The Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans have selected Brock PowerBase to be used underneath their new synthetic turf practice fields. Specified for this project by design firm Lloyd Civil & Sports Engineering, Brock PowerBase has been proven to reduce G-max, the peak force of impact, which may decrease the risk and severity of concussions and other injuries.
“The Arizona Cardinals are excited to have a new indoor practice facility,” says Mike Lloyd of Lloyd Civil & Sports Engineering, project designers. “A key design challenge was to assure optimum playability, player safety and low maintenance, and we selected Brock PowerBase to help with that process. We are very pleased with the uniformity of playing field firmness and the overall quality and appearance of the new field.”
One of three natural grass fields at Cardinal’s team training facility in Tempe, Arizona was converted from natural grass to synthetic turf, and enclosed in a climate-controlled, air-supported structure. Lloyd chose Brock PowerBase to ‘bridge’ the existing 18” sand root zone material to provide high stability for the new synthetic turf, while eliminating the time and cost of excavation and removal of existing soils. According to Lloyd, the team’s initial response has been very positive since field construction was completed last month.
A spokesperson for the Houston Texans said, “the Texans ultimate goal is to maximize player safety by optimizing the performance of the playing surface. After extensive consideration, the Houston Texans selected a UBU Sports synthetic turf system and incorporated the Brock PowerBase to meet our unique needs.”
Brock PowerBase was installed underneath the new UBU Sports synthetic turf field at the Houston Texans’ indoor practice facility, a 17-acre complex including illuminated fields and tracks. With players spending significantly more time on the practice field than game day stadiums, the team is taking a proactive approach to injury prevention while enhancing athletic performance. Brock PowerBase is currently installed for the San Francisco 49ers, at Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, the Arizona Cardinals and at numerous universities and schools such as the University of Maryland, Boston College, Boise State, UCLA, Georgia Tech and Stanford.
“UBU Sports, specializing in ground gear for athletes, is proud to have completed this installation for the Houston Texans utilizing Brock Power Base, ” said UBU President and CEO Mark Nicholls. “As an industry leader, UBU Sports often has the opportunity to work with high profile clients and professional sports franchises that demand optimum performance and maximum player safety from their synthetic turf system. Utilizing the Brock Power Base allowed UBU Sports to fulfill the unique needs of this prestigious NFL team.”
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Lloyd Civil & Sports Engineering (www.lloydengineers.com) is a nationally-recognized, full-service sports consultancy specializing in the planning, design, and construction management of new and renovated sports facilities. The Lloyd team has more than 60 years of collective experience in providing these services for a variety of clients, including colleges and universities, high schools, public and municipal recreation programs, and professional Major League Baseball, Soccer, and National Football League sports teams.
Research firm BioMechanica, LLC studied the estimated risk of head injury on synthetic turf surfaces with Brock underlayment and found the product reduces G-max, which the lab tests indicated should reduce the risk and severity of concussion; provides the same playability as a pristine natural grass field and mitigates field hardening over time. In evaluating Head Injury Criteria (HIC), also known as critical fall height, Sports Labs LLC found that Brock PowerBase offered significant improvement in HIC when compared to a turf field that featured a stone base.