Purdue adds new FieldTurf practice field

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — Purdue University is installing a new outdoor FieldTurf surface. This will be the second full FieldTurf field for Boilermaker athletics as an indoor surface was installed at the Mollenkopf Athletic Center in January of 2006. The decision to install the latest FieldTurf was jointly announced by Purdue Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Morgan Burke and FieldTurf CEO Joe Fields.

The new full-length FieldTurf field will sit next to a full natural grass field, and both will be used for practice by the Boilermakers’ football team. Both of those fields will be just north of the Mollenkopf Athletic Center, with the new FieldTurf outdoor surface bordering Northwestern Avenue on campus. This new installation will be part of a $99.5 million athletic facilities project for Purdue that will be completed in 2011-12.

FieldTurf artificial turf fields can now be found at 10 of the 11 universities in the Big 10 Conference. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin have FieldTurf installed at their respective football stadiums. Northwestern and Penn State join Purdue with major full-sized FieldTurf football fields at their athletic complexes/practice facilities.

“We have been thoroughly pleased with the performance of our FieldTurf surface inside the Mollenkopf Center and are pleased to be installing a second field at our new outdoor practice facility,” said Burke. “Upon completion, we believe Purdue football will be the beneficiary of a series of practice facilities and surfaces as good, if not better, than any in the Big Ten Conference and nationally.”

“It is always a special honor when a major university selects our product for multiple installations,” said Fields. “That is a display of confidence that we do not take lightly. We are so proud that Purdue is inviting FieldTurf to expand its presence on their campus. I know that Morgan Burke and (Assistant AD/Facilities) Steve Simmerman put a lot of effort and research into this phase of their athletic facilities upgrade, and we are pleased to be a part of it. We pledge to provide the finest state-of-the-art field that will provide top-notch performance for Head Football Coach Danny Hope and the rest of the Boilermakers athletic department.”

FieldTurf is part of Tarkett Sports, a Division of the Tarkett Group. Tarkett Sports is the largest entity in the sports and landscape surfacing industries. Included within the Tarkett Sports portfolio is an impressive range of performance sports flooring products.