FIELDTURF NEARS COMPLETION AT BRIDGEFORTH STADIUM/ZANE SHOWKER FIELD

FIELDTURF NEARS COMPLETION AT BRIDGEFORTH STADIUM/ZANE SHOWKER FIELD

Showker Field as viewed Monday afternoon. Check out the webcam for to-the-moment progress.

HARRISONBURG, Va., July 17, 2006 – Actual placement of the FieldTurf playing surface at James Madison University's Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field is nearly complete.

Construction crews have been working at the stadium in preparation for installing the FieldTurf since May, and during the last week have been putting the playing surface in place. Earlier work included removing the previous AstroTurf playing surface and its padding and the field's asphalt base. A crushed stone base with a drainage system was added, and the FieldTurf surface's actual installation started during the weekend.

Sections of turf stretching across the playing field were the first parts of the installation, and sections forming the sidelines then were added. After the playing surface was down, a process for "cutting in" the hash marks, yard-line numbers and logos at the center of the field and in the end zones began.

Later FieldTurf's patented infill mix of silica sand and cryogenic rubber and patented layering process that deliver a system that emulates natural grass will be added.

JMU plans to have the new playing surface completed for the beginning of its football team's preseason practice period in early August and for use during the 2006 college football season. The new surface replaces an AstroTurf surface that has been in use at the facility since the 2000 season. JMU has had an artificial playing surface at the stadium since the 1973-74 academic year.

JMU has employed a "Web" camera to provide a view of stadium activities throughout the stadium's resurfacing process. Usage of the Web site recently has been extremely high, making attempts to access the site difficult at times. Please be patient and attempt to access the site at a later time.

While the live images may be slow to be accessed at times, clicking on "snapshot" at the left of the screen will allow a viewer to get a stationary look at the installation process.

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