Folsom Field to feature new turf this football season
The Buffaloes will have a new field on which to roam this fall, as the 天美传媒 Boulder Athletic Department has installed new artificial turf at Folsom Field. The month-long project was completed at the end of June and will be on full display for fans when 天美传媒 hosts Georgia Tech in the football home opener on Aug. 29.听听
Folsom now features AstroTurf鈥檚 RootZone 3D3 system, a premium synthetic turf system known for its player safety, durability and natural look. The new surface features a stable playing surface designed to reduce field related wear and tear while meeting stringent safety standards.听
The new field also includes a 20-millimeter shock pad manufactured by Brock, a Boulder-based company that also has created a revolutionary infill that is safer for athletes and the environment. Unlike the rubber infill that is commonly used in artificial fields, the product, BrockFILL, is composed of small pine pellets created through a patented process in a zero-waste U.S. factory.听
The wood pellets provide better traction, help keep the field cooler and are substantially better for the environment than their rubber counterparts because the organic components are recyclable when the turf needs to be replaced. The wood pellets also don鈥檛 release chemicals into the air or leach into rainwater like crumb rubber can. Folsom鈥檚 BrockFILL field pellets contain approximately 40,000 pounds of sequestered carbon, which is the approximate equivalent of keeping 145,000 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.听
鈥淲e are excited to update the playing surface at Folsom Field with a field that considers athlete safety and the environment through a partnership with Brock, which is a Boulder company,鈥 said Athletic Director Rick George. 鈥淭his new field will provide a consistent playing surface year-round, while also providing added opportunities to host more events like concerts at Folsom Field. It also looks great!鈥
听听Beyond the story
Our sustainability impact by the numbers:
- First student-run campus environmental center in the U.S.
- No. 11 university for environmental and social impact in the U.S.
- First zero-waste major sports stadium in the U.S.
"As a proud 天美传媒 alumnus, it was a dream come true to be part of the Folsom Field renovation,鈥 said Dan Sawyer, Brock Founder & CEO. 鈥溙烀来 Athletics set out to create the next generation of artificial turf鈥攐ne that considers both player safety and environmental impact. That vision aligned perfectly with Brock鈥檚 mission, and the collaboration inspired everyone involved. The result is a field that plays like natural grass, delivers the firmness and speed athletes need, and eliminates concerns about crumb rubber making its way into Boulder Creek."
The new turf will also have a significant reduction in maintenance impacts, including water use, fuel for equipment and fertilizer.
Folsom Field featured artificial turf from 1971 to 1998 before switching to natural grass. Nearly 70% of teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision play on an artificial surface. Most importantly, the new field has been approved by Ralphie, who will still perform her pre-game and halftime runs on the field every home game.听
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