The Prestige XM turf, the university stadium’s new turf, is still on track for completion in mid-June, as construction began recently. The old field was torn up, and the new turf will be laid soon.
The turf, which will cost nearly $1 million, was paid for mostly by the Windsor Alumni Association, which donated $500,000. Also, the Windsor Essex Catholic District Schoolboard, will give an annual fee of $25,000 for 10 years.
Among the donators was Richard Peddie, who gave $100,000. Peddie is the President of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, and a Windsor alumnus.
The new field turf will be invulnerable to weather, which has often adversely affected sports such as soccer, football, and rugby. By comparison, too, the new turf will require little to no maintenance.
One of the reasons Gord Grace, Director of Athletics, chose this turf was finance, because, in addition to requiring little maintenance, the turf could also generate revenue.
The tough nature of the turf will allow it to be played on more often, by more teams.
Grace hopes that intramural and high school sports can find use for the new turf as well.
The producer and installer of the new turf is FieldTurf Tarkett, a company renowned globally for their turfs, installing them in countless communities, schools, and stadiums.
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