Notre Dame Stadium to convert to synthetic turf

Synthetic turf will be installed at Notre Dame Stadium, the University of Notre Dame football’s home field, in time for the 2014 season.

Installation of a FieldTurf surface will begin following the university’s Commencement Weekend, May 16-18, and is aimed for an August completion.

Annual commencement events and impending Campus Crossroads Project construction make ongoing maintenance of its grass field more difficult than synthetic turf will, according to Notre Dame, which announced the addition of FieldTurf during its Blue-Gold game on April 12.

“We had a strong predisposition to stay with a natural grass field,” says Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame vice president and director of athletics. “However, the reality is that in two of the last three seasons since we moved Commencement to the Stadium we have been unable to produce an acceptable playing surface. That, combined with the likely impacts of future construction at the Stadium, led me to conclude that we would continue to struggle to maintain a grass field that meets the expectations of our student-athletes and fans as it relates to appearance, performance and safety.”

FieldTurf fields already are in use at Notre Dame at the LaBar Practice Complex, the Loftus Sports Center, Arlotta Stadium and Stinson Rugby Field.

FieldTurf is currently being installed at Frank Eck Stadium, Notre Dame’s home baseball facility.

Photo: UND