Akron, OH – The University of Akron (UA) installs a new AstroTurf® field at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, the home turf for Akron Zips Football. The new field combines excellent durability and aesthetics, giving the players a long-lasting, high-performance turf while elevating the game-day experience for Zips fans, who get to watch their favorite college football team play on a field made by the leading innovator in the synthetic turf industry.
AstroTurf® fields are known for increasing player safety and offering incredible longevity, which is why they’re found on college sports fields across the country. The University of Akron chose the Rhino Blend 48 turf system for InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. It features a multi-ply backing system for dimensional stability and a supportive secondary backing system that comes with optional soy-based BioCel technology to further optimize field performance.
Rhino Blend football fields are designed to handle heavy usage and retain their plush look for years thanks to a blend of slit film and High Micron fibers. The AstroTurf® field comes with dense turf that offers players great traction, giving them the confidence to push hard in practice and on game days.
The new football field will also be one of the first playing surfaces at the University of Akron to feature the Zip Athletic Program’s revamped logo: a stylized “A,” which was introduced in May of this year for use in athletic branding. UA’s new athletic logo is at the mid-field of the new football field.
These upgrades are part of an overall revitalization initiative that permeates Zips Football and the rest of UA Athletics.
“We’re delighted to partner with AstroTurf on our new turf installation at InfoCision Stadium at Summa Field,” said Charles Guthrie, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at UA. “This new turf field illustrates a continued commitment by our key supporters to our athletics program. The new Rhino Blend system by AstroTurf will enhance the athletic experience for our students and ensure we continue to sustain our top-tier athletic facilities.”
But a better athletic surface and streamlined branding are only part of the changes UA Football is experiencing in 2022. The Zips are also getting a new coach this year.
Coach Joe Moorhead, who was the offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon in 2021 and the head coach at Mississippi State University for 2018 and 2019, will lead the Zips for the first time this fall.
The Akron Zips have an impressive 520 football wins overall and competes in the competitive Mid-American Conference as an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program. With a freshly installed turf, a new logo, and one of the country’s top offensive minds at the helm, UA fans can look forward to an exciting year.
The first home game will be on September 1 when the Akron Zips play Saint Francis. After that, they’ll play away games against Michigan State, Tennessee, and Liberty University before returning to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field to go up against Bowling Green on October 1. Other home dates include Central Michigan on October 15, Miami University on October 29, and Eastern Michigan on November 8.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.