New South Gallia and River Valley athletic complexes

[BRUTUS IS A BEAST]

Corners are always cut somewhere and in my opinion, it shouldn't be with the playing surface. Who wants to be the only team with a new field that is playing on grass, mud and ect. at times then field turf like all the other newbie fields

[Orange and Brown]

I would just be happy that my school was getting a new facility!!!

The schools can't ever seem to make anyone happy.

Never good enough for some people.

[BRUTUS IS A BEAST]

I am happy that everything is being done, I just cant understand why there cant be field turf instead of a grass playing surface

[Rebelcat]

There are $2 million reasons why. The initial install would run a million at each site and then $750000 each to put down a replacement field. Turf was looked at. Turf would be possible minus the field houses I guess. But that would mean no new weight rooms, locker rooms, football offices, rest rooms and concessions. I personally would not want to sacfrice that faciliety that will be used by multiple sports all year.

[schenk11]

Corners are always cut somewhere and in my opinion, it shouldn't be with the playing surface. Who wants to be the only team with a new field that is playing on grass, mud and ect. at times then field turf like all the other newbie fields

At Marietta we would just be happy to have our own stadium, grass or field turf.

[Orange and Brown]

I am happy that everything is being done, I just cant understand why there cant be field turf instead of a grass playing surface

Maybe you can hold some fundraisers and try to get enough money saved up and maybe a little backing from some of your local buisneses they can put in turf down the road.

[Mercerville Monster]

There are $2 million reasons why. The initial install would run a million at each site and then $750000 each to put down a replacement field. Turf was looked at. Turf would be possible minus the field houses I guess. But that would mean no new weight rooms, locker rooms, football offices, rest rooms and concessions. I personally would not want to sacfrice that faciliety that will be used by multiple sports all year.

I believe someone exaggerated some numbers when they gave you this info. That may have been the price when it was originally introduced but the price has went down since then. It is 700,000 dollars for the first lay down of the rug. The second one does not have to be laid until 10 years later and that price is from FieldTurf which is probably the most expensive installers out there.

Do they plan on watering this new field? You also have to paint it. Add up all of that cost and what they pay people to mow it and you will come up with a hefty chunk of change. Also, although doubtful, if SG got the chance to host a second round game in the Playoffs, you have thrown that out the window by installing natural grass. Imagine the money you could make off of that.

[Rebelcat]

There are $2 million reasons why. The initial install would run a million at each site and then $750000 each to put down a replacement field. Turf was looked at. Turf would be possible minus the field houses I guess. But that would mean no new weight rooms, locker rooms, football offices, rest rooms and concessions. I personally would not want to sacfrice that faciliety that will be used by multiple sports all year.

I believe someone exaggerated some numbers when they gave you this info. That may have been the price when it was originally introduced but the price has went down since then. It is 700,000 dollars for the first lay down of the rug. The second one does not have to be laid until 10 years later and that price is from FieldTurf which is probably the most expensive installers out there.

Do they plan on watering this new field? You also have to paint it. Add up all of that cost and what they pay people to mow it and you will come up with a hefty chunk of change. Also, although doubtful, if SG got the chance to host a second round game in the Playoffs, you have thrown that out the window by installing natural grass. Imagine the money you could make off of that.

This is what we were told by schools that have installed turf. As for do the plan on watering the field? The answer is yes. There is a source of water at SG and they are probably doing to drill a well at RV. Monster I have a question for you. Are you even from South Gallia? You made a comment earlier that making it sound like you have never been to SG? Just curious.

[superblue]

Hey Monster, how much $$$ are we talking about for the 2 stadiums? Was the $$$ divided evenly between the 2 schools or could people earmark there donation for a certain school???? How did we ever play football the last 100 years and not have Turf.... Maybe we should just wait a few years when all the schools in Gallia county are consolidated into one and pool all $$$$ and build one stadium.....LOL X 2.....

[Mercerville Monster]

This is what we were told by schools that have installed turf. As for do the plan on watering the field? The answer is yes. There is a source of water at SG and they are probably doing to drill a well at RV. Monster I have a question for you. Are you even from South Gallia? You made a comment earlier that making it sound like you have never been to SG? Just curious.

I would just think that if you have a new stadium, you would want a nice field to go along with it. No matter how much you water a natural field, at the end of the year it will be chewed up and dead.

RebelCat - Yes I have been to South Gallia. Probably the same amount or maye even more than you have. I attended Hannan Trace all through Grade School and went to South Gallia in High School. I played Football, Basketball, and Baseball while attending there. I don't really know any other school than the two in Mercerville. By the way, what comment did I make that made it seem like I was not from South Gallia?

Superblue - I played on natural grass my while life besides play two times at Parkersburg High on what is now the old style artificial turf. I was just stating that who wants to walk into a nice stadium and see a chewed up, brown colored field? Looks Alot better walking in a stadium during week 10 and seeing a perfectly green field. And that's not even talking about the advantages of playing on an artificial surface. No matter rain or shine, the game will be played on a field that the condition of it will not hurt anyone.

On the price, 1.4 million dollars is what it would cost for both out of 10 million. Both schools are dividing it so each gets 5 million. Corporate donations are split between the two schools while a personal donation can be donated to either school with no split involved. Like I stated before, there is no need to put as much seating in at SG than there is at Oak Hill. Use some of that towards the field and have a few fundraisers to try and come up with the rest.

[Rebelcat]

Glad to hear as well. I have heard many things about the field at SG and heard that they got a pretty generous donation from someone in the community. Guess we will find out soon enough.

I know in the past there have been 2 Mercerville Monsters. The statement above made me think this may be the fake monster. Each school is NOT getting $5 million. The $5 million is being split between the two so each will get $2.5 million. If we had $5 million each then I am completely confident that each school would get field turf. Now I understand your frustration. I wish we had $10 million but we don't.

[superblue]

Just read the article and it sounds like everything has been decided and the project is good to go. Later on down the road upgrades can be made where needed.. Does anyone know who made the generous donations for this project?

[Mercerville Monster]

Glad to hear as well. I have heard many things about the field at SG and heard that they got a pretty generous donation from someone in the community. Guess we will find out soon enough.

I know in the past there have been 2 Mercerville Monsters. The statement above made me think this may be the fake monster. Each school is NOT getting $5 million. The $5 million is being split between the two so each will get $2.5 million. If we had $5 million each then I am completely confident that each school would get field turf. Now I understand your frustration. I wish we had $10 million but we don't.

Thanks for the clarification RebelCat. It seems my reading comprehension failed me. I was about to say, if each school got 5 million and there was no FieldTurf installed then someone isn't thinking. Maybe some more donations will come in and it can be installed at both fields.

superblue - I read where AEP ha made a donation. That is the only name I have seen that was published. I had heard a couple individuals made donations but heard no names. Matter of fact I had heard nothing about private donations until someone had mentioned it to me at a GA football game.

[MTSWNGRVSG]

I am very happy to see the stadiums moving forward. As for the field turf Southeastern and Vinton County built new stadiums and went with grass. The turf has a life of between 10 to 15 years. Yes there is even up keep with turf, some that most people never think of such as disinfecting the field every so often. Schools that have turf have to set so much money back each year so that they can replace the turf in about 10 years. I would suggest that for several years all games other than varsity football be on the old field, this would give the turf time to mature. I have talked with several people from the Cincinnati area that regret that they went to turf from grass. As for the brown surface the irrigation system and drainage will solve that which none of the old fields had.

As for hosting anything above a first round game that is not going to happen because you would have to build the stadium like the size of Jackson to get the game for either of the stadiums because of location and where it is placed in the region.

I am very happy for the athletes and the community for this to be happening! As for me personally I like grass over turf even if that means you have to paint the field!

[BRUTUS IS A BEAST]

Well maybe when the next school is built in 100 years they will get field turf and someone to put down hardwood in the gym that will not crack before the first game is played

[MTSWNGRVSG]

Not going to argue with you about the gym floor, fixing the roof would be the first step with the gym floor.

[BRUTUS IS A BEAST]

I guess we just need to be proud of what we have and are getting because it is definitely a step up from where it was before without a doubt

[BlizzardMan]

Give me grass over turf any day.

[BRUTUS IS A BEAST]

Give me grass over turf any day.

I would of said that after playing at Parkersburg unprepared the first time for the turf but after that time I got the appropriate attire to play on it the following years. Turf makes you run faster too so it makes the game faster and the ball carriers can be more agile too

[Mercerville Monster]

Give me grass over turf any day.

Give me GOOD grass over turf anyday. I hated seeing all of these colleges go to turf. I just hope the drainage works well and the field will look good all year and not beat up come week 10. Do what Ironton does and only play Varsity games on it and the rest can play on the old field at SG. I don't think RV will have that option though.