New Memorial Stadium FieldTurf & surface design

[AHSIllini32]

Hey Dan, quick question, I'm assuming you took those pictures (if not disregard my question) and if so is it easier to tell the difference in turf color every 5 yards in person than it is in those pictures? Just wondering how they look in person. Thanks.

[Fighting Billini]

Originally Posted by The Galloping Ghost 77

I hope it doesn't become our new logo. And I'm curious as to why they would replace the field, when they just did in it in 2008? That seems like a short time to me, but I don't know much about fields. But are these designs going to stay on the field for another 4 years then? And It's not just the football field though, don't forget about the subtle state outline on the Assembly Hall floor. We can do better than having to mimic Indiana's designs.

I am pretty sure it won't be the new logo. It works (sorta) as a midfield/midcourt logo because the state color is subtly different than the field/court, but not painted in. That wouldn't work on any other format (t-shirts, hats, jerseys) unless they colored the state in.

While they might make an alternate logo with the state in it, I can guarantee you that it won't be the primary. Logos are best when they are 1) close to symmetrical and 2) instantly recognizable shapes. The state outline is too lopsided (not to mention the I is offcenter as we have mentioned) and it's a shape that I imagine the majority of people outside of the midwest wouldn't recognize. Everybody knows the shapes of Texas, California and Florida, but that's probably it.

Also, there has been a movement of late for teams to have more simplistic logos that can be more easily reproduced at smaller sizes. If you have ever seen a baseball cap with the Chief logo on the back, it looked like crap because there was too much detail to be crammed into such a small area. The primary will be just the tri-color block I.

[Fighting Billini]

Originally Posted by DrewD007

Don't quote me on it but I think the average field turf life is 4-5 years. Also they painted on the logos and stuff this year, so they can be removed and replaced with something else next season if they so choose.

You are partially right. It looks like the wordmark will be painted in the endzones in white and blue this year, but the rest (yard markers, orange background, midfield logo) are different colored turf, not painted on.

I figured they would replace the whole endzone area next year, but with them painting the wordmark on for a year, it will make their job easier. Next year, they will just cut out the outline of the new endzone graphics and weave in different colored turf to make the new wordmark. The endzones will be permanent next year, not painted on.

EDIT: I wouldn't be surprised if they don't paint the wordmark onto the endzones until just before the first game and then wash the wordmark off between games. If they left the ILLINOIS logo in the endzones from now until November, there might be a ghost outline of it on the turf after they wash the paint off.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Hey Dan, quick question, I'm assuming you took those pictures (if not disregard my question) and if so is it easier to tell the difference in turf color every 5 yards in person than it is in those pictures? Just wondering how they look in person. Thanks.

I didn't really notice it today, but they are still doing some kind of treatment to the turf. The 5-yd variations were more noticeable to me last week. I'm sure they'll get the variations noticeable Sept 1st

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by Dan

I didn't really notice it today, but they are still doing some kind of treatment to the turf. The 5-yd variations were more noticeable to me last week. I'm sure they'll get the variations noticeable Sept 1st

Thanks, other than grinding in the tire treads what other kinds of treatment do they do to the turf?

[illinibob]

We happened to be in CU last week and went by the stadium, my sons and their friend scavanged pieces of the old turf and brought them home.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by illinibob

We happened to be in CU last week and went by the stadium, my sons and their friend scavanged pieces of the old turf and brought them home.

That's pretty cool. Did they have color on them or were they just green pieces that they got?

[The Galloping Ghost 77]

Is this the exact same field type they installed in 2008? Because if my memory serves me correctly (and sometimes it doesn't) there was much slipping and sliding on the field during that season's home games. I assume it's due to all of those little black pellets?

Honestly though, I'm a naturalist: Bring back the grass field! And let's keep it in house and get those plant sciences boys to cook us up a new field of gene modified grass

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by The Galloping Ghost 77

Is this the exact same field type they installed in 2008? Because if my memory serves me correctly (and sometimes it doesn't) there was much slipping and sliding on the field during that season's home games. I assume it's due to all of those little black pellets?

Honestly though, I'm a naturalist: Bring back the grass field! And let's keep it in house and get those plant sciences boys to cook us up a new field of gene modified grass

they've actually come to find out that the field turn promotes less slipping than does natural grass, provided of course that it's quality turf.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Thanks, other than grinding in the tire treads what other kinds of treatment do they do to the turf?

Maybe they can figure out a way to put arrows on the field when we are on kick returns so the players have an idea which way we would like them to go. Maybe use lasers to project arrrows on the field along with the words "go this way".

Stand up for special teams!

[RHITIllini]

Originally Posted by illinicb

Maybe they can figure out a way to put arrows on the field when we are on kick returns so the players have an idea which way we would like them to go. Maybe use lasers to project arrrows on the field along with the words "go this way".

Stand up for special teams!

Holograms on the visors like a H.U.D. Call it Madden 2020

[illinibob]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

That's pretty cool. Did they have color on them or were they just green pieces that they got?

Funny you ask that, they spent a long time combing through the piles of discarded turf in 90-degree heat looking for pieces with yardline numbers on them, but never found any that were small enough to take. Finally settled for a piece with a hash mark.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by illinibob

Funny you ask that, they spent a long time combing through the piles of discarded turf in 90-degree heat looking for pieces with yardline numbers on them, but never found any that were small enough to take. Finally settled for a piece with a hash mark.

That's good too, at least it isn't just a blank piece of turf. It would have been hilarious if they would have taken a whole yard number.

[DrewD007]

Tons of pics courtesy of the Fighting Illini Facebook

[illinibob]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

That's good too, at least it isn't just a blank piece of turf. It would have been hilarious if they would have taken a whole yard number.

Great minds, because that's exactly what they were thinking. Problem was that they just ripped up the old turf in random chunks, so most of the pieces were massive, way too big to move. We weren't the first people there either, so some of the choicest pieces might have already been taken.

[Dan]

Memorial Stadium @FieldTurf update: workers taking tractor loads of sand/rubber "dirt" from ARC parking lot to field. http://pic.twitter.com/Zmfu00xj



Photo gallery of the Memorial Stadium @FieldTurf installation (so far): http://on.fb.me/MmCGsY

http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[Dan]

They've started painting ILLINOIS in the end zones of the new Memorial Stadium @FieldTurf. #Illini http://pic.twitter.com/gtz3GhPu



http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[KJKobs]

Well, if I tilt my head slightly the letters aren't slanted anymore

[AHSIllini32]

Any updates on how the field looks Dan?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Any updates on how the field looks Dan?

Yes, stopped by the stadium this morning, photos should be ready soon

With @FieldTurf completed at Memorial Stadium, they're now working on it at Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. #Illini http://pic.twitter.com/1Pv7aMWC



http://twitter.com/IlliniFootball

[quhawks12]

Originally Posted by Dan

Yes, stopped by the stadium this morning, photos should be ready soon

And this why this is the best site around people!

[Dan]

Photos taken by me, this morning (8/14/2012).

Here it is, the new FieldTurf Revolution surface at Memorial Stadium-










Not sure what's going on here-

[AHSIllini32]

Awesome, thanks Dan.

I friggin love every bit of the new field. Well not every bit, the endzones look the same obviously but they will be changing in another season or two.

But everything from changing the font of the numbers to adding the state logo to the subtle yet noticeable changes in green every 5 yards looks great.

[Oskee Mayer]

Thanks, Dan. Let's play football!

[quhawks12]

1 small thing I just noticed. With all the additional orange I wonder if they will change the blue awning where the players come out of the locker room to orange?