An E&I 2-Minute Read

New Mexico State Installs a Cooler Playing Field at Aggie Memorial Stadium

In preparation for Conference USA play, and the 2023 football season, the New Mexico State Aggies installed a cooler playing surface called CoolPlay.

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The New Mexico State University Aggies entered Conference USA play in Fall 2023. The team was coming off a 6-1 run to end the 2022 season, a Quick Lane Bowl victory, and entering the Conference USA. The athletics program upgraded the turf at Aggie Memorial Stadium, among other upgrades.

The environment in New Mexico is hot, obviously turf can get hot in a desert environment. To keep the field cooler, NMSU installed a product by FieldTurf called CoolPlay. FieldTurf is a Tarkett Sports company, which delivers safe and durable playing surfaces.

CoolPlay infill is a FieldTurf exclusive playing surface and is an industry leader in cooling technology. The extruded composite top dressing is designed to reduce surface temperature without compromising performance or adding additional maintenance. CoolPlay is designed to reduce heat without any reduction in field performance.

FieldTurf CoolPlay system has quickly become the preferred solution of elite programs to reduce surface temperature without any reduction in field performance. The University of Arizona, University of Tulsa, University of Nebraska, and North Carolina State, to name a few, all join the impressive list of schools that turned to FieldTurf CoolPlay. Student-athletes like that the surface has a lower temperature than normal artificial surfaces. For example, the Arizona Wildcats also use CoolPlay for the surface at Arizona Stadium.  📰  Read full case study with New Mexico State University

The stadium’s new FieldTurf Classic HD has been designed to consistently outperform other slit-film-based yarns. The thick design and precision cut pattern of the HD yarn gives noticeably less infill splash than other slit-film yarns. FieldTurf has installed over 20,000 athletic playing surfaces, including many college and NFL stadiums. Other top Division-I NCAA programs that play on FieldTurf include Illinois, Illinois State, Kansas State, Arizona, Washington State, Oregon State, West Virginia, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Iowa, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Louisville, to name of few.

With your E&I membership, you have a contract with FieldTurf and Tarkett Sports. 

Does synthetic turf get a bad rap?

Collegiate athletic programs make a choice between natural grass and turf. It is often a monetary investment, since turf can have an expectation of more playable hours. Turf is definitely more accessible for athletics programs that see year round usage. For maintenance, turf is seen as the premium option. But there is thought that use of synthetic turf could be more hazardous than natural grass, or controversial, or even financially not beneficial. No one argues synthetic turf's record of having easy maintenance, but some may need replacing every 8-10 years. It can also be costly to dispose of synthetic turf. 

A recent 3-year prospective study from the Department of Health and Human Development from Montana State University contradicts that turf is less safe. This study, published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine showed these findings, based on FieldTurf systems:

College football - FieldTurf vs. Natural Grass
   •  13% fewer muscle strains/tears on FieldTurf
   •  11% fewer concussions on FieldTurf
   •  31% fewer ligament tears on FieldTurf
   •  24% less high ankle sprains on FieldTurf
   •  21% fewer severe injuries on FieldTurf
   •  23% fewer injuries on a 4-8+ year old surface

College men's soccer - FieldTurf vs. Natural Grass
   •  25% fewer total injuries on FieldTurf
   •  20% fewer severe injuries on FieldTurf
   •  33% fewer concussions on FieldTurf
   •  15% fewer injuries due to player-to-surface collisions

Overall, this study concluded improved physical performance on artificial turf compared to natural grass. See the full study below.
Incidence, Mechanisms, and Severity of Game-Related College Football Injuries on FieldTurf Versus Natural Grass.

 

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Anthony Travel

Your E&I contract with Anthony Travel offers comprehensive travel solutions for teams, athletics, and other university business travel needs. Anthony Travel leverages years of travel coordination at the national and international level, including housing plans, hotel, group air and transport savings.

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JMI Sports

JMI Sports helps schools develop customized solutions and programs for athletics multimedia rights, sponsorships, and digital signage networks. This E&I contract offers project management solutions for your athletics program. Members generate revenue, exposure, and multimedia rights.

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SAP Concur

This E&I contract allows for easier travel, expense, invoices, obligations, and compliance controls management. This user-friendly web solution standardizes reporting processes and cost savings. It reduces reimbursement times, and delivers accurate spend data and traveler location.

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