Timbers Beat: It's a wrap ... new FieldTurf is in

PORTLAND
, Ore.
– With the help of the recent string of sunny weather, work crews nearly finished putting down the last of the infill on the new FieldTurf playing surface today at PGE Park. A total of 50,000 pounds of silica sand and rubber were inserted on Tuesday alone.
Over the last week, workers have placed nearly 800,000 pounds of infill, which serves as the new turf’s base, into the state-of-the-art FieldTurf surface. As the final few pieces of infill are being put into place, a majority of the FieldTurf installation project is now complete.
On Thursday and Friday, the warning track area around the stadium will be patched and re-coated in preparation for the 2008 season of events at PGE Park starting at the end of the month.
Next week, the baseball cutouts will be filled with dirt and crews will spend time cleaning and putting the final touches on the new FieldTurf.
While the new FieldTurf has been installed, the work isn’t over. The PGE Park grounds crew will continue to groom the new turf on a daily basis to keep the infill level and get it ready for play.
The final phase of the FieldTurf installation includes receiving and fitting the specialized trays of FieldTurf that will be placed into the baseball cutouts for soccer and football games at PGE Park. That is expected to occur in the coming weeks.
PGE Park’s 2008 season of events begins Feb. 29, as the Oregon State baseball team takes on Georgia for three games in the Papé Grand Slam. The Portland Beavers begin their 2008 campaign on April 3, while the Timbers kickoff their season on April 17.
Click here to view pictures of the entire installation process in the Photo Gallery. Stay tuned for the final updates on the new FieldTurf as PGE Park prepares for the 2008 season.