F.O.Y.
F i e l d o f t h e Ye a r
TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
Level of Submission: College
Category of Submission: Baseball
Head Sports Turf Manager: Dan Blank
Barons ('07) and Buffalo Bisons ('08-'10);
Turf Manager at TD Ameritrade Park
Omaha ('10-present).
Full-time staff: Eric Williams, assistant
turf manager
Title: Turf manager
Original construction: 2011
Education: Associate's degree,
horticulture and turf management
Experience: Internships with St. Paul
Saints ('04) and Milwaukee Brewers
('05); Assistant Groundskeeper for
Louisville Bats ('06); Head
Groundskeeper for Birmingham
34 SportsTurf | December 2013
Turfgrass variety: Original sod from
Graff's Turf Farms. Currently: 85%
Kentucky bluegrass/15% perennial
ryegrass
Overseed: Compared to 2011, we tried to
ramp up our overseeding program for
2012. Because of the variety of events
we host throughout the season and its
constant use, overseeding is definitely
part of our regular maintenance plan.
Rates and frequency of seeding are as
follows: 1 lb /1,000 bluegrass at least
once a month; 1/2 lb/1,000 ryegrass
every other month
Drainage: Corrugated plastic drain tile.
24" to 18" main line running down
center of field (centerfield to home
plate). 6" lateral lines every 10. Also
have SubAir system; heated air forced
through drainage system.
www.sportsturfonline.com