New stadium turf may cost state $800,000
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state is expected to pay about $800,000 of the estimated $1.3 million contract to prepare and install a new artificial surface at Aloha Stadium, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority executive director said yesterday.
Lawyers from several parties yesterday were still working to finalize the contract, said Rex Johnson, HTA's executive director.
The contract will be awarded to the Montreal-based company that produces FieldTurf, an artificial grass product that uses layers of sand and rubber infill. FieldTurf CEO John Gilman originally estimated the project to cost $877,000 earlier this year.
The turf installation — which will replace the stadium's AstroTurf — is scheduled to take place between the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl Dec. 25 and the NFL Pro Bowl Feb. 2.
The $1.3 million contract includes $500,000 from the HTA, $500,000 from FieldTurf and the NFL, and $300,000 earmarked from former Gov. Ben Cayetano's budget, Johnson said.
"If it comes out to $1.3 million, that's what it is," Johnson said. "The old governor had $300,000 in the budget for this year."
Johnson said he didn't know if Gov. Linda Lingle earmarked the $300,000 in her budget, but added Lingle has always been supportive of sports when she was Maui mayor. He also said that the NFL has been known to help pay for projects, and he believed the $300,000 that was earmarked by a previous governor would not jeopardize the project.
An Aloha Stadium Authority board meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Aloha Stadium on the FieldTurf situation, Johnson said.
Johnson said the cost of work on the subsurface is estimated at $300,000, which includes "grading" or shaving the crown at the middle of the field.
The grading work is scheduled to take about two weeks and will be done by Hawaiian Dredging, which is subcontracted by FieldTurf, said Mel Miyamoto, vice president, division manager of Hawaiian Dredging's heavy division.
FieldTurf 's Gilman said after the subsurface work, turf installation should take about two weeks.
The turf replacement was part of an agreement in 2000 between the HTA and the NFL'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 a new playing surface.
