Oklahoma State Picks AstroTurf for Boone Pickens Stadium

STILLWATER, Okla., March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. A year after installing two AstroTurf® 3D Xtreme practice fields at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center, Oklahoma State University has tabbed the pioneers of the synthetic turf industry to resurface the crown jewel of OSU football, Boone Pickens Stadium. Installation of the new 76,000 square foot AstroTurf field is scheduled to begin on May 12^th, and once underway the project will be live updated with continuous shooting photography on AstroTurf's website.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/CL86730

The new field at Boone Pickens will be AstroTurf's 3D Decade product, so named because it comes with a newly introduced 10 year warranty. The full, non-prorated 10 year warranty is only made possible by the use of a combination of exclusive AstroTurf technologies that, when combined, deliver the most durable surface in the industry. The grass-like surface is a combination of the omega-shaped Horseshoe fiber for structural resiliency and slit film fiber for resistance to wear and sunlight. The cutting edge creation also incorporates AstroTurf's patented RootZone® technology, a sub-layer of texturized nylon which stabilizes the sand and rubber infill and prevents splash and migration. The final touch is AstroTurf's PREFAB system, in which 60-70% of the surface's individual and permanent inlays are installed in one of AstroTurf's climate controlled factories prior to shipping. This process reduces installation variables, inconsistencies and installation time. All of these features guarantee a consistent playing surface that has garnered rave reviews for its performance, durability and safety.

"Our players, coaches and staff have been extremely satisfied with our AstroTurf fields at the Sherman Smith Center," said Athletic Director Mike Holder."When it came time to replace the turf at Boone Pickens Stadium, we decided to stick with AstroTurf."

Boone Pickens Stadium is the oldest football stadium in the Big 12 Conference, tracing its roots back to 1919. The stadium was reimagined in conjunction with the "Next Level Campaign" of the early 2000's, and after six years of renovations the facility was transformed into a state-of-the-art venue that rivals any in college football. Upon completion, the stadium was rededicated on September 5^th, 2009, in a ceremony honoring noted businessman, philanthropist, and legendary alumnus T. Boone Pickens. His monumental gift of $165 million in 2005 was the largest ever received by a university athletic department and helped to revamp not only the football stadium but the entire athletic village of the OSU campus.

AstroTurf first became involved with the athletic campus renaissance last year when it was selected from among several vendors to install two synthetic playing surfaces at the newly constructed Sherman E. Smith Training Center. After extensive research, it was revealed that AstroTurf 3D products excel at an industry concept known as DIG. The ideal proportions of high fiber Density, light Infill, and narrow Gauge (the space between rows of fiber) found in AstroTurf 3D turf systems result in a low DIG rating, which is preferred. Low DIG translates into fields which perform more like natural grass and minimize the torque generated by cleats gripping the surface. High DIG fields, made up of low density fiber, heavy infill, and wide gauge are more likely to trap cleats when they "dig" in, leading to more torque and greater potential for injury.

The Cowboys have certainly thrived at home, enjoying a remarkable string of success during their nine year stretch under Mike Gundy, the winningest head football coach in school history. Oklahoma State's 2013 campaign marked the third 10-win season in four years and the team's eighth straight bowl appearance. The 2010 Big 12 Coach of the Year and 2011 "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year honoree will lead the Pokes against defending national champ Florida State in the 2014 Cowboy Classic season opener in Arlington, TX before returning to Stillwater for the home opener against Missouri State on September 6^th.

About AstroTurf

For athletes and sport enthusiasts, AstroTurf has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry's first vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety.  To learn more, visit www.astroturf.com.

SOURCE AstroTurf