New Turf Field Project at Salisbury University

Salisbury University is placing A-Turf, an artificial in-fill turf system, into Sea Gull Stadium this summer. Construction for this project began in late May 2007 and the field was completed in August. The last home game played at Sea Gull Stadium was men's lacrosse vs. Gettysburg in the NCAA Division III national semifinals on May 19, 2007. The Sea Gulls won 9-6 and advanced to the national championship game where they won their seventh national title. The first home game on the new field was on September 1 when Salisbury football defeated Albright College, 42-12. Sea Gull Stadium opened in 1980 and seats 2,500.

To learn more about A-Turf, synthetic grass surfacing systems, please visit its Web site www.aturf.com. This page will be updated throughout the construction project.

September 1 • First Game on the New Field

Salisbury University hosted Albright College in the season and home opener for the Sea Gulls. This was the first official game played on the new A-Turf field. SU President Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach is pictured above with the 2007 football team captains Jamar Garner, Joe Galloway, David Leonard and Chris Loveland along with Sammy the Sea Gull.

SU President Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach performed the ceremonial coin flip before the start of Saturday's game. Salisbury won the game 42-12. Read the game story here.

August 12 • First Practice on the New Field

The first practice on the new A-Turf field at Sea Gull Stadium

The SU football team opened camp on August 12 with an afternoon practice.

The air temperature on Sunday was 85 degrees but the temperature on the
field reached well over a 100.

August 9 • Lines Added

Painted lines were added to Sea Gull Stadium this week.

Sea Gull Stadium looks a lot different with the new A-Turf.

The first practice on the new field will be Sunday, August 12 by the football team.

The SU logo is complete at midfield.

This is the mixture of sand and rubber infill that was placed in the turf.

July 31 • Turf arrives

The new A-Turf arrived at Sea Gull Stadium this week.

Workers place finishing touches on the SU logo at midfield.

It took two days for the turf to be laid out over the gravel base.

A close-up shot of the turf as it runs along one of the sidelines.

Tuesday morning showed that half of the field already had turf down.

Workers unroll fresh A-Turf across Sea Gull Stadium on Tuesday morning.

July 24 • Base in place

Sea Gull Stadium awaits the arrival of A-Turf as the base is finished.

Fencing continues to be assembled at the stadium.

A higher fence will be located on both end lines.

The gravel base received finishing touches this week.

July 18 • Fencing goes in, gravel smoothed out

Crews begin to add fencing around the field.

Fencing goes up around the perimeter of the field.

A steamroller flattens gravel at Sea Gull Stadium.

More gravel is dumped on the north end of the field.

The 50-yard-line at Sea Gull Stadium.

Piles of gravel await to be spread around the field.

Trucks drop off more gravel to the stadium field.

July 12 • Gravel placed on field

Black tarps cover the field in preparation for gravel to be added.

Half of the north end of the field has gravel in place.

The 50-yard-line at Sea Gull Stadium.

The south end of the stadium now with gravel.

June 27 • Curbing in place

The 50-yard-line at Sea Gull Stadium.

The north end of Sea Gull Stadium.

Workers finish placing curbing into Sea Gull Stadium.

Curbing was placed in to contain the turf.

A bulldozer sits at midfield at Sea Gull Stadium.

June 5 • Construction Underway

The 50-yard-line at Sea Gull Stadium. The practice field in the background
gets a facelift as well.

Construction begins at Sea Gull Stadium.

A close-up view from the stands of the north end of the field.

Mounds of dirt sit on the north end of Sea Gull Stadium.

May 19 • Last Game on Grass

A crowd of 1,120 packs into Sea Gull Stadium on May 19, 2007.

The men's lacrosse national semifinal game vs. Gettysburg was the last game
at Sea Gull Stadium on the grass surface.

SU defeated Gettysburg 9-6 in the semifinals.