Lakeside and Hot Springs will both debut new football fields this week representing more than $1.075 million combined in improvements ahead of their season openers against Lake Hamilton and Fountain Lake, respectively.
"Our facility is coming together nicely," said Lakeside head football coach Jared McBride. "We are glad to have the new turf down, new bleachers and we are getting new graphics put up. We are ready to showcase our stadium this Friday."
The Rams will host the Lake Hamilton Wolves Friday at 7 p.m. in the first senior high varsity football game between the two teams since 1999.
The Trojans will host the Fountain Lake Cobras at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the first matchup between the two teams since 2007. The inaugural First Security Bank Kickoff Classic is intended to start a new annual rivalry series.
"This turf is soft," said new Hot Springs head football coach Darrell Burnett. "Turf is turf. It is still going to be as hot as I don't know what, but speed is speed. Either you are fast or you are slow. It doesn't matter what you are running on."
Lakeside's previous surface was purchased for $520,000 from ProGrass. The field was installed with an eight-year warranty, but the school utilized the surface for 11 years.
The turf was replaced due to normal wear and tear. Synthetic material breaks down from ultraviolet rays, which causes the rubber to migrate and force the surface to lose the effectiveness of its cushion.
The new surface was purchased this year for $364,769 from AstoTurf, which is owned by Sport Group Holdings. Sport Group acquired ProGrass in 2016.
"It is softer, which is great for everybody -- your hips, your back and everything," McBride said. "It is a top-of-the-line field and we are glad to have it."
The new turf at Tommy J. Holt Field at Joe Reese Stadium is part of an overhaul to the Hot Springs School District's facilities. A 4.4-mill increase approved by voters in 2016 generated $54 million for new construction, including almost $32 million for a new junior high campus next to Hot Springs World Class High School on Emory Street.
The new Hot Springs Junior Academy will include a 1,000-seat auditorium and a 2,200-seat multipurpose arena. Superintendent Stephanie Nehus' recommendation for the purchase of a basketball video scoreboard and table equipment for $244,393 from Ace Sign Co. in Little Rock was unanimously approved by the school board during its meeting on May 15.
The new surface at Hot Springs features the district's new Trojan logo. The board approved the district's new branding created by TLI Print on Feb. 20.
The purchase and installation of the new turf for $414,000 was approved by the board on Dec. 19, 2017. The bid was submitted by Midwest Synthetic Turf Professionals in Missouri. The cost included $25,000 for letter outlines, sideline lettering and installation.
"The one we had before was old and outdated," Burnett said. "It was a little bit thinner, and the thinner they are, normally, the faster they are."
A new track was recently installed at the field, but fans will not see the completed product this week. The board approved a track replacement on April 17 for $297,187.
One option for $108,605 would have only patched and restriped the previous surface. Another option for $190,466 would have only installed a new base mat, while an option for $260,471 would have left the track with a black surface following the installation.
The district chose the option from McConnell & Associates in North Kansas City, Mo., to apply a gold structural spray to the track surface.
Fountain Lake and Hot Springs will meet in the first high school game of the season in Garland County. The Rams have often played at other locations such as Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock earlier in the first week of the season instead of the opening Friday.
"It will get us kicked off on the right foot," McBride said. "Everything comes together to really get us started. We know we have 10 good weeks in a row coming, but we are blessed to be able to start it at home versus Lake Hamilton."
Sports on 08/29/2018