Project Detail

The Beginning of the Phased Master Plan.

Facility improvements at Bill Snyder Family Stadium continue in preparation for the 2011 football season, including the View Level restroom addition and the installation of a new field surface, as part of Kansas State's continuing commitment to a world-class student-athlete experience and the best fan experience in the Big 12.

"We want to make incremental and intelligent improvements to Bill Snyder Family Stadium and all of our athletic facilities to enhance the experience of our student-athletes and fans," said Athletics Director John Currie. "The restroom addition to the east-side upper deck is a necessity and will be beneficial to our ticket-holders, while the current turf surface on Wagner Field has reached the end of its life cycle."

Construction on the restroom addition is underway, while the installation of the new field surface will begin immediately after the April 30 Purple/White spring game.

The construction bid for the restroom addition was awarded to Konrath Construction Group; the total cost of the project is just under $2 million. AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60H has been selected as the new field surface at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, replacing the current surface that was installed prior to the 2002 season. Mid-America Golf and Landscape will serve as project manager for the installation work, which is expected to be completed in early June. Total cost of the project is approximately $600,000.

The installation of the GameDay Grass infill system at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be AstroTurf's first on a game-day stadium field of a Football Bowl Subdivision member. It will feature AstroTurf's revolutionary new Horseshoe fiber, which is an "Omega" shape with two end columns with a thicker diameter. The design imparts mechanical memory so that the fiber remains upright longer, unlike other fields whose fibers quickly flatten and split or shred at the spine.

"After looking at numerous options, we felt AstroTurf and its GameDay Grass was the best choice for us at K-State," said Associate Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Sean Snyder. "Some of the top professional stadiums and collegiate practice facilities in the country utilize this surface and we are excited about becoming the first FBS football program to install GameDay Grass in its stadium. The fibers and technologies used by AstroTurf will provide our student-athletes with a state-of-the art product that focuses on player performance and safety."

AstroTurf's GameDay Grass has been installed at numerous professional and collegiate practice facilities.

"We have one of the most picturesque campuses in the country, but many fans or visitors never get to central campus and see the beauty of Anderson Hall or Hale Library," Currie added. "But, they do see the football stadium. Our goal over the long term is to develop a vision that will enhance the appearance of the stadium to be more reflective of the heritage of K-State."