Kent, OH – Two of the athletic fields at Kent State University have been replaced, and each one needed a very different surface with specific criteria. Good thing they contacted AstroTurf®. Dix Stadium and Murphy-Mellis Field have both received brand new, state-of-the-art playing surfaces from AstroTurf. Installation of the two fields occurred this summer.
Dix Stadium is the home of Golden Flashes football and, starting next season, it will be the primary home of the women’s soccer team as well. The new surface will have to accommodate the needs of both. That begins with base work beneath the field, where regional turf experts Playing Surface Solutions handled modifications to the existing grade to accommodate the needs of soccer play. That was followed by installation of AstroTurf’s RootZone 3D3 Blend turf system, which has been a successful surface for both soccer and football.
The RootZone 3D3 Blend is a premium product that combines slit film and monofilament fibers for optimum durability and structural integrity. It also features AstroTurf’s patented RootZone sub-layer, a texturized fiber that stabilizes infill and improves shock absorbency. The result is a tall pile artificial turf that optimizes playability, safety, and consistency.
Murphy-Mellis Field hosts Kent State field hockey, and its surface required a much different composition that can accommodate the fast pace of play and unencumbered ball roll of the sport. The school decided on AstroTurf’s System 90 artificial turf, a flat playing surface that combines the traditional knitted nylon top cloth with a 3/8th inch Armacell pad. AstroTurf is recognized as the Official Artificial Surface Provider of both USA Field Hockey and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, and its playing surfaces have long been regarded as the unequivocal standard for field hockey performance due to their consistent ball roll, durability, and low maintenance.
The two fields at Kent State add to a growing list of MAC installations for the AstroTurf team. The industry pioneers are responsible for the baseball fields at Ball State and Eastern Michigan, as well as multiple artificial turf surfaces at Central Michigan and Ohio University, including both school’s football stadiums.
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 newly redesigned website at www.astroturf.com.