Lamar Needs to Replace Turf

[Skinny1]

PU Stadium is in need of turf replacement within the next 2 years. It was 10 years old this past June and has met it’s expected life. Turf fields are usually in poor shape in outdoor stadiums on the gulf coast after 10 years due to wear and UV deteriation to seams and and plastic blades. Life expectancy is shorter if the field is not maintained (groomed and vacuumed) on a regular basis. Lamar’s field has been groomed about every 3 weeks during the season and a in-depth grooming and leveling prior to the season.

Currently Lamar is about $400k short from paying for new turf and installation. The turf being considered is a new state of the art turf that has a peak temperature that is actually 40 degrees cooler than older fields

[Dracula]

That's interesting. LU needs a new HC and now LU needs new turf. New turf was part of the deal UIW made to get their current HC, Eric Morris.

[Skinny1]

That's interesting. LU needs a new HC and now LU needs new turf. New turf was part of the deal UIW made to get their current HC, Eric Morris.

 

Actually, the turf replacement was in the works (started to get the money) prior to Schultz getting canned.

A note to remember for high schools installing it, cost to replace is about $800k. And according to a NFLPA study in 2012, odds of getting hurt are 61% higher on turf than grass (mostly due to turf toe). Also, the cost to correctly maintain a turf field is about the same as grass and if a turf field floods, it is ruined.

Maybe PNG can get TPC to pay for new turf there.

[coachacola]

The Board of Regents quarterly meeting just ended last week and here's what going on at LU:

 

Many of Lamar’s athletic facilities underwent upgrades and improvements in the last two years and several more are in the planning stages. The artificial turf at the Provost Umphrey football stadium is scheduled to be replaced in time for the fall 2020 football season, marketing renderings for a revitalized baseball stadium complex have been completed, preliminary planning for an indoor multi-purpose practice facility has begun, and improvements to the soccer/softball complex are envisioned, pending donor contributions.

 

There's also this: Lamar University has many strategic initiatives underway to address recruitment and retention. Total enrollment for Fall 2019 reached an all-time high at 15,468 with a 4.6% increase over Fall 2018.

[lamarfan360]

The Board of Regents quarterly meeting just ended last week and here's what going on at LU:

 

Many of Lamar’s athletic facilities underwent upgrades and improvements in the last two years and several more are in the planning stages. The artificial turf at the Provost Umphrey football stadium is scheduled to be replaced in time for the fall 2020 football season, marketing renderings for a revitalized baseball stadium complex have been completed, preliminary planning for an indoor multi-purpose practice facility has begun, and improvements to the soccer/softball complex are envisioned, pending donor contributions.

 

There's also this: Lamar University has many strategic initiatives underway to address recruitment and retention. Total enrollment for Fall 2019 reached an all-time high at 15,468 with a 4.6% increase over Fall 2018.

 

They have been talking about remodeling the baseball facility for the past 5 - 10 years. Is there anything new this time? Also, a indoor practice facility will cost between $15 and $20 million dollars. I think it's a great idea as the football, baseball, softball, soccer teams as well as the band could use the facility. But, is the TSUS going to pay for such an project.

[Skinny1]

They have been talking about remodeling the baseball facility for the past 5 - 10 years. Is there anything new this time? Also, a indoor practice facility will cost between $15 and $20 million dollars. I think it's a great idea as the football, baseball, softball, soccer teams as well as the band could use the facility. But, is the TSUS going to pay for such an project.

I seriously don’t think so since colleges/ universities in Texas can’t use tax dollars for athletic expenses, including facilities, but can issue bonds through the TSUS. I would expect a capital campaign to raise the money from donors. Expect someone’s name or a company logo on it.

I also hear that the facility will house an indoor track and be large enough to host the SLC meet, since no other SLC school has a large enough facility. This years SLC Indoor Meet is in Birmingham, Alabama (March 1 & 2) and is not that convenient of a location for many teams.

Edited February 19, 2020 by Skinny1