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re: Tiger Stadium grass
Posted on 12/11/08 at 11:43 am to Malaysian Tiger
Posted on 12/11/08 at 11:43 am to Malaysian Tiger
quote:
The Momentum Field Turf is in the Indoor Practice Facility and I did not hear any bitching about the cost when that was done.
It's not like LSU had any other choice. Replace it with the previous 30+ year old artificial turf technology, bare concrete or Field/Momentum Turf? IF grass could grow indoors cheaply, I am sure that would be the choice. LSU has a choice in Tiger Stadium; grass or plastic grass. With the cost and heat problems associated with artificial, it looks like natural grass is the obvious choice.
1
Posted on 12/11/08 at 11:48 am to LSUdm21
quote:
The advancements in field turf have been ridiculous in the past few years and there are very efficient cooling systems now so that should not be an excuse.
Who has this cooling system you speak of? And how much does that cost? I know a typical Field Turf installation is about $1 million and is expected to last 10 years, although their isn't much data to support this in the real world. In fact, there have been several instances where colleges/pro's have replaced their Field Turf only after a 4 or 5 years. LSU could theoretically put down all new sod every 2 years for about the same price as artificial turf (based on a 10 year replacement).
Posted on 12/11/08 at 12:18 pm to mikethetiger
quote:
The staff remains optimistic the young Bermuda grass will recover in the off-season and be a picture of health by August. But with the construction of the east upper deck and renovation of the westside upper deck during the past decade, the field does not receive as much sunlight as it did in past years.
This, right here, is the WORST excuse in the history of excuse making. IF that was true, and I seriously have my doubts that the grass can not get enough useable direct sunlight between 9am and 3pm (I'll just assume that's all it'll get because of the decks), then it would mean they put tose decks up KNOWING we'd NEVER be able to successfuly grow grass! And yet...they keep plugging away, as if the decks are NOT the problem.
If they are saying that the decks are the main culprit (and I've heard that before) the choice is clear...remove the revenue generating upper decks to allow more sunlight, or replace the field with something that the decks can't ruin. The third choice is to willfully continue to have a piss poor playing surface...is anyone REALLY happy with that alternative?
Posted on 12/11/08 at 2:02 pm to mikethetiger
quote:
Ronnie Halliburton, director of athletic facilities and grounds
Dumba$$ along with Todd J.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 2:05 pm to BAMBAM
quote:
We have it in the practice facility now.
I've played in the LSU indoor facility while in high school. That turf is incredibly hard, I think you'd see more injuries if it were like that.
Grass is fine if they grow it right.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 2:50 pm to mikethetiger
I prefer the natural grass myself, but this has been a continuing problem that haven't solved. I say go with the artificial turf and be done with it. The Ravens turf in Baltimore is widely regarded as the best turf out there. I didn't realize it was the exact same type and brand that LSU has at the indoor practice facility. LSU should pony up the cost and move on. But if they do they need to bring back the tradition of alternating shades every 5 yards.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 2:53 pm to BAMBAM
quote:
Also I know that the field gets really hot during the day games. It's one of the draw backs of the material.
Went to an LSU - Florida game in September one year. I sat on the second row from the bottom and the thermometer on the field read 125F. Ouch!!!!!!
Posted on 12/11/08 at 2:54 pm to mikethetiger
I don't think the typical field turf surfaces cost 1 million. Obviously you would want to go with a top notch system, but I know Southeastern had surface installed for 200,000 when they brought football back in 2003. maybe theirs was a lower grade, but it can't be that big of a difference.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 3:15 pm to Ponchy Tiger
quote:
I don't think the typical field turf surfaces cost 1 million. Obviously you would want to go with a top notch system, but I know Southeastern had surface installed for 200,000 when they brought football back in 2003. maybe theirs was a lower grade, but it can't be that big of a difference.
SLU may have gotten a real good deal. Remember, manufactureres were cutting deals in order to get exposure back then. I remember the Saints first Astro Play (or whatever brand it was) was really cheap because the company gave them a break in exchange for the exposure on TV.
As far as recently, most of these installations are in the $750,000 to $1 million range. I know ULL budgeted $750,000 (i am not sure was final bid was) last year for their new turf, which is not top of the line.
From google, this gives a ball park figure on cost of installing a new turf field. $4 per sq foot for foundation work and $9 per sq foot for the turf itself. An average field is 75,000 sq feet, which works out to $975,000.
I am not a fan of installing artificial turf in Tiger Stadium, but if they do, why not go with this brand? Tiger Turf
Posted on 12/11/08 at 5:24 pm to mikethetiger
the whole "field not getting enough sunlight is bullshite!" The grass gets great sunlight from 9:30 until about 2:30...that is plenty! How is it that grass can grow under the trees in my yard, and right up against my house (which only receive about 3 and a half hours of direct sunlight each day), but TS looks like a freakin goat ranch. I guess if it doesn't look good for the 2009 season, this numbnut will blame it on this winter storm that blew through today!
Posted on 12/11/08 at 6:37 pm to hondapa26
quote:
How is it that grass can grow under the trees in my yard, and right up against my house (which only receive about 3 and a half hours of direct sunlight each day), but TS looks like a freakin goat ranch.
Did you play 8 football games on your lawn within 2 months of planting the grass? You can't compare a home lawn to a football stadium's field.
I don't think it's the sun issue with the upper decks. Afterall, we've had two upper decks since 2000 and only started having sod issues since 2005 when the Saints also played on the field.
I will hold out until they can find a solution to growing real grass. If what they say is true (neeeding a good full growing season) maybe these issues will be history this time next year.
This post was edited on 12/11/08 at 6:38 pm
Posted on 12/11/08 at 6:40 pm to mikethetiger
Like I said I prefer to see natural grass in TS but enough is enough. If they haven't fixed it by now they never will.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 9:39 pm to mikethetiger
quote:
I don't think it's the sun issue with the upper decks.
Then the powers that be need to quit using this as an excuse every time the topic comes up. it either IS or IS NOT the reason. If it is, then someone needs to be fired for continuing to spend money resodding the field KNOWING it can't be done due to the massive structures blocking the sun. If it isn't, they need to drop this excuse.
quote:
Afterall, we've had two upper decks since 2000 and only started having sod issues since 2005 when the Saints also played on the field.
That's not entirely accurate. Tiger Stadium was rountinely tackling both Skyler Green and Shyrone Carey prior to 2005. The turf was always a topic brought up to Saban, and he was the first to bring up the heat issues when talking about artifical turf. This is not a new problem.
quote:
I will hold out until they can find a solution to growing real grass. If what they say is true (neeeding a good full growing season) maybe these issues will be history this time next year.
And if not? At what point when we as fans are being asked to pony up big dollar for facilities at LSU does the PLAYING SURFACE become important? What good are brand new HD scoreboards if the playing surface is unplayable?
All things being equal, I'd prefer a natural grass playing surface. But if it can't be done with any level of competency (and I don't give a rat's arse WHY) then install the best artifical grass surface available and be done with it.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 9:43 pm to mikethetiger
quote:
LSU could theoretically put down all new sod every 2 years
but we saw how well that worked, we put down new sod 2 years ago and had a shitty field for 2 years until we re-planted again last off season
our guys are incompetent, or we have the only place in the south where grass will not grow
get the field turf and deal with it's problems...because the problems of our shitty grass field are hurting the team on the field
Posted on 12/11/08 at 10:03 pm to GeauxTigerTM
quote:
And if not? At what point when we as fans are being asked to pony up big dollar for facilities at LSU does the PLAYING SURFACE become important? What good are brand new HD scoreboards if the playing surface is unplayable?
This just cracks me up. First we have the pollyanna's crying about the video boards being too small. Then they complain when told that they would have to pony up more money to cover such upgrades. Now, they are installing a new video board and here we are with the next complaint. Maybe they shouldn't upgrade the video board then, so that the fans can't see in HD the unplayable field.
If, and hopefully never, but, if they do install fake turf, then what will the next complaint be about? Slippery fake turf when it rains or is humid?
I have a solution. Why don't the 2 teams just play the actual game in the indoor practice facility on the pristine fake turf, while they show it on the new super-duper huge HD screens for the 92000 fans gathered in Tiger Stadium.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 10:04 pm to philter
quote:
our guys are incompetent, or we have the only place in the south where grass will not grow
I would say it's the former.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 10:17 pm to mikethetiger
quote:
heat problems
That is a myth!
Posted on 12/11/08 at 10:47 pm to GatorTrunk
hire some Miss St. kids, their ag school makes their field look awesome every weekend. Grass is football, turf is not. I will never waver on my opinion. IMO domes are bullshite too.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 11:12 pm to TheCaterpillar
One thing that most everyone is looking past is the age of the turf. Young bermuda should never be confused with established bermuda. Bermuda that is < 1 year old (from seed or sprigs) will struggle. Bermuda that has been able to become established (2+ years), will grow over concrete in LA, under trees, into flower beds... etc. Established bermuda is what most of you have experienced in your life. All grass species, especially bermuda take more than 1 year for a good, lasting root system to develop.
If LSU has patience and the continue to reseed, everything will be ok in another year.
If LSU has patience and the continue to reseed, everything will be ok in another year.
Posted on 12/11/08 at 11:23 pm to TheCaterpillar
I'm going to be really pissed if in the next few years I am seeing RS, RR, AD, MF, TH, TT et al still slipping on our POS turf. This could be the first college version of the "Greatest Show on Turf!"
There is no excuse whatsoever for the turf affecting play in dry weather. We are LS-fricking-U we have more money than we know what to do with. This program is a cash cow PLUS the TAF is sucking everyone dry.
Can Mallveto, put in new turf, and let's get on with winning a 3rd NC this decade.
There is no excuse whatsoever for the turf affecting play in dry weather. We are LS-fricking-U we have more money than we know what to do with. This program is a cash cow PLUS the TAF is sucking everyone dry.
Can Mallveto, put in new turf, and let's get on with winning a 3rd NC this decade.
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