ravensfan09 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:57 pm
4thgoal wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:58 am
From my understanding, if schools set aside the same amount of money they spend for maintaining the field (labor, fuel, gas, mower maintenance, fertilizer, seed, water, paint, etc) they can easily afford the replacement of turf after its 10 year life. The major issue is the initial investment, but if you can get to that point, the turf basically pays for itself. I have heard the turf at Burg has already paid for itself after 7 seasons.
Thats interesting. I just saw where Massillon Washington is replacing their turf and it is costing over $400,000.
That would mean to have a turf field and it pay for itself in 7 year, schools would be spending an averages or over $57,000 per year on their grass fields. That would be an amazing study.
I wouldn't judge expenses on what Massillon does. They're not going to nickel and dime themselves or their booster club. If they want new turf, they're buying new turf. Whether it's due or not. They're also not going cheap.
A big part of the expense is what type of pattern or design you want. Everything is cut and sewn together. It's not painted. The more endzone or midfield designs you have, the more it costs. Massillon also had the old concrete turf for the longest time, I'm sure it's not as simple as the new turf field that convert from grass to the sand base for the turf.
Also, there is different types of turf with different ages, uses, etc. My HS basically existed where a swamp once was and the grass was always turning to mud. Turf switch over cost $600k. Replacement after ten years is listed at $300k.
As mentioned elsewhere, you also have to account for the fact you can use your primary stadium for so much more with turf. And you don't need to maintain other grass fields for games and practices as much or at all.
Also, the $40k/year maintenance for a grass field is if you a) count the mower as just exclusive for the field, while most schools mow their field with the same mower that handles the rest of the school grounds, b) actually keep it in great shape (most schools are woefully inadequate) and c) paint it well, which again most high schools don't.
Big difference.
