Posted on: Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Contract nearly done for Aloha turf
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
An estimated $1 million contract to install a new artificial grass playing surface at Aloha Stadium could be finalized by as early as next week, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority executive director said yesterday.
The contract would officially award the project to the Montreal-based company that produces FieldTurf, an artificial grass product that uses layers of sand and rubber infill.
The installation — which will replace Aloha Stadium's AstroTurf — is scheduled to take place between the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 25 and the Pro Bowl on Feb. 2.
The turf replacement was part of an agreement in 2000 between the HTA and the National Football League's Pro Bowl. The NFL prefers natural grass or FieldTurf because its players have complained about injuries suffered on AstroTurf. Hawai'i coach June Jones has also advocated for a new playing surface.
"We're working like mad to finalize a contract," said Rex Johnson, HTA's executive director. "It certainly isn't done yet. There could be a handshake by this week, but I doubt if the legal documentation will be done by this week. There's a chance it could be done next week."
For the contract to be finalized, it first must be reviewed by attorneys from FieldTurf, the NFL, Aloha Stadium, the HTA, and also by engineers, Johnson said.
The NFL and HTA will each pay $500,000 to cover the cost of the estimated $1 million project, Johnson said. The $1 million project is $123,000 more than the $877,000 estimate by FieldTurf earlier this year.
FieldTurf is the same surface as used in Seattle Seahawk Stadium, Detroit Lions' Ford Field, 11 NFL team practice facilities and 30 stadiums used by college teams.
Tau Harrington, a consultant for the HTA, said the installation of FieldTurf would enable Aloha Stadium to host major FIFA sanctioned soccer competitions.
"It's not just for football or just for the NFL," Harrington said of the FieldTurf. "It's really something that we hope will benefit the entire community and be a benefit to our overall marketing efforts. I don't think we would be doing it if the benefits were limited only to the NFL or the University of Hawai'i football team."
