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The replacement of Negoesco Stadium’s field with artificial turf is part of the university’s plans for upgrading its athletic facilities.
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Negoesco Stadium Cuts the Grass
The grass at the University of San Francisco’s Negoesco Stadium will never again be riddled with cleat marks or scorched by the sun. It will never be watered or mowed. In fact, it will have nothing to do with grass.
That’s because the lawn is being replaced by a high-tech turf surface made of sand and rubber, with plastic blades of green that look like the real thing. The five-inch spongy material feels like moist dirt, to the point that athletes can “dig in” their cleats, but requires no maintenance.
“We’ve been looking at doing this for the past 18 to 24 months,” said Bill Hogan, executive director of athletics. “We’ll have the best facility in the West Coast Conference.”
FieldTurf, the material being used, is better than previous incarnations of artificial turf because it does not cause the same ankle and leg injuries. The University of Washington’s Husky Stadium and Seattle’s Seahawks Stadium are a few examples of arenas that have instituted the material.
“It will definitely give a boost to our program especially in recruiting top prospects,” said Erik Visser, coach of men’s soccer.
Students who want to play recreationally said the field’s non-restricted use is a welcome reprieve from the limited access that guarded Negoesco’s natural grass.
“I think having a field that isn’t liable to damage gives the school a lot of opportunity to expand on its mission statement (to provide outstanding facilities) by giving students opportunities to play recreationally,” said junior Nicole Siegel, a recreational soccer player. “In order for a school to make a name for itself in athletics, it also needs to offer recreational athletics. Students who are athletes are more interested in attending sporting events and help raise school spirit.”
The implementation of FieldTurf is not part of the Reaching New Heights athletics campaign but part of a general upgrade of USF’s facilities. Also planned are an upgrade of War Memorial Gym and Benedetti Diamond.
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