Margaret BauerAfter ten weeks and 600,000 dollars later, Francis Field will be reopened in time for the fall sports season. Replacing the old grass turf that has been around since the 1904 Olympic Games will be a modern synthetic turf called FieldTurf.
FieldTurf has been on the market since 1993. Since its introduction, it has been in use with various top teams, including the St. Louis Rams, and NCAA Division I soccer team St. John’s University. Three other universities in the University Athletic Association (UAA) have installed FieldTurf. Washington University is the fourth, after the University of Rochester, New York University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Construction began on June 14 and is expected to be complete by Aug. 30. “Construction is a little behind schedule, but we’re confident that the field will be ready in time for the new incoming freshmen,” said Athletic Director John M. Schael.
The timing is just right, given that the university just recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of its hosting of the Olympic Games by re-dedicating Francis Field. Francis Field is also a registered national historical landmark.
Previously, the old grass turf was solely used for the football and soccer teams. This was to preserve the grass pitch for intercollegiate competitions as well as for visiting teams when they play at Francis Field.
“The new field however will be available for all levels – sport clubs, intramurals and of course our inter-collegiate teams,” said Schael.
One of the main motivations for installing FieldTurf, according to Schael, is the loss of “green area” – open playing space that has been taken up by the university’s expansion of its campus buildings. “On FieldTurf, teams will be able to train and use the field seven days a week, either in rain or in shine,” said Schael.
Also, with the University’s campus upgrading and expansion plans, Francis Field was next in line. “Washington University is known for its top class facilities,” said Head Football Coach Larry Kindbom. “The installation of FieldTurf at Francis Field attests to that fact.”
The construction of FieldTurf follows such exact standards that a precise gradient of one percent is achieved, compared to two percent on the old grass field. This means that the middle of the field slopes downward at a grade of one percent to the edge of the field. This actually improves the playing conditions for soccer, where the roll of the ball is subject to how much the field curves.
With such a modern field, will expectations for the university’s football and soccer teams be heightened? “We always expect them to perform, and do their best,” said Schael.
Expectations are already high for the Bears. The football team is widely tipped to win their fourth consecutive UAA title, while the women’s soccer team is expected to finish in the top two.
The University’s investment of over half a million dollars on a state-of-the-art pitch does not mean, however, that the University administration’s emphasis on athletics has changed. “Academics are always the top priority for all our athletes,” said Schael.
For coach Larry Kindbom, the new field will provide a complement to the student’s academic studies. “Our star defensive back, John Woock, is an All-American athlete. Yet he still manages a 4.0 GPA majoring in Biomedical Engineering, which is one of the toughest majors possible,” said Kindbom.
With the installation of a new turf on Francis Field, plans for the rest of the Athletic Complex have already started. Although still in the preliminary planning stage, architects have already been engaged to come up with plans for the refurbishment for the entire complex. In the works are a new gymnasium, new fitness facilities, a 50-meter indoor swimming pool and possibly a tie-in with the School of Medicine to create an entirely new sports medicine department.
Planning will begin in earnest in early September, when the architects will talk to various student groups on campus, in an attempt to involve the entire University community in this project.
“When you come into the Athletic Complex after 8pm on any day, there are no activities available for either students or staff,” said Schael. “With this project, however, we are planning to change that.”