Ball State to replace artificial turf at football stadium
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – Ball State University has opened bidding to replace the artificial turf that was installed in its football stadium eight years ago.
The Star Press reports the school estimates the replacement cost at $450,000. The turf was put in as part of a $13.6 million renovation of Scheumann Stadium in 2007.
The artificial surface from maker FieldTurf was initially expected to last at least 10 years, according to the newspaper. But Ball State spokeswoman Joan Todd said consultants told the school that the field has seen “normal wear and tear.” The warranty doesn’t expire until June, but Todd said Ball State will not take legal action for any breach of warranty.
Some seams in the football field have been replaced in the recent past, but Todd said consultants didn’t consider that unusual. The turf has synthetic grass with a base of sand and rubber fragments.
In May, FieldTurf settled a legal dispute in court with the company that supplied materials for its surfaces. The newspaper reports FieldTurf said in a lawsuit that fields had been built with defective fibers and were prematurely degrading.
A FieldTurf spokesman declined to comment Wednesday.
Bids were opened by Ball State on Tuesday and the school received five, with FieldTurf having the lowest bid at roughly $386,000.