NEW TURF INSTALLED FOR THE BATTLEHAWKS
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by Brian Stull
St. Louis Battlehawk fans entering The Dome at America’s Center will notice an updated look for the 2025 season as new LED lights now shine bright on a fresh, bright green AstroTurf field.
“To have the right kind of lighting and the right kind of field to support professional football is wonderful,” said Brent Buchanan, Vice President of Operations for Explore St. Louis. “The typical artificial turf lasts 8-10 years, so we were well overdue for it. With the success of the Battlehawks, it really made it worthwhile to do the addition and redo the turf.”
After removing the old turf a few weeks ago, backing material was laid out with each of the seams being glued together. Then each panel of the new turf was glued down on top and Velcro will be sewn onto the side panels to aid in the rolling process. Adding the rubber infill will be added to complete the installation, which is expected to be done before the end of September.
Similar to the AstroTurf the University of Missouri began playing on in 2021, this new field in the “BattleDome” is also a RootZone 3D3 system, which features 60-ounce Trionic fibers and a Brock PowerBase Pro pad, to help boost the shock absorbency and stability of the field.
In addition, the Trionic fibers form a texturized layer that provides grass-like traction and lowers impact for the players. The structure also helps minimize the splash of the rubber infill material and increases the overall durability of the field. However, unlike at Mizzou, this turf rolls up for storage in a floor chamber behind the south endzone.
“We’re unique,” confirmed Buchanan. “There’s only a few of these systems in existence.”
Plans for the new turf in The Dome at America’s Center began before last season and included the new LED lighting system, which not only brightens the field, but will have a huge impact on the Battlehawks gameday presentation.
“How we introduce players, halftime, when we score a touchdown,” explained Brandon Williams, St. Louis Battlehawks Vice President of Team Business. “It’s a lot brighter. It goes on and off a lot quicker, just by touching a screen so it will make a huge difference.”
The St. Louis Battlehawks will host six home games in 2025. Renewals for season ticket members are currently underway–with a deadline of Friday, September 5, 2024 to renew at the same price as last season and be entered into the Battlehawks VIP Home Opener contest.
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