While Georgetown supporters spent a whopping $7.5 million on the ulti-Sport Facility’s first phase, most of the money went toward the installation of a brand new playing surface and a special drainage system underneath.
But despite the steep price-tag, the high-quality field should last for a long time – up to 10 years to be exact.
“It turned out to be a near perfect installation,” said Brian McGuire, assistant director of athletics for operations and facilities. “These things are always wrought with some problems.”
The university received eight different bids involving an “infill” surface, which uses sand and finely ground rubber to fill in space among polyethylene grass blades. After initial research, the university found that infill is more supportive and less abrasive than traditional artificial turf, such as that on Kehoe Field.
McGuire said that university officials heard presentations from five of the eight bidding companies before narrowing the choices to three. The decision ultimately came down to McGuire, former Interim Athletic Director Adam Brick and Director of Athletic Facilities and Operations Chas Kennedy.
The three-person crew visited at least a dozen sites, McGuire said, including the University of Pennsylvania, St. John’s, Gettysburg and Patriot League opponent Bucknell. During their tours, they talked to the people who managed various turf fields as well as to coaches whose teams used the facilities. McGuire added that he also visited over 50 venues on his own.
FieldTurf was chosen because of favorable reviews and the company’s economic stability, McGuire said. FieldTurf has been in business for over 10 years and is used in more than 1,400 installations. The New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Twins are among the dozen professional franchises which have the surface installed in their home stadium. The turf was also installed last month at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
Georgetown Football Head Coach Bob Benson said that he is pleased with the new surface and has seen some evidence of claims that FieldTurf reduces injury time. Though he did not provide exact numbers, Benson said the new surface “has actively cut down on injuries.”
Players, too, have responded favorably to the turf, especially the seniors who have been waiting years for the new facility they were promised as recruits.
“It’s something that I’ve waited for since I was a freshman,” said senior Michael Ononibaku, a defensive end and team captain. “The footing is excellent. . It’s very maneuverable.”
Ononibaku added that the surface helps improve speed – something that senior running back Marcus Slayton took advantage of last weekend as he rushed for 120 yards in Georgetown’s 12-7 loss to Lafayette.
“There’s no mud, no wet grass, no hard dirt,” Slayton said. “It sticks. You put your foot down and you’re gone.”
Junior quarterback Nick Cangelosi, who has been sacked six times at home this year, also has developed a certain appreciation for the new turf.
“Just falling on it, the impact isn’t even comparable [to natural grass],” Cangelosi said. “You feel like you’re falling on a rug or soft carpet in your living room.”
Although the field has yet to be subjected to the District’s long, hot summer days or substantial precipitation, McGuire said that he is confident the surface can hold up under any conditions.
“It drains eight to 10 inches per hour, so there should never be puddles,” McGuire said, “but snow removal will be our first big test.”
The grass may even have to be watered during the summer in order to keep the field fresh and its temperature down. McGuire added that the surface could be 20-40 degrees hotter than natural grass under the same conditions.
Aside from the football team, both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams have been using the facility for early morning practice. Men’s and women’s soccer will likely remain on North Kehoe Field for the time being but, in the event of bad weather, the Multi-Sport Facility will be a new option.
The lines, which are painted on the field, can be changed quickly depending on the sport, McGuire explained. University officials chose not to have the lines made permanent, opting instead to use a water-based removable paint, though the large “G” at midfield is stitched into the turf. The field lines have been repainted three times since football practice began in early August, McGuire said.
One other benefit of the new surface is that university officials may allow students and intramural teams to use the space around the schedules of Georgetown varsity sports. Normal wear and tear on the natural grass surface of Harbin Field prevented the university from allowing it to be used for non-NCAA athletic events.
“Our plans are to have a couple intramural championships there,” McGuire said. “And now, Kehoe will be much more open to students than it ever has been before.”
The one downside of opening the field to general use, McGuire said, is that students have left litter – including cans and eating utensils – on the field. He related a particular incident involving a spilled popcorn bag that had to be removed kernel by kernel.
The field surface also requires grooming, which McGuire said he expects will occur an average of twice a month. The field was last groomed on Tuesday, though certain heavily trafficked areas – particularly near the gates – may have to be tended to on a more frequent basis.
The university anticipates the field to last about 10 years, cGuire said, calling that the average lifespan of an artificial field surface. FieldTurf offers an eight-year warranty on its product.
No matter how long it lasts, athletes said they are generally pleased to have a new place to practice, play and entertain fans.
“Trying to compare this thing to Kehoe?” Slayton said, laughing. “We’re happy to be off Kehoe.”
Though the new turf may be but one small step toward the completion of the mid-campus construction project, administrators too are delighted that it looks so good already.
“I wish my lawn looked that green,” Karen Frank, vice president for facilities and student housing said.
