CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- DePaul University has selected FieldTurf for installation of its soccer and softball fields. The announcement was made jointly today by DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto and FieldTurf CEO John Gilman. The field's base has been prepped for installation, which is beginning this week.
While FieldTurf has previously done installations on multi-use soccer/softball/baseball fields, the one at DePaul will be the first to incorporate a partial tray system. This will allow soccer to be played on a fully-turfed field, with trays being lifted off the field to allow for softball's dirt infield. The installation of FieldTurf is part of the university's two-year facilities upgrade that will make Wish Field (soccer) and Cacciatore Stadium (softball) amongst the finest in the BIG EAST. The 2005-06 seasons will mark DePaul's first in that prestigious conference.
"We are very pleased that FieldTurf will be a part of the renovations for our soccer and softball complex," said Ponsetto. "We strive to provide our student-athletes with the best possible facilities and FieldTurf comes with the highest recommendations from a variety of sports and locations. We are also thrilled to be the first FieldTurf client to put the partial tray system to use which will be a huge bonus for both our soccer and softball programs."
"This unique installation of our product will allow DePaul to have the finest turf field possible for both soccer and softball," said Gilman. "As DePaul joins the Big East, we are thrilled to be one of their partners in making their facilities top-notch. Everyone at FieldTurf is supremely confident that the Blue Demon players and coaches will be thrilled with their new surface. We take great pride in being the undisputed leader in the artificial turf industry, and we are very appreciative of the opportunity given to us to prove that at DePaul."
Besides the new FieldTurf surface, DePaul's softball facilities upgrade for Cacciatore Stadium includes a new bullpen, new dugouts, new fencing and grandstands. Last season, the DePaul women's softball team advanced to the College World Series in Oklahoma City. The upgrades at Wish Field include a soccer press box, covered bench areas and new spectator stands. Wish is the home of both the Blue Demons' men's and women's soccer teams.
More than 30 NCAA major football programs have FieldTurf in their stadiums, including Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, Louisville, Kansas State, Boston College and Missouri. In addition to its growing popularity in the college ranks, FieldTurf has already established itself as the turf of choice in the National Football League. Twenty-three of the NFL's 32 teams currently use FieldTurf at their stadiums and/or their practice facilities. Also, three Major League Baseball teams are using FieldTurf at their stadiums in 2005. FieldTurf was also the first artificial turf product approved by FIFA (soccer's world governing body) for World Cup play.
The NFL Players Association recently conducted a survey of all NFL players who were asked to rank the league's 32 stadium fields on a variety of factors, such as playability, safety, etc. The NFL players ranked FieldTurf fifth out of 32, and amazingly, NFL players rated FieldTurf ahead of 15 of the league's 19 natural grass fields.
FieldTurf is the result of years of research -- evident in the patented FieldTurf infill mix of silica sand and cryogenic rubber and patented layering process that deliver a system that emulates natural grass. Additional benefits are found in improved player safety, reduced maintenance costs and flexibility for conversion -- allowing stadium managers to quickly change the field from one sport to another or to easily host a variety of sporting events, concerts and other special events directly on top of the FieldTurf surface.
Over the past few years, the quality and performance of FieldTurf's patented system has resulted in over 1500 installations in more than 40 countries. For more information on FieldTurf, please visit www.fieldturf.com or call (800) 724-2969.