Visiting the Mother Turf
Today has been a day of awe and excitment. My hubby and I took a tour, led by my client of the new Colorado 
Rapids Stadium. We learned some amazing facts on our little field trip.
Dick's Sporting Goods has acquired the naming rights of this impressive new field. It will be called, "Dick's Sporting Goods Park". If you would like to take a flyover you are welcome to see the artist renderings. The Stadium is the largest soccer complex in the World. Located just north of Denver's old Stapleton Airport, in Commerce City, Dick's is breathing new life into an area that is known for railroads, oil refineries and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Owned by Kroenke Sports, the complex is comprised of 917 acres.
Last month 250 million square feet of sod was delivered and laid. The soccer complex has 24 soccer fields, 22 are turf and 2 are astro turf. The stadium and the practice field are "off limits" to any teams other than the Colorado Rapids.
Built as a private-public partnership, the staduim grounds will also house Commerce City government including the police. The additional soccer fields will be the home to the Colorado Youth Soccer, NDP Lacrosse and available to rent for other soccer clubs and sports teams.
Today we learned how a soccer field is constructed. The technology that goes into making a perfectly flat, well drained surface is amazing. The turf was much like a carpet, it was smooth and beautiful. They use a laser machine to be sure it is perfectly level. The sod is laid by machine and tended by hand to be sure every inch is perfectly tucked in.
The Astro turf fields were being finished up today. They require a smooth, level surface, then they are laid on the ground and glued to the surface. A machine "fluffs" up the turf and then a fine sand in spread on top of the astro turf. The finishing touch will be the 500,000 rubber bb's that are spread, to keep the players for slipping.
Hollowed Ground
The turf on the official field and on the practice field is a higher grade turf than on the "minor" fields. Only 4 people are authorized to walk on it at this point. My client was not one of them!
We toured the unfinished areas of the staduim, the locker rooms, kitchen and the cushie press boxes. The 18,000-seat stadium is scheduled to be finished by April, so it can host the year's first soccer game.
Renewed Respect for Construction Workers
Building something from scratch has always amazed me. What man can do with his mind and hands is wonderful. The staduim and all it's details, is a hugh undertaking. Turner Construction, one of the contractors, has done an excellent job. It must be so rewarding to be able to visualize a concept and take it to reality.
I give a salute of respect to the construction teams that are building Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
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