Payson, AZ – When the Arizona State Sun Devils make their annual pilgrimage to Camp Tontozona for football camp this year, a major facility upgrade will be waiting for them with the installment of an AstroTurf® premium synthetic turf system. The visit to Camp Tontozona is a tradition for the Sun Devil football team that originated nearly 60 years ago.
The camp’s roots can be traced back several decades to when Frank Kush, the winningest coach in program history, first took his team to Payson, Arizona in 1960. Payson has traditionally provided a unique setting for team bonding and preparation for the upcoming season. The camp borders the Tonto National Forest which provides the first part of the camp’s name, and of course the last part of the camp’s name comes from Arizona, hence the name Tontozona. The camp has become the signal for Sun Devil fans that new season has unofficially begun.
Over the years, team training has been occasionally affected by inclement weather forcing practices to be moved to a park nearly 20 minutes away or completely cancelled. The 2016 preseason camp was cancelled entirely due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. That should be a thing of the past with the installment of the AstroTurf premium turf system. The system will help reduce the chances of flooding, provide a predictable playing surface, and help maintain the scheduled practices at Camp Tontozona throughout the week.
Camp Tontozona
The field itself is one of the best in the industry, AstroTurf’s RootZone 3D3 Blend. The RootZone 3D3 Blend is a premium product that combines slit film and monofilament fibers for optimum durability and structural integrity. It is highlighted by AstroTurf’s patented RootZone sub-layer, a texturized fiber that stabilizes infill and improves shock absorbency. Also included in the system is a Brock Powerbase YSR shock pad. The pad provides impact absorption characteristics that reduce the risk of concussions, while also retaining firmness for ball response, running, and limiting risk of lower extremity injuries. The installation of the field was performed by AstroTurf’s valued distributor in the region, General Acrylics of Phoenix, Arizona.
The Sun Devils will begin fall practice at Camp Tontozona August 3rd through the 10th. They will kick off the 2019 season on August 29th by hosting Kent State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sport enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, 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.