The latest addition to the UI practice facilities are two 75-yard Sprinturf (pronounced sprint turf) fields that replaced the grass field on the east side of the Kibbie ASUI Dome. The $1.2 million project included lighting and fencing in addition to the infill artificial turf.

What it means to the UI intercollegiate, intramural and club sports communities, as well as the residents of Moscow, is a field that previously had approximately 300 useable hours annually now will be playable for as many as 2,000 hours.

“We’re taking what had been an intercollegiate athletics-only field and opening it to everyone,” said Rob Spear, UI Director of Athletics. “This is a win-win-win. There won’t be any more rain-outs. It won’t make any difference what time it gets dark. We won’t have to keep people off of the field to maintain it.”

The two 75-yard fields are separated by a 10-yard wide “walkway,” which also is Sprinturf. The 75-yard length was chosen because it is long enough for the Vandal football and women’s soccer teams to practice as well as for intramural competition, but short enough to have two fields in the space available. There is one goal post on the south end of the south field and one on the north end of the north field, with the corners marked for soccer.

Infill artificial turf first was installed at the University of Nebraska in 1997. Sprinturf is the surface in the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice facility.

“This is an exciting project because it benefits all students,” Spear said.