Deal set? Not quite yet. Fieldturf not
in the clear yetThe Stadium Authority needs
some questions answered before
it approves the new surfaceBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comAfter yesterday's Stadium Authority meeting, a go-ahead for Fieldturf at Aloha Stadium is at least two weeks -- and perhaps several hundred thousand dollars -- away from reality.
That's if the stadium floor can be prepared in time for the installation, if the installation can be completed by Aug. 16 and if other Stadium Authority concerns are met.
If those aren't enough variables, the Hawaii Tourism Authority must still come up with more than the $500,000 it allocated Wednesday. The NFL is the driving force behind Fieldturf at Aloha because the Pro Bowl is played there each year; the league has reportedly promised to kick in some funding for what it considers a kinder, gentler surface.
The HTA presented its case for replacing the stadium's current AstroTurf surface to the Stadium Authority yesterday. The sometimes contentious hour-long meeting was the first time representatives from the two agencies have gathered together formally, Stadium Authority chairman Larry Price said.
"We've been telling them for a year to come down," said Price, who has been vocal in his support of keeping the current AstroTurf surface.
Before the board voted to defer and hold a special meeting June 13 to decide on the issue, board members asked HTA executive director Rick Humphreys questions regarding concerns, including liability, maintenance and multi-use issues.
Humphreys did not have answers to several questions, and was tasked with returning with them at the next meeting.
Stadium Authority board member Michael Green said he is worried about how much it will cost to prepare the stadium for installation of the turf, whether it can be done in time, and potential drainage problems.
"If this thing is $900,000 (Fieldturf has proposed a price tag of $877,500), I'll run back the kickoff in the first game. This is going to be a maintenance nightmare. This is a $3 million deal, if anything.
"I came into this meeting leaning in the direction of changing the field," Green added. "But heaven forbid all our football games are played on Maui this year."
Stadium engineer Ken Tong said he doesn't know how air cushions that are used when the stadium is reconfigured will be affected by a surface other than AstroTurf. If the air cushions don't work properly, the stands could get stuck between configurations.
Fieldturf CEO John Gilman addressed some of the questions in a letter to Humphreys dated April 30, but the Stadium Authority wants more specifics.
"The removal of the present surface is a simple task," Gilman wrote. He also wrote that employees of his company did a "show and tell" of converting the stadium when they were at the stadium last month.
Also, Price said he never received a letter addressed to him from Gene Upshaw of the NFL Players' Association requesting a new playing surface. Humphreys produced a copy of the letter and gave it to Price.
The HTA is exempt from state procurement laws and can present the new surface as a "gift" to the Stadium Authority, which doesn't have such autonomy.
But the board indicated yesterday it doesn't want a present that could cause more problems than it is worth.
"We're not going to break the law to put in any turf," Price said.
While the mood was at times adversarial, the board members showed a willingness to move forward with installation once their concerns are addressed.
"I think they wanted to vent and have some questions answered," said board member Charles Toguchi, who suggested the special meeting in two weeks. "But no one was saying they don't want it to happen."
"The complexity of the issue is taking some time to digest," said board member Robin Campaniano.