New turf at Rebel Park will be ready for summer practices

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The UNLV football team will practice on the same brand of synthetic field turf used by the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints when it returns to training this summer.

New turf is being installed at Rebel Park this month, replacing a worn-out, older version at UNLV's on-campus practice facility in a much-needed $711,000 renovation.

The 51-ounce synthetic slit film, the same brand of turf used at the Saints' Louisiana Superdome, and on fields at Ohio State and Boise State, is being installed on both of the facility's 100-yard fields. It is scheduled to be completed by June 7.

"The old surface had certainly outlived its usefulness," UNLV coach Bobby Hauck said.

The red synthetic turf that surrounds both fields also is being replaced and a logo of the school's "Hey Reb" mascot will be added between both fields. With the exception of electrical outlets being added, the park's layout and foundation will remain intact.

It will be a major upgrade to a surface that clearly was on its last leg during spring practice the past two months. Pieces of the turf often were loose and the edges were severely torn.

"Our new practice field will help tremendously in terms of recruiting, but even more important, it gives us a much safer and effective place for our players to practice," Hauck said.

The field, which also is used by the university's intramural department, marching band and other sports teams, was scheduled to be replaced this spring regardless of who was the coach — Hauck or former head man Mike Sanford.

The original turf was installed instead of grass during John Robinson's coaching tenure eight years ago. Robinson helped orchestrate a $1 million donation from the Becker Family — the fields were named Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields — to completely pay for the project. The athletic department is paying for the new turf.

The new turf has an eight-year warranty and is expected to last anywhere from eight to 10 years.

"It's going to look good when they are done," said Erik Schwarz, the school's assistant athletic director for facilities and operations, who is supervising the installation.

"When you look over there, it definitely passes the eye test — especially when comparing it to the old field."

The process started April 24 when the old turf was removed. It was donated to the parks district in Ely — the cooler climate Eastern Nevada town where UNLV holds part of its summer practices.

UBU Sports Surfaces, an Atlanta-based turf company, is installing the new turf by sewing together the pieces which are 5 yards long by 50 yards wide. The previous turf was glued together and easily came out of place.

"UNLV is getting a quality product, one of the best out there," said Curtis McDougal, a representative of UBU Sports who has supervised turf installation projects for several universities and NFL teams.