Project partners successfully navigate complex procedure for installing high-grade sod at new home of Rocket City Trash Pandas
Hoar Construction and its development partners City of Madison, Alabama and BallCorps, LLC announced today that construction crews have successfully completed a complex installation process for 102,000 square feet of high-grade Bermuda turf at the new Toyota Field at Town Madison in Madison, Ala.
The new Tifway 419 sod is considered one of the premier natural grass surfaces for athletic fields and is expected to be fully grown in time for the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ first ever home game on April 15, 2020. In order to lay down the new turf, Hoar Construction had to plan and execute a multi-layered strategy with trade partner SCG Fields that would allow work crews to meet very precise criteria for the sod’s composition while navigating a series of logistical hurdles for delivery and final installation.
Tifway 419 is unique since it needs to be 12- to 18-months old before harvest, compared to the relatively short three- to four-month growth cycle necessary for other types of sod. There were only three farms in the Southeast available to supply the turf, and the Hoar team selected Tri-Turf Sod Farm in Paris, Tenn. The sod was originally grown for the Tennessee Titans’ practice facility in Nashville but became available after the Titans opted for an alternative sod better suited for the wear and tear of pro football.
Project leaders also had to source a compatible soil for the new turf, which required an exact hybrid mix of 95% sand and 5% peat/organic material that fosters optimal growth. Crews ultimately decided to use a sand that was dredged in Ohio and barged down the Mississippi River to the Tennessee River port in nearby Decatur, Alabama. From there, crews trucked more than 7,000 tons of sand to the construction site, with every 500-ton segment going through required testing to ensure high-grade quality.
“The stringent requirements that were presented to the construction partners required everyone to be nimble and innovative,” said Michael Raymond, assistant project manager at Hoar Construction. “The process we used for the sand is very comparable to medical testing. We conducted a ‘physical’ every 500 tons, and then we did ‘bloodwork’ every 1,500 tons. There was simply no room for error, and that commitment to excellence ensured a final product that we believe is one of the best playing surfaces anywhere in the minor or major leagues.”
The team visited the farm to harvest 2.5 acres, selecting it patch by patch to ensure the highest quality. Once the sod was harvested, it had to be installed within 24 hours, which required additional logistical planning for transportation crews making the 4-hour trek from West Tennessee to Alabama. Maintaining a high standard was of particular concern since rain had been scare for the two months previous to selection, and then it rained for seven consecutive days before the turf was harvested.
“The absolute most visible and memorable feature for fans in any ballpark is the field,” said Ralph Nelson, Managing Partner of BallCorps, LLC and CEO of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. “When we observed the meticulous work of the Hoar team and the quality of the final product, we knew our fans would be in awe of the field’s appearance. I was also able to tell our Major League affiliate with great confidence that their players would be playing on one of the finest playing surfaces in the country.”
The new 82,328-square-foot, $40 million ballpark is the anchor facility for the Town Madison mixed-use development, a 563-acre modern and walkable urban community that provides a variety of dynamic experiences for living, shopping, dining, working and entertainment. Toyota Field will have a capacity of approximately 7,500 fans, including a combination of fixed seating, premium suites, a stadium club, party decks, picnic areas and standing room only areas. The stadium will serve as the new home for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels that is owned by BallCorps, LLC.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama recently secured the naming rights to the new ballpark, with revenue from the naming rights to be evenly divided between the Trash Pandas and the City of Madison. The company’s recent expansion announcement at its facility in Huntsville will increase total employment to 1,800 workers, with an annual production capacity of 900,000 engines. The plant is one of Toyota’s largest engine producers globally.
Partners include City of Madison Alabama (stadium owner), BallCorps LLC (tenant/team owner), Populous (architect), Thorton Tomasetti (structural engineers), Henderson Engineers (MEP), Mullins LLC (civil engineers), and Turner Construction (construction management agency).
ABOUT HOAR CONSTRUCTION
Hoar Construction, established in 1940, has offices in Birmingham, Houston, Austin, Orlando, Nashville, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. The firm provides professional services in general construction, construction management, design/build, serving clients in government, healthcare, retail, education, commercial, multifamily, hospitality, cultural/entertainment, and industrial markets. Hoar currently has projects in nine states. For more information about Hoar Construction, please visit www.hoar.com or visit us on Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn
