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Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 26, 2007 19:51:33 GMT -5
Turf has been an on going "touchy" topic for the past two years. Unless someone like "Presque Isle Downs" or big name company comes in and pays for it. I don't see it happening. Civic center doesn't want to pay for it. And it's too expensive for the team to pay for it.
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Post by Sykotyk on Feb 26, 2007 20:33:16 GMT -5
The cheapest brand new turf you can buy is still over $30,000. The best new turf you can buy is in the $60,000 range (Sportexe, etc). You can buy cheap used turf for probably less than $5,000. Good used turf can still cost you tens of thousands. Almost to the point it questions whether to just buy brand new cheap stuff.
Sykotyk
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Post by scooter on Feb 26, 2007 20:38:13 GMT -5
Actually it's the Erie Civic Center Authority that is at the center of this issue. They are the entity that responsible for anything that is done for the Tullio Arena, Jerry Uht Park, The Warner Theater and the soon to be completed Bayfront Convention Center. They were the ones who paid for the uprades to the ice making equipment when the original ice maker "died" a few years ago. They had to bring in a portable unit for the Otters mid season(it sat outside on a trailer on the north side of the building) and then replace the equipment during the offseason.
This would be the same for the turf. The Authority "received" the present turf in lieu of the rent that they didn't get when the Invaders left after the 2000 IFL season. Also included was all of the teams equipment, the goalposts, signs, etc.. The turf then spent 2 seasons as the field for the Johnstown J-Dogs of the NIFL. And after that as a field for an unknown indoor soccer team. All while the Authority collected rent for it's use. Then the turf ended up rolled up and frozen while in storage until the Freeze arrived. This probably led to it's premature demise and current condition. At this time the ECCA isn't interested or able to foot the $70,000 to $80,000 it would take to get a new field. They have previously said they would not invest in this until there is an assurance or proof that there will be a team here for the "long term".
This is also the same thing that the Blades, Panthers, and Otters had to go through concerning upgrades and improvements to the Arena. In fact they just this season got the "Center Ice Scoreboard" that the building was supposed to have when it opened in June of 1983. Another little known fact is that, if you noticed that on the northeast side of the arena, the first section is #4. The reason it's not #1? There were supposed to be 3 sections on the east end of the building where the current luxury boxes are now located. These sections were eliminated during construction and replaced by a wall and the garage door that is currently there. This was due to budget cuts and cost overruns that happened during construction.
But with the ECCAs current focus being on the Bayfront Convention Center getting finished and the ongoing upgrades going on at Jerry Uht Park (New picnic garden and extention of the upper deck on the first base side),and the brand new scoreboard installed last year, it's unlikely that they are not going to be interested in doing anything at the Tullio Arena until all of the ECCAs other projects get done.
The best case scenario for the team would be for them to find someone to purchase the field for them in exchange for the naming rights and sponsorship of/on the field. Something like what Pepsi did sponsoring the turf field at Veterans Stadium. Johnstown did the same thing with Musser Forests Field. It would be great if Erie could put together a similar deal.
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Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Feb 26, 2007 21:48:14 GMT -5
Unfortunately, it looks like the only way to get that done.
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Post by sportsfankeith on Feb 26, 2007 23:46:07 GMT -5
Just from the pics on the internet Pittsburgh looks like it would be horrible. It looks like a plane hanger boxed in. The only one I know is Tupelo. It is a average to above average stadium. Nice and very clean but not fancy, but the turf looks like *beep*  I really think it was used back in the fireants days and it is taped and spray pained logos with no team logo anywhere. I think they have earned a new field by how they are playing. Get some astroplay like Ole Miss has! |
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Post by UnoBomber on Feb 27, 2007 8:44:21 GMT -5
What's the going rate for sod these days??? Only indoor football team with natural turf  In all honesty, if the turf was frozen on purpose, then I think the Freeze should find a sponsor to buy the field and not let the ECCA dictate what will be done with it. |
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Post by Sykotyk on Feb 27, 2007 8:47:54 GMT -5
Reusing old turf is common. What else are people going to do with it? Danville's using the Peoria Pirate/Peoria Roughriders turf. Pittsburgh is using the old AF2 Rochester Nighthawks turf. Erie is using the IFL Erie Invaders turf (as mentioned). Steubenville last year used the old UIF/NIFL Dayton Warbirds turf.
This stuff gets recirculated fast.
Sykotyk
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Post by sportsfankeith on Feb 27, 2007 9:46:01 GMT -5
We need to get some old turf from a college indoor facility plus you can pick the good part. Plus I think green bay might have something to say about that you trying to trademark that frozen tundra. All I know is Tupelo needs to stay away from Home Depot when getting that.
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Mississippi Mudcats 1
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Post by Mississippi Mudcats 1 on Feb 27, 2007 20:54:23 GMT -5
I don't know about best stadium, but I would agree that the Legends probobly have the most loyal fans. However, so far the Mudcats fans have been pretty roudy. For instance, Garvin Graves of the RiverRats bugged all of the Mudcats fans. At one point in the game the fans looked ready to pounce on him. I have heard screaming for our team and booing at the other team, almost constintly. I am sure the owner hopes this continues. :smileymudcats: :smileymudcats: :smileymudcats:
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