BRISTOL, Tenn | AstroTurf.com | August 16th, 2016 — As the checkered flag drops at Bristol Motor Speedway’s iconic Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race next Saturday, crews will fire up for a transformation as high-octane as any NASCAR finish.
Over just 19 days, the famed half-mile track will morph into a football coliseum for the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where Virginia Tech and Tennessee will clash before a record-setting crowd of more than 150,000 fans.
The Battle at Bristol Gameday Information
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway | Bristol, Tennessee
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 10, 2016
Broadcast: CFB on ABC | Radio: Vol Radio Network
Once the last NASCAR hauler clears the banks around 2 a.m., more than 30 contractors and hundreds of workers will flood the infield. The operation reads like a choreographed ballet of bulldozers, cranes, and skilled crews.
First, stadium cleaning teams will deploy over 200 workers to scrub grandstands, buildings, and the concave infield, which must be converted into a flat, well-draining football surface. Heavy-duty fabric is rolled across the track’s infield to contain the mountain of materials to come.
Below is a video from WJHL, which has been added to this release at a later date, showing the build of the field.
Next, Baker’s Construction Services of Bluff City, Tenn., will truck in over 10,600 tons of rock and manufactured sand to build a 3.5-foot-high platform. Using laser-guided Universal Total Station technology, crews will shape the base with surgical precision, ensuring the field meets NCAA standards.
Meanwhile, T&B Equipment of Ashland, Va., and other specialists will install more than 5,000 temporary seats on risers across the infield. J.A. Street and Associates of Blountville, Tenn., will transform facilities like the Goodyear Tire Building into locker rooms and meeting spaces.
As the field takes shape, Nashville-based Advent will infuse a bold, modern look with branded graphics. Local companies Express Signs and Foster Signs will blanket the venue with Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol visuals.
By Aug. 25, rock and sand will be in place, ready for the crowning touch: AstroTurf’s state-of-the-art 3D3 surface. The high-tech turf offers a dense, low-splash playing field designed for optimal traction and safety. Over 100,000 square feet of turf will be installed, anchored by 180,000 pounds each of silica and rubber infill.
Beyond the field, the speedway’s transformation extends to infrastructure. Workers will outfit campgrounds with new gravel, 130 light towers, and amenities for an influx of RVs. On Sept. 1, construction of a towering concert stage begins for the Tailgate Party, featuring Kenny Chesney, The Band Perry, and Old Dominion. The stage itself will span 140 feet wide and over 40 feet high.
On game day, more than 1,000 workers will orchestrate crowd logistics, managing parking, shuttles, and security. Fans can explore new amenities, including two massive Anheuser-Busch hospitality zones.
After the spectacle, the Battle at Bristol trophy—an 88-pound, fan-designed behemoth—will be awarded to the winner. One week later, East Tennessee State and Western Carolina will square off on the same turf before BMS converts back into a racetrack.
Fans can catch the Battle at Bristol live on ABC’s Saturday Night Football at 8 p.m.
See a full replay of the game, which has now been played, below.
For more information about AstroTurf and its innovative turf solutions, please visit astroturf.com.
About AstroTurf® Corporation
AstroTurf® Corporation is the original inventor and innovator of synthetic sports surfacing, leading the industry for 60 years. Known for pioneering surfacing solutions, AstroTurf® Corporation delivers cutting-edge products focused on performance, safety, and sustainability.
The company’s portfolio includes AstroTurf® fields, the trusted name in synthetic turf; Rekortan® tracks, the benchmark for elite running surfaces; Laykold® courts, the premier choice for tennis and multi-sport court play; and SYNLawn®, the industry leader in residential and commercial landscaping solutions. These products are the original brands in their respective categories and set the standard for quality and innovation in sports and recreational surfacing.
AstroTurf® is dedicated to creating world-class sports and recreational environments that inspire athletes and elevate communities. For more information, visit astroturf.com.
About Sport Group
Sport Group is a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of artificial surfaces serving the global sports flooring, leisure and landscaping and industrial markets to over 70 countries globally. Headquartered in Burgheim, Germany, the company’s brand portfolio includes AstroTurf® (the iconic brand that invented the industry), Polytan®, SYNLawn®, LigaTurf®, Poligras®, Rekortan®, and Laykold®.
Sport Group is an industry leader in green technologies, pioneering sustainable products and services such as the world’s first carbon neutral soccer turf, the world’s first carbon zero field hockey turf and development of the industry’s first, and only, turf recycling facility capable of recycling EPDM rubber.
The company has approximately 2,400 employees and operates nine vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and 31 distribution centers across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For additional information about Sport Group, please visit sportgroup-holding.com.
