Story Courtesy of 9&10 News
Northern Michigan’s News Leader
MT. PLEASANT – When Central Michigan kicks off its 2016 season at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in September, it will do so on a new synthetic turf.
Work began in June to replace the previous playing surface, which was installed in 2005, with Astro Turf GameDay Grass.
Featuring an Action “C” at the center of the field, light and dark green strips every five yards and a drainage system, the new playing surface is the third to be installed at the stadium.
“Every 10 to 12 years, if you have a synthetic turf, you know it needs to be replaced,” said Jim Knight, assistant athletic director for communications and marketing. “It’s analyzed every year, check it, see how it’s performing, and it’s still meeting standards, but we knew it was near the end of its life. It had been there about 12 years. It looks so much different than other turfs that have been on Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Before it was kind of a uniform green, which you see here now is the logos are bigger and they pop more.”
CMU opens its 2016 season at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Sept. 1, hosting Presbyterian (S.C.).
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.