Hellas Sports Construction’s Turf Division recently installed its patented SoftTop turf technology combined with its Matrix Turf system at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. This system allows the artificial turf panels to be rolled up and stored, and then later unrolled and reconnected, to accommodate a wide variety of sporting and non-sporting events. The system in Dallas features interchangeable panels that make up three separate fields: NFL, NCAA/high school football, and FIFA soccer.
Bruce V. Layman, vice president of Hellas’ Turf Division, answered these questions for us:
SportsTurf: What if anything is unique about the specific system installed at Cowboys Stadium?
Layman: What is unique about Cowboys is all of the markings are installed without disturbing the integrity of the manufactured backing system. The end zones are completely computer tufted. There are no inlay markings in the end zones.
ST: What ancillary equipment is needed to operate the roll-up system?
Layman: The Hellas Hopper, which is an apparatus attached to a forklift. This device is used to carry the rolls to and from storage. It is also used install and remove rolls.
ST: Is there a similar product available to facilities that don’t have the same resources as the Cowboys?
Layman: There are several. The Alamodome, the University of Idaho, Northern Arizona University, and Idaho State University all have the system.
ST: Describe the process for removing the field–how long does it take, how many people, etc.
Layman: It takes 650 labor man hours for turf installation, and 350 labor man hours to remove the turf.