Donnell Stadium

Bulldozing It Level

This is what the surface of the field looks like June 15 after being worked over by a bulldozer. The remaining area is sand and it will also be taken out.

There is an estimated 200 truckloads of material to be removed. All of which has very little use. The sod could not be used because it was sand-based and could not be removed intact anyhow.

There are still some remaining areas left in place as the trucks need the top layer to drive on to be loaded. If not, they would simply spin in the sand.

This photo also shows the entire walking area in front of the visitors stands removed of asphalt. That area is being redone with concrete and should be completed in the phase next week.

Interesting, though many know there is a difference in elevation of the field from the NE corner to the SW corner (the huge drop off at the end of the NE end zone), this also could have been noticed by the fact there was a different number of steps entering the visitor side bleachers. The steps furthest north in the bleachers had one more step than the southern-most steps, illustrating the difference in elevation of the field.

The intent now is to remove that elevation.

This photo is, of course, from the visitor side of the field. The asphalt that made up this walkway between the fence and the stands is being torn up and replaced with concrete to improve the appearance.

A smaller version of the machines that tear up roadways was used to tear this up. Ironically, because of the high strength of the fibrous grass mat below the surface of the field, this same machine will be used to tear the surface of the field up also.

Unfortunately, that is proving to be a tough thing to do.

Grass Isn't Greener on Other Side

This is a good example of the artificial grass mat that is below the surface and installed in the old field.

What appears to be green grass in the location where the team stands on the sideline is actually that grass mat that is showing on the surface. Through the years, the top layer of the field has worn and this shows through.

Normally this is covered up with a sideline mat on game nights.

Grass Mat

This is a close-up of the field near about the 20 yard line. This circular area is actually where a sprinkler head was and the turf removed and overturned. I am including it as it shows what was installed approx. 4 inches below the surface when the last field was installed.

It may appear as grass in the middle of the sand (which the entire top layers of the field are made up of) but it is actually and artificial grass mat. You can see the white mesh backing of that grass mat.

The idea of the OLD turf was that the grass would root itself down through this white mesh backing and be firm. The green artificial grass (as I mentioned is about 4 inches below the surface) was designed to give the appearance of green grass and footing if turf were to ever be worn and torn up.

Though most of the grass is currently dead and brown, the green the does appear on the field is mostly this artificial grass mat that through time is showing on the surface. This same grass mat is proving to be a hinderance in removing the material on the field due to its strength.

Curbing

This is Day 5 of the Stadium turf replacement. The photo shows a section of the 'curbing' that will be installed all around the perimeter of the field.

A common question has been 'how much' of the actual field are we installing FieldTurf on ... and we are doing ALL of it that is in front of the visitor bleachers which would included both ends of the field. Some fields only do the playing area but it would make little sense to do just that.

This curbing is installed so a 'nailer' can be attached to the inside edge of it, below the surface. The FieldTurf is similar to a carpet in which it is actually attached to this nailer around the field the laid out. More on that later.

Little known fact about most artificial surfaces: Most are actually manufactured in Georgia in the same mills (and the same machines) that were used in the '70s to make shag carpeting.

The installation of this curb is about 10% completed as of Tuesday, June 5. The footer is dug all around the field, however.

No More Drop-off

The first phases last week were the removal of fencing, laying steel plates across the track and basically mobilizing equipment into the stadium.

Helms & Sons is the excavating firm doing all the site preparation. Shane Helms played here and graduated in the mid-80s and is the owner of that firm.

Helms & Sons will begin by removing all of the asphalt in front of the visitor stands and removing the fencing in front of the visitor stands between the stands and the field. They will be installing a "curbing" that has the actual "nailer" attached to it to which the artificial surface will eventually be attached. The curbing will also help to establish the proper grade.

The "infamous" drop-off on the NE corner of the end zone will be eliminated. A landmark will be destroyed!

Ironically, if you looked at the field a week ago, it appeared as though someone took Roundup to it. The grass was as brown/dead as anything I have ever seen. Walking on it, I completely assumed that weed killer had bee sprayed on it. It wasn't. It was merely from not watering. Yet ... my yard was as green as can be and not from watering.

The difference is the sand base of the field. In looking at it, I cannot believe that grass could grow without a tremendous about of maintenance. Probably explains a great deal of the problems there. It is highlighted by the fact that OUTSIDE the field perimeters it is green as can be ... but there is actual soil there.

The holes in the field are where sprinkler heads were.  At $100.00 each, we could take them out and use them elsewhere in the system.

Approx. 2 inches below the surface is a grass mat that was the unique part of the latest field that was put in. The design was for grass to grow down and root through that grass mat. It resembles the fake grass mats that you have for door mats. It is obvious when looking at the cross sections that it failed. Roots are not even CLOSE to that mat, let alone growing through it as it was "designed."

Here are a few staggering numbers:
   1.  Not sure about the summer of 2006, but the previous summer (2005) the water bill for Donnell Stadium (it is metered separately) was $15,000.00
   2.  The fertilizer & fungicide bill was between $8,000.00 and $10,000.00 last year alone
   3.  Total maintenance costs to Donnell Stadium for the TURF run approx. $45,000.00 per year

Often asked is where the soil is going?  Not sure but from all indications, there is not good use for it. It is nearly 100% sand and has a tremendous amount of fungicide and fertilizer in it.