)
$1,500
Broom
$500
Groomer
$2,800
Hand Pick (3 times per week; 1 hour each; 156 hours per year at $18 per hour)
$2,800
Paint Field (2 times per year; 30 hours each; 60 hours per year; 30-40 gallons per year at $25 per gallon)
$1,000
Total Straight Hourly Cost (Field only; 280 hours at $18 per hour; benefits not included)
$5,040
Total Supply Cost
$6,220
Total Equipment Cost
$3,500
Total Outside Contractor Repairs
$8,00

[Water Pony]

They need the indoor facility and then maybe have the field turf for Ford. Their turf looks terrible, kind of like an outdated artificial turf. A beautiful stadium on a beautiful campus. Do the possible expansion plan possibilities include filling-in the horshoe or an upper deck to get to the 42-45k figure?

No upper deck is needed. The original design anticipated continuing and completing stands around the southern end zone in order to bring the capacity to 45k. With the right schedule and conference mates, it will be important, including hosting conference championships, etc.

As for an indoor FB facility, I would argue for a new Natatorium/Aquatic Center first, not to mention the desirabilty of renovating Moody soon.