Construction Photos of New Indoor Facility:

[KC Shox]

This is not looking so good..............literally.

[SB Shock]

It's possible that the dirt part starts out dark on purpose and weathers into a lighter brown or red. I hope that's the case, 'cause on the Eck Cam right now, it looks pretty freaky.

I just went by there about 15 minutes ago, while out running some errands. The color in real life is just about the same as what you see in the web cam. It's not making it appear any darker than it really is, it's just actually THAT dark. Looks like somebody paved the infield base paths.

Something has GOT to be in error, or so I hope.

I was hoping it was something temporary. This is not going to be good.

[shock10]

The green turf looks just like the real grass on the hill to me.

[PCDShocker]

This is more than likely not a mistake. When you spend major $ on artificial turf, there are mulitple checks and balances in place through the fullfillment process to avoid errors. You know darn well the athletic dept has seen this and if it was done in error, it would be corrected with the responsibility back on to Astro Turf to implement the correction. The "cinder" colored infield dirt reminds me of a darker version of the Cleveland Indians dirt infield, if you have ever seen it. The green grass looks good, however.

[SHOCKvalue]

The green turf looks just like the real grass on the hill to me.

Yeah, I agree. The color tone of the green turf is very natural. Much more so than the hyper-green most organizations go for. KC Shox mentioned a lima bean comparison, but it's really not that bad in person. IMO it looks a lot like bermuda grass.

As for the base path turf, what's sort of ironic is the mention in the WSU AD press releases a few weeks ago that this particular turf has some sort of UV reflective properties to keep surface playing temps down. It was one of the selling points. Does that all really matter when the turf is, for all intents and purposes, black? :roll:

[SHOCKvalue]

This is more than likely not a mistake. When you spend major $ on artificial turf, there are mulitple checks and balances in place through the fullfillment process to avoid errors. You know darn well the athletic dept has seen this and if it was done in error, it would be corrected with the responsibility back on to Astro Turf to implement the correction. The "cinder" colored infield dirt reminds me of a darker version of the Cleveland Indians dirt infield, if you have ever seen it. The green grass looks good, however.

Not a mistake, per se, but what I've heard is that this turf showed up much darker than originally planned. Yes, the basepath turf was supposed to resemble wet dirt, rather than the more common red clay, but it wasn't anticipated that it would be this dark.

"Some people aren't happy", to loosely quote a source. "People" in this case not referring to your average fan or SN poster, if you know what I mean.

[PCDShocker]

Ricky B, I thought it was probably something like you mentioned regarding a "wet dirt" look. However, having been involved with several new construction projects recently, if the turf is not spec, then it should be replaced, If Astro Turf resists doing that, then they are in potential breach and compensation should be forthcoming and expected. WSU should not pay until the contractor, Astro Turf, meets or exceeds specifications.

[Ashockalypse]

The green is great. The base paths couldn't be what anyone anticipated. Astro Turf is going to have to correct that Nonsense. I am not worried because that is just too ridiculous to stand.

[Shirley Schmidt]

Since when do any of you have anything to say about the color combination selection at Eck?

Has Gene called any of you asking what you think?

You guys kill me, it is the correct product / color or they would not be putting it down.

You need to get a life and worry about stuff that you can control.

[SpanglerFan316]

Since when do any of you have anything to say about the color combination selection at Eck?

Has Gene called any of you asking what you think?

You guys kill me, it is the correct product / color or they would not be putting it down.

You need to get a life and worry about stuff that you can control.

Shirley: I'm sure even Eric Sexton didn't have anything to say about the color combination; I'm sure this was left to Gene. Somebody had to vote in favor of signing the contract and this would probably be the Board of Directors of Athetics and possibly the SASO Board of Directors; I'm assuming WSU Athletics has some sort of BoD because this is probably a legal requirement. (Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.) Especially after the KSU mess, I hope (and expect) that WSU is doing everything correctly.

[SB Shock]

probably Gene wanted black turf. That way he can sell advertisement space on the base paths.

A green vision single by Kevin Hall, Pella Double by Clint McKeever, Chris Obrien slides in for a Ryans Triple, That double-play courtesy of Coleman.

[PCDShocker]

I am going to add my last 2 cents worth here and then get off the subject. As I stated in an earlier post, this is probably not a mistake. Having some knowledge on these new type turfs, the type of infill used can effect overall color. Since these are base paths, and they are to simiulate the feel of actual dirt, then it is possible that the infill that will be used for the base paths will be primarily sand rather than cryogenic rubber as will be used in the grass infield and outfield. If that is the case, then the color may lighten up bit, making it look more like a cinder colored clay material rather than the Red Dog clay to which we are most accustomed. Other than that, it is what it is and we will eventually get use to it.

[BenWSU]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136317&id=134799916825&ref=mf

[SHOCKvalue]

Not to ruffle the feathers of the "it's meant to be that way" crowd, but it appears the asphalt brown turf is being removed at current time via the web cam. At least one of the large panels of turf is torn out.

A few of us- 1
A few of you- 0

:D

EDIT: New pics just today from whomever in the WSU AD is maintaining the goshockers.com turf install archive, as well as the facebook group (thanks mucho BTW, if you're on SN):



See the discrepancy between the 3rd-Home base path, and the rest of the 1st-3rd infield? I would bet that is where the supposed rub came from within the powers-that-be.

I watched them put in that 3rd-Home strip, and it was a special roll with the white turf strip integrated on both sides of said roll. They basically cut it in half and (I'm presuming) the other half is being used for the Home-1st strip at some point in the future. Different runs at the manufacturing plant, and two way different color tones.

I still think that narrow strip is pretty dark, but it at least it actually looks like "wet dirt".

[KC Shox]

Crow is served.