40 SportsTurf | November 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com
Stadium Field,
Maryland SoccerPlex,
Boyds, MD
FIELD OF THE YEAR
Category of Submission: Professional
Soccer
Sports Turf Manager: Ryan Bjorn
Title: Sports Field Director
Education: BS, AAS, Plant and Soil Science,
Turfgrass Management
Experience: I started as an intern working on
the grounds crew for the Boston Red Sox, and
remained on staff for the 4 years while pursu-
ing my Bachelor's Degree at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. During this time, I
also worked one summer season for the City of
South Portland, ME at the Wainwright Sports
Complex helping maintain two baseball fields,
four baseball fields and six soccer fields. After
the baseball season completed in 2010, I went
to work for the New England Patriots field
crew, helping maintain one stadium Field Turf
field and three natural grass practice fields,
for the 2010-2011 season, ending in February
2011. I then applied for the manager-in- train-
ing position at the Maryland SoccerPlex (after
finding the posting on stma.org!) and was
hired in March of 2011. In the 3 years since then
I have worked my way up from manager-in-
training to assistant field manager, then to field
manager and have been acting Sports Field
Director since February 2014.
Original construction: 2000
Renovation: 10 seasons of mismanage-
ment created a number of problems,
including an accumulation of a 3" organic
layer (drainage and compaction issues), a
heavy infestation of Poa (disease problems,
aesthetically unpleasant, poor stability), and
to get back to the original grade/expose and
utilize existing stability fibers. Removed the
top 3" of the field surface to get rid of the
accumulated organic matter and expose the
original sand/stability fiber rootzone. Surface
was recycle dressed to refresh the profile and
expose some stability fibers, the rolled, 3⁄4"
of 100% sand was added, field was seeded
with Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye-
grass, then 1⁄4" 80/20 sand/organic mix was
added on top. Field was rolled and watered,
then opened for play again 35 days later.
What was the soil composition of the field
before renovation? 100% Sand/stability fiber
mix with 3" organic layer. What was the soil
composition of the field after renovation?
100% sand/stability fiber mix.
Turfgrass variety: 90% Kentucky bluegrass,
10% perennial ryegrass
Overseed: Overseed with Kentucky blue-
grass twice a year in the Spring and Fall
