GRAND FORKS, N.D.--The University of North Dakota athletic department has contracted Sprinturf, a leading U.S.-based provider of synthetic and artificial playing surfaces, to install a new artificial playing surface at Memorial Stadium. The project is worth an estimated $550,000 and is expected to be completed by the end of September.
“This initial investment in our athletic facilities is well spent,” said UND athletic director Tom Buning. “It will help us serve the training and conditioning needs of our student-athletes from many sports besides football by reducing the wear and tear on their bodies. The all-weather playability of the simulated natural turf will certainly help soccer, as well as baseball and softball. Having this new, low-maintenance turf field will help limit the damage to our natural grass fields caused by playing and practicing in inclement weather.”
The Sprinturf system will replace the existing artificial turf that was installed prior to the 1998 football season.
The new surface uses Sprinturf Ultrablade Dual Fiber (DF), providing a high performance surface that improves an athlete's footing and reduces flyout. It also provides optimum shock absorption and attenuation (hardness) levels, reducing the amounts of stress and strain upon ankles, knees and other body parts.
“The team at the University of North Dakota has been a pleasure to work with throughout this process,” said Mike Noble, vice-president at Sprinturf. “We are honored to have them as customers and provide them with a high-quality, durable playing surface that will provide greater overall safety for their student-athletes.”
Sprinturf has delivered over 300 completed fields and playing surfaces across North America and Europe. Customers include nationally-recognized sports programs and institutions such as the Philadelphia Eagles, the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, the U.S. Naval Academy and many others worldwide.
Memorial Stadium serves as the primary practice facility for Fighting Sioux football and is home to several summer youth football camps. The facility opened in 1927 and was the home to UND football games until 2000.
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