Soccer at Lucas Oil Stadium

Chelsea and Inter Milan announced yesterday that a match will take place Aug 1, 2013 at Lucas Oil Stadium as part of the International Champions Cup.

Click HERE to learn more about the game.

For all of the local European soccer fans, this will be a must see event.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Fescue, Bluegrass, and Bermudagrass Athletic Fields in Indiana

What is the best surface for athletic fields in Indiana?  To be honest, I don't know if there is a "right" answer for the best turf in the transition zone.  Here are a number of photos of different fields in Indiana.  All the photos where taken this week.

1.  Tall fescue practice football field in northern Indiana:

2. A bluegrass/ryegrass athletic field in central Indiana:

3.  A Patriot bermudagrass field in central Indiana:

All the fields are functioning well for the owner.  The challenging issue with tall fescue is how do you best overseed a tall fescue field when there is extensive spring and fall play?  Please click HERE to see a link from Purdue University in regards to tall fescue athletic fields.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

On Site Sod Farm - Marlins Park

Many times, having an on site sod farm at a facility is a great idea.  A small amount of sod that is under a program similar to the playing surface will allow for quick in season repairs with sod that will be comparable to the existing turf on the field.  Here are a couple shot of the sod farm outside of Marlins Park:

The sod farm is fully irrigated and on the same fertility program as the playing surface.  It is also maintained at the same cutting height.  There are two types of sod due to the fact that both 419 bermudagrass and paspalum are grown at Marlins Park.

Is an on site sod farm a fit at your facility?

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Cricket in Lauderhill, FL

My second of two stops took me to the cricket grounds in Lauderhill, FL.  The Central Broward Regional Sports Park was constructed in 2007 and hosts a variety of events.  As you will see, during my visit part of the “outfield” was painted and prepped for soccer while the “wicket” was being prepped for a cricket game the following day.  

The clay wicket is critical for well played cricket.  Here are a couple photos of the preparation of the wicket:

The outfield surrounds the wicket and consists of 5/8 inch cut 419 bermudagrass.

The facility also has practice cricket and soccer fields to the east of the main stadium.

I must admit, this was my first visit to a cricket stadium, and I was very impressed with the facility and the attention to detail of the wicket - very similar to prepping an infield and a mound and plate area for baseball.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

A Night at Marlins Park

A Night at Marlins Park

A long weekend trip took me to two sites in south Florida this past weekend.  The first stop was Marlins Park, home of the Miami Marlins.  Marlins Park opening in the spring of 2012.  This retractable roof stadium is located on the previous site of the Orange Bowl.  

Here are a few photos of the facility.  As you can see the roof was open for the game on a breezy and 78 degree night.  The conditions were very comfortable.

The roof in the open position.  A nice park-like area under the roof:

The field during batting practice:

The "concourse" behind the RF upper level seats.  Notice the large AC unit:

View from the RF upper level seats

The LF concourse. Notice the tracks in the floor.  The tracks are to move the large windows that were open during the game:

The Orange Bowl tribute area:

A pre-game photo:

The park definitely has a South Beach vibe.  The colors are striking but “fit in” to the area.  Overall, a great facility. For a cool seat with a great view, go the the RF upper deck.  The seats are very steep and overlook the field 

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

A Tour of Marlins Park

A long weekend trip took me to two sites in south Florida this past weekend.  The first stop was Marlins Park, home of the Miami Marlins.  Marlins Park opening in the spring of 2012.  This retractable roof stadium is located on the previous site of the Orange Bowl.  Director of Grounds, Chad Mulholland and Manager of Grounds, Jared Olson, hosted a quick visit to look at the surface midday Friday.  

Simply stated, the turf was in great condition.  The infield and foul territory areas consist of paspalum while the outfield is 419 bermudagrass.  

The infield mix is Dura Edge Custom Pro from Dura Edge Products and Natural Sand Company.  The warning track is Dura Trax from Dura Edge Products and Natural Sand Company. 

Here are a few photos of the field tour:

Thanks again to Chad and Jared for the hospitality.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Renovating O'Bannon Park - I

J&D Turf is partnering with the Indianapolis Park Foundation to renovate the soccer fields at O'Bannon Park in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.  Here is the process:

1. Remove the existing vegetation
2. Regrade the native soil rootzone to ensure positive drainage
3. Install new irrigation heads
4. Finish laser grade
5. Sod

Here are a couple photos of the removal of the existing vegetation:

Look for additional posts on this project as 3 new soccer fields will be added to the Old Northside in 2013.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

St Luke Catholic Church - Patriot Bermudagrass - Early May 2013

An early May update from St Luke as I continue to monitor bermudagrass in central Indiana and throughout the midwest.

Here are a couple of photos from May 5, 2013:

Ryegrass thinned throughout the middle due to fall football and spring soccer play.  Dormant bermudagrass base still exists:

Looking east:

Looking west:

Patriot bermudagrass greening up (dark green plants) on the edges of the field that received less play:

Soccer sideline dense ryegrass - referee traffic (light green - darker green with less traffic)

Photos from May 12, 2013:

Looking west:

Heavy traffic areas - notice the Patriot is greening up, just slower than the edges that received less traffic:

Looking east:

The field has made great progress from April.  Click HERE to see how the field looked in mid April.

The plan for the rest of May:

• Spray out ryegrass this week with Katana as the spring season has been completed.
• Fertilize bermudagrass to start the growing season to obtain full cover by the next field use - football in August 2013.

Look for additional monthly posts from this site and other sites as the SmartTurf blog monitors both cool season and warm season field performance in 2013.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

Elizabethtown Sports Park - Central Kentucky Sports Turf Workshop

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of presenting to the attendees at the Central Kentucky Sports Turf Workshop at the Elizabethtown Sports Park.  Here are a couple photos of the event and the soccer fields:

Classroom presentation:

Mowing the 419 bermudagrass in the morning:

419 bermudagrass greening up:

James Bergdoll, Elizabethtown Grounds Manager, has the park in great shape for a full year of baseball and softball.   The Indiana STMA is hosting an event at Victory Field on June 19.  Look for more details soon.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Bush Stadium - Renovating a Historic Ballpark

A quick post on the progress of the Bush Stadium renovations.  As many know, the stadium is being transformed into apartments.  To learn more about the project, click HERE.

Here is a photo of the stadium during the last years the Indianapolis Indians game played at the historic venue:

 Photo courtesy of IBJ

Here is how the stadium looked pre-construction:

Here are a couple photos taken this week:

Look for additional posts as the project is completed this summer.  Click HERE for a great historical article of Bush Stadium from the Indianapolis Star.

Click HERE and HERE to see earlier posts of the project.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

A New Field for Western Boone High School - II

Back to Western Boone High School (WEBO) for the completion of the football field renovation.  After the field was laser graded, a starter fertilizer (16.28.12) was applied.  Next, Kentucky bluegrass sod was installed.  Due to the extreme drought in the Midwest last year, sod is in short supply.  The plan was for big-roll sod for the field.  Simply, big-roll sod is not mature enough for harvest in Indiana as of early May 2013.  Here are a few photos of the project:

Rolling the sod immediately after installation

The finished product:

Irrigating the new sod:

The SmartTurf Blog will follow this field the rest of the year.  Do you think it will out perform a bermudagrass field due to be seeded next week?  Stay tuned.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer