Fieldturf gets green Fieldturf has finally won over the guardians of Aloha Stadium -- at least to some degree. The enemies are now time and money.
light at Aloha Stadium
But the race has just begun to
Jones rips Green, Stadium Authority
put the new surface in
by the Aug. 2 deadlineBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Stadium Authority's questions about the artificial surface favored by the NFL were finally answered yesterday, and the roles were reversed.
Now Fieldturf CEO John Gilman is the one with the doubts and questions.
He personally answered authority members' questions and finally got approval to move ahead with a proposal to install his product in Aloha Stadium. But immediately after the session, Gilman was pessimistic about meeting the Authority's conditions.
About an hour later, though, he said he felt better about the prospects after conferring with authority members Robin Campaniano, Tony Guerrero and Carole Kai.
"The group is committed to trying to make this happen," Gilman said. "Everyone's aware of the incredible timeline."
Campaniano, Guerrero and Kai were made available to Gilman to help him complete a process in 45 days (to meet an Aug. 2 deadline) that he said should take 65 days. It also can't hurt that Gov. Ben Cayetano is behind the process.
Gilman earlier quoted a price of $877,500 to the Hawaii Tourism Authority to install the Fieldturf and said it would take two weeks. But in yesterday's meeting, Gilman said to properly install the turf the asphalt crown under the current AstroTurf surface must be shaved and leveled. That, and other considerations, would mean a larger price tag and longer timeline.
How much and how long is still unknown. The project could still be delayed until next year.
Soil samples will be taken within the next few days, Guerrero said, and then Gilman can decide by Wednesday if the venture is worth pursuing.
"We'll get the engineers to do the coring and then we'll know if it's a go or no go," Guerrero said.
He also needs to quickly get approval to do construction work in the stadium.
"It's quite impossible unless someone gives me the general contract (right away to prepare the stadium for installation)," said Gilman, who is based in Montreal and has a warehouse in Georgia with the Fieldturf product ready to be shipped to Hawaii.
In addition to the Aug. 2 deadline, the Stadium Authority's approval is conditional on the following:
>> No scheduled events are canceled due to the installation.
>> All work must be in compliance with the state's procurement laws.
>> The costs of removing the current field surface, preparation work and installation of the new Fieldturf are paid for by the National Football League, Hawaii Tourism Authority or Fieldturf.
The HTA agreed with the NFL to install a field surface to the league's liking by last year (either Fieldturf or grass), or the state would be at risk of losing the Pro Bowl.
But the HTA and the Stadium Authority did not meet to discuss the issue until last month.
The HTA, which considers the Pro Bowl a marquee marketing event for the state, voted last month to provide $500,000 for installation of Fieldturf, with the rest of the money coming from the NFL or via a discount from Fieldturf.
"They have our permission to do it," Stadium Authority chairman Larry Price said. "Where the rest of the money comes from is their problem."
Estimates vary wildly on how much it would cost to prepare the stadium for installation. It could be in the millions, in which case the HTA and NFL must come up with the difference, and Gilman must decide if the promotional value of the Pro Bowl being played on his product is worth picking up more of the cost.
Guerrero said another challenge now is to get the job done quickly but without shortcuts that could cause engineering problems or lawsuits against the state.
"Before you put the blanket on, you have to make sure the baby is OK," Guerrero said. "These guys have got to do it properly."
There are also legal considerations. In order to make major changes to the stadium, approval from the state's attorney general's office and procuring office may be required. But the HTA is exempt from some procurement laws. Attorneys at yesterday's meeting said it was unclear if the HTA's exemption could be used for a large stadium project.
"We'll figure that out as quick as we can," said Linden Joesting, a deputy attorney general with the state.
Campaniano said he was cautiously optimistic about meeting the deadlines and other conditions. He also said everyone involved finally understands it is a complex process.
"I think people realize now that it's not just replacing a carpet," Campaniano said.
The first scheduled football games at Aloha Stadium this year are high school games on Aug. 24. Price said the time between the deadline and the first game is needed to change the stadium configuration and paint the field.
The Stadium Authority also voiced concerns about maintenance costs for Fieldturf. But George Toma, an expert on athletic playing surfaces, said it's unlikely to cost more to maintain than the current AstroTurf.
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Hawaii football coach June Jones didn't attend yesterday's Stadium Authority meeting, but his words came through loud and clear in a letter written to board member Michael Green. Jones’ two-page letter rips
Green and Stadium AuthorityBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comGreen read excerpts of the two-page letter, dated June 11 as the board discussed installing Fieldturf at Aloha Stadium.
Jones' letter ripped Green and the Stadium Authority for not approving Fieldturf earlier.
Green chafed at what he called "a misinformed perception" by Jones that the Stadium Authority is against putting in the new turf. Green pointed out that at the Stadium Authority's last meeting two weeks ago Green said he was leaning toward approving the new surface, after several questions were answered. (And, yesterday, the board did conditionally approve Fieldturf after questioning the company's CEO, John Gilman.)
Green read the following from Jones' letter:
"It is a loss for our state but you win. ... It's unbelievable how egos and personal interest change the environment. ... You made the NFL not like us.
"Now we have pissed them off so you won't have to worry about a new (Pro Bowl) contract.
"It is our loss for our state, but you win."
Jones declined to comment about the letter, which was written on University of Hawaii letterhead.
"I do know that Fieldturf is the best thing going now," Jones said. "It would benefit high school, college and pro players who use Aloha Stadium."
UH athletics director Hugh Yoshida said this is a different case than when Jones came under fire for writing a letter of support for Sukamto Sia, a friend of Jones who was convicted of fraud in March.
"(The letter to Green) was a personal opinion he voiced, but there was some justification because it's an issue that deals with his team. There's a better way to do it, but he wrote it as the coach," Yoshida said. "The Sia letter was strictly personal."