New stadium turf ready for Commencement

Edgar Johnson, UD director of athletics: “This will be one of the finest playing fields in the country. I don’t think that anybody in our conference is playing on a similar field.” Photo by Tyler Jacobson

5:19 p.m., May 16, 2006--Since just after Thanksgiving, workers from Clark Companies of Delhi, N.Y., have been busy installing a new drainage system and playing surface on Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium.

The project, which includes a new, sand-based turf playing surface, complete with new drainage system, root zone growing medium, irrigation and sod, began with the removal of all the dirt, sod and sand of the existing field down to a depth of about 20 inches. A special drainage network of 12 trenches, each 13 inches wide by 36 inches deep, will transfer water from the north end zone to the south end zone and to the city of Newark's storm water drainage system, Edgar Johnson, UD director of athletics, said.

The project began with the removal of all the dirt, sod and sand of the existing field down to a depth of about 20 inches. A special drainage network of 12 trenches will transfer water to the city’s of storm water drainage system.

Installing the drainage system required digging trenches and installing piping. The drainage network was then covered with four inches of pea gravel and then 10-12 inches of a 85-15 per cent mix of sand/peat moss and topped with a carpet of Kentucky bluegrass.

“Blue grass is the best grass for athletic competition,” Johnson said. “This will be one of the finest playing fields in the country. I don't think that anybody in our conference is playing on a similar field.”

Clark Companies has installed a similar natural grass football field at Virginia Tech.

Last fall, UD had hoped to complete the 2005 football season on Tubby Raymond Field before the installation of a new field during off-season, but nearly five inches rain fell during the weekend of Oct. 8-9 and rendered the surface unplayable. That caused a home contest against the University of Richmond, slated for Oct. 15, to be relocated to Richmond Stadium.

“This new field can handle 10-12 inches of rain per hour,” Johnson said. “The field will get better as it ages because the root system will become more developed.”

Workers lay down boundaries for installation of artificial turf along the sidelines to accommodate the large number of players, band members and media who congregate there during home games.

To better accommodate the large number of players, band members and media who congregate on the sidelines during home games an artificial turf has been placed in those areas, Johnson said.

Johnson said the project also included the installation of an irrigation system and a water-retaining area that feeds into the local storm water system.

While workers are still putting on the final touches, the field was basically completed in March, allowing time for settlement before the Class of 2006 parades onto Tubby Raymond Field for Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 27.

Fightin' Blue Hen fans can check out the renovated Tubby Raymond Field during the seven home games slated for this fall, beginning at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, against the Golden Rams of West Chester University.

Johnson: “This new field can handle 10-12 inches of rain per hour.” Photo by Tyler Jacobson

“This was a coordinated, cooperative effort to provide our players and our program with the best possible playing surface,” Johnson said. “The players and those who have to perform here will find the field to be wonderful.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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