SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The next time the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons and the Hutchinson High School Salthawks take the field, they will be playing on new turf at Gowans Stadium.
The current turf at Gowans Stadium, which was installed in February of 2015, is being torn up and will be replaced with AstroTurf RootZone 3D3 blend. According to the HutchCC Board of Trustees meeting from April 13, the cost will be $300,000.00. The new turf will come with a new 10-year warranty and 10-year maintenance contract. The initial cost of the turf replacement approved in December, 2014 was $697,415.00.
"The current turf at Gowans had an eight year lifespan and it started to show signs of degradation," HutchCC Athletic Director Josh Gooch said. "We're putting our warranty to use and look forward to having a new playing surface ready by July."
The AstroTurf website says the RootZone 3D3 Blend combines three unique fibers in one system (RootZone, Trionic Monofilament, and ultra-durable slit film). The RootZone 3D3 Blend also offers both durability and aesthetics and is the most popular system under the AstroTurf products.
"The field design will be the exact same," Gooch said. "We will have the most up-to-date turf that there is on the market. I think it is a classy look for all the entities that use Gowans, and it allows for everybody to be showcased on that venue."
The current turf has hosted a Kansas State High School Activities Association championship football game the past nine seasons, as well as the Kansas Shrine Bowl game in 2021.
"There are really many neat moments that happened on this turf," Gooch said. "I think hosting the Shrine Bowl and what that means to all of those kids and having that event here in Hutchinson and Gowans Stadium is one that I'll probably think back on the most. Each high school state championship there are a lot of fun, but there are several moments I'll think back on."
If everything goes as planned, the turf will be ready to go by the first of July.
"They started ripping the turf up today and it will take about three days for removal," Gooch said. "Friday, some foundation type work will take place. Then about 12 days the contract has them to be done by the first of July."
The first artificial turf at Gowans Stadium was installed in 2004 and lasted 11 seasons. Gowans Stadium was built in the 1930s and has been the home of HutchCC and Hutch High football since it opened. It has also been the home of the Blue Dragon men's and women's track and field teams, plus home to the Salthawks track and field teams.
The video board beyond the south end zone at Gowans Stadium was added in April, 2022.
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