6/2/2016
K­State Alumni Association ­ Tointon Family Stadium Receives Facelift
Dashboard
Site Map
New Page
Content
Community
Page Properties
Email
Events
Content Modules
Donations
Images
Forms
Files
Members
Data
Approve Content
Settings
Content Builder
Help
K­State Alumni Association | University | K­State Athletics | KSU Foundation | Shop Varney's
Tointon Family Stadium Receives Facelift
K­State Sports Information Frank Myers Field at Tointon Family Stadium is in the process of
getting a new AstroTurf field.
While carrying the same name ­ AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 ­
as the newly installed infill artificial surface at Bill Snyder Family
Stadium, K­State Associate Athletics Director Casey Scott said, "The
blade is a little different than the football field, but has the same
special 'thatch base' that allows the sand and rubber to settle
deeper into the turf."
With the exception of the clay pitcher's mound, the rest of the field
will be covered by the artificial surface, which includes the batter's
box and the outfield that have been clay and natural grass,
respectively.
In addition, the bullpen areas will be covered by AstroTurf
GameDay Grass 3D60, plus a more durable artificial surface will be
put in the batting cages off the left field line.
Frank Myers Field at Tointon Family Stadium is in the process of getting a new AstroTurf field, which will save
roughly $50,000 a year in maintenance. (Photo: K­State
Sports Information)
"The AstroTurf product will allow us to take advantage of outdoor
practice at all times of the year," Head Coach Brad Hill said. "The
hope is that this will be one of the best playing surfaces in the conference for the next several years."
The process, which will be headed by Mid­America Golf and Landscape, includes construction of a six­inch rock base that is
rolled for compaction and laser­graded to assure proper drainage prior to the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 being installed on
top.
In order to simulate a natural grass infield and create as fast a surface as possible, the infield blade will stand 1 5/8­inches, and in
normal baseball field fashion, the outfield grass will be taller at 1 7/8­inches. On the football field, there is a 50­50 sand and
rubber infill mixture, while the blend for baseball is 70 percent sand and 30 percent rubber.
"Coach (Brad) Hill wants it to be a fast surface," said Scott, who said the purple and white "KS" baseball logo will be displayed in
center field and the Powercat logo behind home plate. "The football turf has a more rigid blade, while the baseball blade will be
more flexible to eliminate the resistance on the ball."
The batter's box, infield base paths and the 15­foot warning track will be a clay­brown in color, with the rest of the field being
green.
Scott says roughly $50,000 a year will be saved on the annual field maintenance of fertilization, aeration and seeding/sodding,
not to mention labor costs and eliminating the nearly 1.5 million gallons of water used to irrigate the field.
"Over time, we think the field will pay for itself, especially knowing we're getting a surface that will be consistent in how it plays
starting in the fall and continuing into the spring," said Scott, who noted this is the same surface used by two professional
stadiums ­ Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Rogers Centre in Toronto, along with various other Division I schools,
including Wichita State and Kansas.
http://www.k­state.com/s/1173/newsletter.aspx?sid=1173&gid=1&pgid=2899
1/2
6/2/2016
K­State Alumni Association ­ Tointon Family Stadium Receives Facelift
Maintenance of the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 is accomplished by using a groomer, or sweeper, that brushes the turf and
helps maintain the consistency of the infill mix while cleaning debris from the field.
The former turf was installed in summer 2006, but included recently "re­sodded" areas around the three bases, which were worn
from use during drills and normal play.
The new turf, like with the football field, will carry an eight­year warranty.
The installation of the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 will be completed in time for the start of fall workouts in mid­September.
K­State Alumni Association
100 Alumni Center, 1720 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506­1001 | 800­600­ALUM (2586) | 785­532­6260 Alumni@K­State.com | www.K­State.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
http://www.k­state.com/s/1173/newsletter.aspx?sid=1173&gid=1&pgid=2899
2/2