USU venues get face-lift
Those sitting on the back rows may not notice, but both the Spectrum and the Romney Stadium have had major renovations over the summer.
The installation of a new synthetic turf signifies the end of the first phase of the Romney Stadium renovations and the completion of the new floor of the Spectrum is the end of five years of planning and saving.
Work began on the turf in late April and concluded in early August. The $750,000 synthetic turf was installed by Sprinturf and replaced the old natural playing surface.
According to Mick Dennehy, Utah State’s head football coach, the field has been made out of a fairly new state-of-the-art synthetic material that is much more durable and player friendly than is other synthetic and natural surfaces.
“Our grass just tore up so easy and was very clumpy and on this the footing is much more consistent and this is quite a bit faster than the natural surface,” Dennehy said.
Dennehy, along with the football team, is looking forward to playing this first season on the new field.
“I think our field is the best new field of its kind,” said Dennehy, “It’s awesome. Kids love it. It’s very player friendly. It’s not hard on them like a lot of artificial surfaces are. It’s been great.
The end zones have been painted blue and every 10-yard increment alternates between a green and a brownish green color.
The Spectrum, however, doesn’t have too much color on the new floor.
“I think you can overpaint them … especially on a beautiful maple floor,” said Ken Peterson, Senior Associate Athletic Director at Utah State. “You know people paint the keys and they do all that kind of stuff, I think ours is pretty simple.”
“Its nice to have it in there,” said USU volleyball head coach Burt Fuller. “They did a good job. It looks great.”
Visually, there isn’t much difference in the floor. According to Peterson, the slats are about three-quarters of an inch smaller than before. Another noticeable change is the U-State in the middle of the floor has been enlarged by 3 feet.
“[We] decided five years ago, we need to look in to keeping the floor,” said Peterson.
The 33-year-old Spectrum floor was replaced with tongue and groove maple wood from Wisconsin. Peterson said that members of the Big Blue club took some pieces to sell to those who want it for its sentimental value.
Unlike the the athletes playing on the new turf at the Stadium, the new Spectrum floor will not affect athlete’s performance.
“I don’t really notice a difference,” said Fuller, “It think what you find out about floors is over the long run … how the athletes feel on it. We’re hoping that this floor is ging to keep us from having overuse injuries.”
Peterson said that originally it was estimated that the renovation on the Spectrum floor would cost $100,000. So, for the past five years $20,000 has been set aside for the new floor. Fortunately, when the floor was done, it was under budget and the surplus money was used for other projects on the Stadium and Spectrum.
“We’re very happy with it,” said Peterson. “It’s a nicer, better floor.”
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