Bubble turf

[apollo]

If they sealed the concrete in the stands, you probably got more run off when it rained

I can confirm that the stands were the equivalent of a river when it was downpouring, and all that water ended up running onto the field.

Probably should come up with a solution for the problem....I know it was a lot of rain, but the $750,000 brand new turf shouldn't look like that unless it's a hurricane.

[Redwingtom]

If they sealed the concrete in the stands, you probably got more run off when it rained

I can confirm that the stands were the equivalent of a river when it was downpouring, and all that water ended up running onto the field.

Probably should come up with a solution for the problem....I know it was a lot of rain, but the $750,000 brand new turf shouldn't look like that unless it's a hurricane.

Sounds like they need to install a bigger drainage pipe right in front of the stands and then maybe adjust the grade from behind the bench to the front of the stands to channel the run off better.

[BGSU33]

If they sealed the concrete in the stands, you probably got more run off when it rained

Curious as to what they did, if anything, to the area directly in front of the stands to catch and divert the run off from them. If the water from the stands is running all the way out to the playing surface, it sounds like something was not designed properly.

I seem to remember that the old field (either the grass one or the original turf one) had a noticeable crown line in the middle of the field to divert water toward the stands. Could they have made the new field too level when they installed it?

These new turf surfaces have a drain trough that runs all the way around the perimeter of the turf surface. It's beyond the dimensions of the playing field. It's only several inches wide and has a grate that is flush with the surface and is laid inside a thin strip of cement. If you've ever walked onto our field you probably stepped right on it it over it and didn't even notice it. There are also a couple actual drains that are in place in front of the grandstands too. This is where the majority of the grandstand runoff ends up.

These new turf surfaces do not require a crown like you see on older grass fields. They are essentially leveled to balance out where the actual water goes when it drains below and to provide a level playing surface. If there is any type of crown at all it's extremely minimal. In fact, many good grass fields also have drainage systems under the natural grass surface nowadays. You still make see some fields with a crown but not like you used to. Clemson was notorious for an extreme crown at one point. When you stood on one sidelines and looked across the field at the other team, everything was cutoff below their knees. It also made passes sail high from the middle of the field to the sidelines. But with Clemson's new drainage system under their grass field, the crown was removed and leveled.

[pdt1081]

If they sealed the concrete in the stands, you probably got more run off when it rained

Curious as to what they did, if anything, to the area directly in front of the stands to catch and divert the run off from them. If the water from the stands is running all the way out to the playing surface, it sounds like something was not designed properly.

I seem to remember that the old field (either the grass one or the original turf one) had a noticeable crown line in the middle of the field to divert water toward the stands. Could they have made the new field too level when they installed it?

Not saying this isn't the case, but the entire drainage plan for the stadium probably isn't designed for 3 inches of rain in less than 12 hours. (I wasn't there to know exactly how heavy the rain was or the precise timing.) It's not exactly common to receive that much at one time, and may never happen during a game again.

If they are relying on permanent pumps to remove the water from inside the stadium, I highly doubt the system was over built for that much water at once. Big pumps mean big $$$. May just be a case of needing to rent a bigger pump when there's a chance for rain on game day.