ERIE, Pa. - Gannon University Field’s new face-lift is officially complete after the project team finished the turf installation last week. The process of replacing the artificial turf at Gannon University Field began in early June and the entire project took approximately one month. It marks the first time the multi-purpose facility has received a face-lift since it opened in 2000.
A complete photo gallery of the renovated Gannon University Field can be found at
http://www.gannonsports.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=12.
FieldTurf was responsible for installing the new turf. FieldTurf is the only system that uses sand and rubber in a layered design for quick cut and plant, speed and stability. FieldTurf is never spongy or soggy like all-rubber turf systems and provides a high rate of energy restitution. This exclusive infill provides superior safety, grass-like stability and better long-term resilience. FieldTurf does not require a separate shock pad to be “In the Safety Zone.” Its shock attenuation rating and G-max are similar to the best natural grass systems in use today.
The company has been responsible for turf installations at the Georgia Dome, Paul Brown Stadium, Ford Field, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Gillette Stadium, Giants Stadium, Qwest Field, the Edward Jones Dome, and numerous National Football League (NFL) practice facilities.
The set-up at Gannon University Field remained the same with two minor exceptions. The baseball and softball diamonds are completely turfed and will no longer have dirt-filled cut-outs around the bases. The fields will have cut-outs for the pitching mounds and batter’s boxes. In addition, Gannon’s new logo which was designed two years ago replaced the older version in the middle of the football, lacrosse, and soccer fields.
The Gannon football team will host the first event on the new turf Thursday, August 27 against Lake Erie at 7 p.m.