Category: Athletic Fields

Tampa Bay Rays Half Field Retro-Fit UltraBaseSystems®
in Cooperation with AstroTurf

Natural turf half field prior to retrofit.

Sod cutting existing turf.

Sod is removed.

Area is cleaned up and sod and debris are hauled away. Excavation was only necessary due to finished height of synthetic grass being slightly above existing base paths.

Baselines are marked to maintain proper dimensions.

Laser is placed on site to determine proper excavation depth.

Perimeter of area is checked for depth.

Pitcher’s mound base is checked for depth.

A shovel is used to achieve proper depth as a guide.

Bob Cat is used to reach final desired depth.

Perimeter drainage trench is dug.

Laser guides back hoe to proper depths for water to flow to desired location of field.

5” perforated drain pipe is brought on site.

Pipe is placed in trench.

Couplers are added to join lengths together.

Drain pipe is installed around base path perimeter.

#89 stone is used to fill trench.

Drain pipe is centered and held in place on bottom of ditch as stone fills in trench.

Drain pipe is directed out to water management system.

Drain pipe crosses base path and out to water management system.

Stone is compacted into trench.

Finished grading is completed.

Base area is compacted, smoothed and readied for panel installation.

Final hand raking is done.

Infield base prep is completed.

Elapsed time for base prep without drain system 6 hours – 4 workers; with drain system 12 hours

Permeable geo-textile is applied over compacted base.

Fabric is anchored in place with landscape spikes.

Overlap pattern is created in order to direct water properly towards base paths.

Area is ready for panels.

Geo fabric installation 2 hrs – 2 workers

Panels are cut and outer teeth removed to create a straight edge with solid outer wall.

First rows are assembled to establish proper layout.

A gap of 1 inch is left between existing base path and panels.

A large block of panels is assembled to allow for accurate layout, ultimately creating a perfect square.

Panels are staged around perimeter.

Installation of panels.

Panels are pulled in place.

Panels are assembled and trimmed around mound.

Pitcher’s mound complete.

Panels almost complete.

Base path arcs marked and cut.

12” wide impermeable geo-textile slides under panels, up the sides and stapled to top to prevent unwanted moisture from getting to base paths.

Gap between base path and panels is cleaned out

Elapsed time for panel installation 3 hours – 7 workers

Turf is rolled easily on to the panels with no fear of movement or panel shifting.

Turf is pulled in place following marks placed on panels.

Unrolled turf is pulled in place.

Turf grippers help workers move turf across the panels.

Turf is laid flat and panel turf barbs hold it in place with minimal sliding.

All the turf panels are in place.

Turf is trimmed, ready for seaming.

Glue sled glides easily over panels depositing glue evenly on impermeable seam cloth.

Turf edges are carefully aligned and placed in glue.

Seams are rolled repeatedly to insure strong bond.

One side of turf is stapled to the panels every 3 inches eliminating the need for a nailer board. Turf grain runs towards the first row of staples.

Guide lines are anchored into the ground so that infill machine runs in accurate passes.

Elapsed time turf installation 4 hours – 4 workers

Sand and rubber infill is trucked on sight.

Infill is loaded into the spreader.

Infill process begins.

Infill process continues depositing the infill evenly and making the turf ready for play.

Project is complete.

Spring Training begins Feb 15, 2011

A view from the outfield.

Close up 3rd base side.

Tampa Bay Rays coach Joe Maddon has a talk with the team on the new field.

Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training Facility
Port Charlotte, Florida
February 2011

With supervision provided by the UBS staff and the enthusiasm of a handful of hardworking kids from Academy Prep Center in Tampa, FL, UltraBaseSystems® base panels proved once and for all our state-of-the-art synthetic turf base system is so easy a child can do it. Just watch and see for yourself what can be accomplished with UltraBaseSystems® in only a few days.

“Our partnership with UltraBaseSystems® provided us with a professional-quality synthetic turf athletic field from which our students at Academy Prep Center of Tampa will benefit for years to come. The selection of UltraBaseSystems® as the foundation for the field was the perfect solution for our school – the field came together quickly, without any mess or issues, and the UltraBaseSystems® team did a great job. On behalf of the students, staff and board of Academy Prep Center of Tampa, thank you.”

– Paul Whiting Sr.
President, Academy Prep Center of Tampa Board of Trustees
President, Seabreeze Holdings

This 15,000 sq ft school play yard is in desperate need of a makeover. The dream of the many dedicated volunteers, teachers, and generous supporters was to provide these deserving students a safe and great play field that would last for years to come.

A local contractor made quick work of removing the existing sod and weeds.

While part of the team was busy with preliminary ground prep, the 53-foot truck arrived with everything we needed to build the school’s ”Field of Dreams.”

In just 45 minutes the truck was unloaded, and panels and turf are staged around the area, ready for installation.

Two front end loaders and two dump trucks are on site to prepare the Florida soil for panel installation.

A few small areas needed minimal fill material to prepare the ground properly. The sandy Florida base is perfect for a direct installation over the existing soil. This is what we refer to as a retrofit.

The entire area is rolled repeatedly to achieve proper compaction.

A crew of three and an eight hour day made easy work of removing the unwanted grass in preparation for UltraBaseSystems® panels.

A 4.5 oz permeable geotextile fabric is laid over the area and secured with landscape spikes.

The young group of students ranging from 5th grade to high school enthusiastically begin to lay out the panels in rows.

The first row of panels have been cut on the table saw back in the shop to remove the teeth and create a solid exterior face for the outer perimeter. The panels are spaced along the starting area with wood stakes to maintain a 1-inch gap between the panels and the concrete basketball court. This gap is necessary to allow for expansion of the outer row of panels.

UBS team members slide the panels in place making quick work of building the first few starting rows. It is important for the first rows to start off square as this will dictate the layout of the area. As in all building procedures it is very important to have a good foundation to build upon, so make sure the first rows are perfect. The day was hot and so were the panels, so no intentional gaps were created. However, some gaps always occur during installation and that is okay. Just keep it to a minimum, but don’t force the panels together. The panels will settle in with just a few hot/cool cycles.

In just one half hour the base construction is well under way.

Our young volunteers worked tirelessly to make their new play field a reality.

Once the first section of panels are in place, the turf installation crew is ready to position the first roll of the 1.5-inch slit film polypropylene turf.

The turf rolls out easily on the panels.

Once rolled out, the turf is trimmed and positioned, held firmly in place with the patented UBS turf barb system.

As more and more panels are assembled, no time is wasted in getting the next rolls of turf in place in preparation of seaming.

Former Tampa Bay Bucs defensive star and Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Champ, Santana Dotson, stops by to wish the kids well and check out the new field installation.

The final area of panels is installed. This 15,000 sq ft area is transformed from a dirt lot to a state-of-the-art base structure for synthetic grass in just 5 hours.

That’s right. 5 hours. Thanks, kids!

Impermeable seem tape is laid out and temporarily secured in place on either end, as seam glue is carefully spread on the tape being careful to get no glue on the panels, which could cause the turf to stick to the UBS base.

The turf is carefully seamed together to achieve a neat seam with no gaps between the turf panels.

The turf is rolled with a heavy seam roller and the glue is allowed to dry. This process is repeated on all seven seams.

As seam work is taking place, the panels are being trimmed around the walkways and any other existing structure or area, being careful to leave a uniformed gap of no less than ¾ inch.

Any small pieces of panels are secured to larger pieces using the UBS self-tapping screws and washers.

The last roll of turf is rolled out and moved into position.

Excess turf is trimmed and will be finished off later.

One end of the field is secured to panels using the ½-inch wide x 1-inch long 18 gauge stainless steel staples. The panels act as the nailer so say goodbye to installed nailer boards.

Once the area is seamed and glue is dry, the area is ready for infill. The 4,000 lb bags of athletic grade sand are emptied into the spreader.

The infill process begins with depositing an even layer of sand at a rate of one pound per square foot.

The infilling of the sand continues until the first layer is evenly deposited into the field.

The sand is broomed into the turf by dragging the mounted fixed broom around the field until the sand settles in.

The process continues with the depositing of the rubber into the turf.

Once an even layer is in place, the rubber is broomed in and the turf is scarified at the same time in an effort to drive the rubber into the turf by forcing the turf fibers to stand erect making room for the infill.

The infill process continues until the desired infill amount is achieved.

All outside edges of turf are tucked and secured with staples making neat work of all transition edges.

Clean lines are achieved on all edges.

All corners and edges are filled by hand to ensure proper coverage.

The job site is cleaned off and excess material blown back into the turf.

A course rubber mat is pulled around the entire area until the rubber is evenly dispersed.

A finishing touch of white stone and brick pavers makes for a great finished edge around the turf.

In less than a week, this heavily used and abused school yard play area is converted into a professional quality synthetic turf play field with very little mess or vehicle traffic to disrupt the important work going on at this model school. The experience is one that we will remember for years to come and are confident those students who helped to make it happen will take pride in their accomplishment long after graduation from the Academy Prep Center.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – August 24, 2011

First day of school brings an enthusiastic response from teachers and students.

tampa florida artificial turf installation

Success!

The Home Depot Center in Carson, California was the sight of a spectacular sports field transformation. In only six days, crews transformed the existing 82,500 sq ft natural grass field, which hosts David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy, into a state-of-the-art AstroTurf field. A top-notch crew of ten technicians installed over 15,000 structural base panels in under 18 hours. AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme turf was easily positioned, seamed, and infilled…completing the project in a record-setting SIX DAYS!

The field is playing host to the California Interscholastic Federation’s State Championship Football Bowl Games, the Doble Clasico Centroamericano International Soccer Match, and the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which airs on January 21, 2012 on the NBC Sports Network in the USA. This amazing field has far exceeded the expectations of all those involved. From the installation process, to performance testing, to player response, to ball roll, this project was perfect. Saving the best for last, the entire field will be disassembled and moved down the road and re-installed in its permanent home shortly after the last event. Now that is amazing!

The existing natural turf was expertly removed by The Home Depot Center grounds crew and the sand base was laser graded and compacted to panel installation specifications. The field was measured and marked, ready for the 14 rolls of 6.5 oz spun-bond, permeable geotextile.

Panels were easily shuttled to the job site to begin base installation. The crew quickly got into the groove of panel installation and the first day they averaged 2,500 sq ft per hour.

The second day the installation rate jumped to 6,000 sq ft of panels installed per hour, completing the 82,500 sq ft on the morning of the third day for a total base installation time of less than 18 hours.

As soon as the panels were completed, the first rolls of turf were staged into position. The interlocking structural base panels had no difficulty in handling the load of the tractor, turf and infill equipment. The turf installation process continued for the next two days and the sea of black panels was rapidly covered with the beautiful AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 Extreme product.

Confident the turf would not move due to the panel design, the crew wasted no time infilling the turf, and the new state-of-the-art synthetic turf field at The Home Depot Center was complete and ready for painting.

After performing perfectly for three major sporting events in two months, it was time for this field to hit the road!

UltraBaseSystems® easily handles the enormous load of the turf removal equipment without any deformation or damage. The panels were quickly disassembled and packed ready for transport.

The patented UltraBaseSystems® installation process left the existing sand base completely intact with minimal indentation much to the liking of the facilities ground crew.

It’s portable. It’s permanent. It’s perfect!

The installation of this 7,200 sq ft indoor soccer and multi-sport field in Largo, FL confirms UltraBaseSystems® is the industry leader in field conversions.

When approached by the owner of Pinellas Indoor Soccer the goal was clear: convert the old worn out, unsafe field into a state-of-the-art UltraBaseSystems® panel-based field worthy of top caliber players. One minor detail, do it in a weekend!

After meeting with the owners, a plan was implemented. The team at UBS would oversee the installation of the panels, our good friends at TLI Sports in Clearwater, FL would supply and install the turf and the owner and his staff of Pinellas Indoor would resurface the walls as well as install a beautiful new 8×120 ft glass wall; an ambitious plan but one that the entire team pulled off without a hitch.

The existing 7,200 sq ft field was completely worn out. The original turf was a glue down system on concrete and the fibers were all but gone.

The dasher boards were in need of re-facing and a new state of the art glass wall would replace the old scratched plexi wall.

The panels, turf and glass arrive to the job site right on time.

The panels are shuttled onto the field. We made the decision to build directly over the old turf as it was very low nap and made for a nice barrier between the concrete and the panels. It also saved a bunch of time!

The panels arrive attached together.

A quick hit on the corner will separate them into two individual panels.

First, the panels are cut on the table saw to remove the teeth along the starting point.

The cut panels are laid out along the wall and a temporary ¾” wood spacer is in place to assure the proper gap for turf tucking.

The next several rows are carefully installed making sure the panels were running square and perfect. We left a slight 1/8″ gap between the panels to allow for any expansion. The likelihood of this happening indoors is remote but we would rather be safe than sorry.

The first several rows are always crucial to insure the panels are running straight and square. We realized the corner wall was not creating a true right angle with the long main wall, so all calculations and layout were based off the 120 ft outer wall and the other three sides of the rink would be cut to fit. Remember the panels will only install properly when all is square.

The team begins laying the panels in rows as the installer goes to work sliding the panels together. One supervisor is always following behind giving a kick here and there to make sure all panels are properly engaged and gapped.

Once all the panels are installed we began to cut the panels to fit the rounded corners and the goal areas. This is done with a jigsaw or circular saw.

We simply mark the lines, cut the panels and make sure there was at least a ¾ to 1-inch gap between the panels and wall. The outer row of panels was also cut to the exact dimensions prior to the new wall installation.

As we moved from corner to corner the turf crew was right behind us rolling out the 1.5 in monofilament turf and positioning it in place on the panels.

Once the turf was positioned and trimmed the process of seaming begins.

First the turf is pulled back and an impermeable seam cloth is installed. The glue was applied to the tape.

The glue was evenly spread on the tape and allowed to sit for an hour or so.

Once ready, the turf was carefully seamed together and rolled to insure proper bond.

The entire process of panels and turf installation and seaming was done in one day.

As the panel installation was occurring the owner and his team were hard at work demolishing the old glass wall and installing the prefabricated new glass wall system. This entire installation was performed with the preciseness of a military operation.

With the panels, turf, and most of the walls in place the infill process begins.

The system would require about 1.7 pounds per sq ft of rubber infill. The process of infilling and grooming took the entire next day.

Once the grooming was complete the field was painted and ready for play.

This installation was started on Friday morning and the first game began at 7 pm Monday night.

The arriving teams were enthralled with the look of the new facility and once they entered through the glass and experienced the feel of this extraordinary UltraBaseSystems® field they were all smiles. The teams raved about the ball roll, bounce, and most importantly how safe they felt on the new mini soccer pitch.

This first rate facility is instrumental in creating champions of tomorrow in the Tampa Bay area.

We couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished over a weekend and proved once again that UltrasBaseSystems® is the industry’s answer to installation speed, quality, and safety.

Thanks to everyone that made this installation happen so perfectly, it was a great team effort.