Iowa becomes 7th school in Big 10 to get FieldTurf
6 Apr, 2009 Athletic Turf NewsIOWA CITY, IOWA —There are 11 teams in the Big 10 Conference. Go figure. The University of Iowa has become the seventh Big Ten university to elect to install FieldTurf at its football stadium. FieldTurf replaces the grass that is currently in place at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa joins Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin as Big Ten schools that will play its home games on FieldTurf.
"We're excited about fixing the significant drainage problems in Kinnick Stadium, and updating our field system to the first-class level representative of Hawkeye Football," said Hawkeye Director of Athletics Gary Barta.
Kinnick Stadium ranks as one of the 20 largest college-owned stadiums in the nation. With a capacity of 70,585, it was named for Iowa's 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, Nile Kinnick. Just two years ago, Kinnick Stadium underwent an $89 million renovation that included new locker rooms, a new scoreboard, a new press box along with the addition of private suites. Iowa is a constant on the NCAA's list of the top 25 universities in football attendance.
More than 50 top NCAA universities currently play their home games on FieldTurf. In addition to the Big Ten schools already cited, others with FieldTurf include Nebraska, Texas, West Virginia, Washington, Oregon, Kansas State, Boston College, Missouri, Texas Tech, Rutgers, Syracuse, Cincinnati and Louisville. Twenty-one of the NFL's 32 teams presently utilize FieldTurf in their stadiums and/or practice facilities. In addition, MLB's Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays have FieldTurf at their respective stadiums.
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