F.O.Y.
F i e l d o f t h e Ye a r
Level of Submission: Professional
Category of Submission: Soccer
Head Sports Turf Manager: Bret Baird
Title: Turf Manager
Education: Bachelor's degree from Michigan State in Crop
and Soil Sciences
Experience: May 2001-May 2006, Assistant Turf Manager,
Denver Broncos; May 2006 to present, Turf Manager, Dick's
Sporting Good Park
Other crew to recognize: Phil McQuade (current STMA
Board member); Cody Witham; Manuel Garcia; and Brad Youn
Original construction: 2006; won STMA Field of the Year
Award in 2008
Turfgrass variety: The field is 100% Kentucky bluegrass.
The original sod was grown with the following varieties: Brilliant,
North Star, Moonlight, and Blackstone.
Overseed: Our current overseeding mix consists of 100%
Kentucky Bluegrasswith the following varieties: Rugby II, Brooklawn, Prosperity, Moonlight SLT, and Orfeo.
Rootzone compostion: 90% sand, 10% peat; field features SubAir forced air soil heating system.
Drainage: 6-inch drainage pipes on 10-foot centers across
field.
Although we made it through the
weekend, the field was much more
worn than it would have been if we
had not weakened 40% of the field
by being covered and exposed to
extreme temperatures just days before.
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SportsTurf 39
