University of Massachusets Athletics
FieldTurf Installation Underway At McGuirk Stadium
July 26, 2006 | Football
July 26, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - Workers began installing the new FieldTurf surface at McGuirk Stadium today as the field upgrade enters its final phases before the beginning of preseason football practices. The new turf arrived today on a tractor trailer in rolls and workers began laying the new surface down.
The installation process should last about two weeks - just in time for preseason camp which opens up August 9. The turf is rolled out in sheets and rubber pellets will be literally beat into the surface.
The UMass football team will open the season on Sept. 2 against Colgate and will host five other home games.
Garber Field is also being updated with a new astroturf surface that should be installed soon.
Garber Field is home of the 2006 NCAA National Finalist men's lacrosse team, the women's lacrosse team, and the women's field hockey team. The stadium is also used yearly for other UMass team's to train on.
These are the most current athletic facility updates for UMass after the construction of the UMass Softball Complex in 2000, the construction of the Rudd Soccer Complex in 2002, the construction of the new UMass Track & Field Complex last summer, and the installation of video scoreboards in the Mullins Center for basketball and hockey.
