Baton Rouge, LA - A state-of-the art new turf practice field will be installed at Louisiana State University in March 2020.
The turf will be provided by Shaw Sports Turf, a company which has also done projects with major college programs such as Arkansas, BYU and Missouri, as well as multiple NFL and Major League Baseball teams.
This will be LSU’s third Shaw Sports Turf field. The indoor football turf was completed in 2017, and the indoor softball training field was completed recently in Jan. of 2020.
Shaw Sports Turf with partner Sports Contractors Unlimited for site and base work, is replacing the existing 86,000 square feet and adding a new 14,000 square foot offensive line training area. The practice field features Shaw Sport Turf’s Legion Pro turf system. Legion Pro is made up of a combination monofilament and slit film system and provides the best hybrid synthetic surface on the market. As Shaw Sports Turf’s bestselling turf system, Legion Pro features the patented and exclusive Bolt fiber. Bolt fiber represents excellent durability and aesthetics characteristics. This system is built for strength, built for pushing the envelope and providing endurance through even the toughest practices.
It includes a state-of-the-art Geofill system that is an environmentally-friendly alternative infill for synthetic turfs. Geofill is comprised of coconut husks and fibers, rather than rubber-based fill. The coconut fibers are completely natural and biodegradable, retain moisture well to help with cooling, and are bacteria-free.
Philipe Aldahir, Ph.D. is Shaw Sports Turf’s Director of Research and Innovation and has developed a system of benchmarking playability characteristics of elite playing surfaces. This research allows for those characteristics to be replicated in a Shaw Sports Turf system. The goal is to not only be the best artificial turf surface, but the best playing surface – period.
The Geofill® Performance Infill within the Legion Pro blades forms a firm surface similar to natural soil with lower energy rebound levels that closely mimic high-performance natural grass. The result is a more natural playing posture and motion from the players, creating less fatigue as their bodies will not have to overcompensate for the surface. LSU’s new outdoor practice field will take the playability metrics into consideration to create a top of the line surface.
“The Shaw product has been very reliable for LSU and our athletes. It provides the safe playing surface we expect in our practices and in preparation for real time competition. Shaw continues to provide annual servicing and warranty care that will give LSU a longer life to our field and the safety aspects we expect for our athletes, said Emmett David, LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director, Facilities and Project Development.”
“I’m happy Shaw Sports Turf has been given another opportunity to be involved with LSU Athletics and its storied football program. They have shown a commitment to providing the absolute best facilities for their athletes, and this new turf system is no exception. This will be something the university can be proud of for years to come. Geaux Tigers! ”said Shaw Sports Turf Territory Manager, Wynn Vinson.
ABOUT SHAW SPORTS TURF
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Shaw Industries is a full flooring provider to the residential and commercial markets. Shaw supplies carpet, hardwood, laminate, resilient, and tile/ stone flooring products, as well as synthetic turf. Shaw Sports Turf is one of the leading synthetic turf companies in North America and has represented quality and innovation for more than two decades with over 3,000 successful installations, including an impressive list of high-profile field installations. For more information please visit www.shawsportsturf.com, call 866-703-4004 or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.
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