Fieldturf Fieldturf will not be installed at Aloha Stadium before the upcoming football season. But it could be in place for the next Pro Bowl, Feb. 3, 2003.
timetable
pushed back
The surface won't be installed
this fall, but could be in place for
the Pro Bowl in FebruaryBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"Basically we ran out of time. Even if we could do miracles, it would be difficult," Fieldturf CEO John Gilman said. "We're going to try to start after the (Dec. 25) Hawaii Bowl.
"The window between the Hawaii Bowl and the Pro Bowl is large enough," he added. "We can start the minute the Hawaii Bowl is over."
An official announcement from Gov. Ben Cayetano's office was made yesterday.
"Officials at Fieldturf have assured me that they will be able to complete the installation of the new field during the approximately five-week window between the Hawaii Bowl and the Pro Bowl," Cayetano said in a press release. "Between now and then, there are several engineering issues that need to be addressed. This additional time will give everyone the opportunity to ensure that the installation is done right."
Cayetano met yesterday with representatives from the Stadium Authority, Hawaii Tourism Authority and other interested parties for the second time in four days. Gilman, whose office is in Montreal, participated by telephone.
"We came to an outcome everyone will be happy with, eventually," HTA interim Executive Director Rick Humphreys said. "We want to make sure we have enough time to do it right."
The HTA, in its Pro Bowl contract with the NFL signed more than two years ago, agreed to install a surface to the league's liking -- either grass or Fieldturf. (Grass was deemed not practical because of weather and stadium usage.)
But the HTA and the Stadium Authority only began meeting on the subject within the past two months (at Cayetano's urging), and Fieldturf received permission for the venture from the Stadium Authority last month. The permission was contingent on meeting an Aug. 2 deadline.
"We are all very committed to installing Fieldturf, but this is a much better timetable that will allow our engineers to thoroughly work out what needs to be done," said Eddie Hamada, the new chairman of the Aloha Stadium Authority. He replaced Larry Price, whose term ended on June 30.
Gilman said installation itself takes two weeks. But pre-installation tasks, including determining how much pre-installation work would be needed and securing various construction permits, proved to be too time consuming.
The HTA -- a state-tax funded organization -- voted to provide $500,000 for the new surface. The NFL has also agreed to pitch in.
Including pre-installation work to the stadium floor, the total cost of the job will probably be around $1 million. But the final breakdown on who pays how much has yet to be determined.
Hawaii coach June Jones has been one of the strongest local proponents of Fieldturf.
"I'm disappointed that the high school players and our athletes won't be playing on it this year, but at least eventually it will happen," Jones said.
Gilman said at least 45 days would be ideal for installation, but the 39 days between the two bowl games is feasible because he will have more workers available than he does now. Fieldturf is installing nearly 75 new surfaces this summer, Gilman said.
Also, if an attempted installation at Aloha Stadium did not meet the Aug. 2 deadline, the Aug. 24 Father Bray high school football doubleheader might have to be moved to another location.
"I have mixed feelings," Hawaii High School Athletic Association Executive Director Keith Amemiya said. "It would have been nice to have Fieldturf in place for the upcoming season. But we're glad that no scheduled games will be affected."