Sep 1 2014
Baylor University selected the same synthetic turf the Bears previously played on at Floyd Casey Stadium for their new $260 million McLane Stadium. Hellas Construction installed the new playing field this summer and removed the previous Matrix® Turf to be utilized in a new tailgate area.
Baylor's new McLane Stadium
The Baylor Bears had amazing success playing on Matrix® Turf at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor's former quarterback Robert Griffin III, also known as RG3, was announced as the recipient of the 77th Heisman Memorial Trophy in 2011 becoming the first Baylor player ever to win college football's most prestigious award. Baylor won 19 of their last 20 home games and wrapped up the preseason ranked No. 10 by the Associated Press, the highest ranking for the school in more than five decades.
"We have had tremendous success with our fields from Hellas," said Colin Shillinglaw, Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations at Baylor University. "Floyd Casey was the best field our players ever played on. They loved it. It was the best field in America. We absolutely want that transition into McLane Stadium!"
The McLane Stadium, which inaugurates for the 2014 season this weekend, features Hellas' 46 oz. Matrix® Turf, the same surface used at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, University of California at Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Angelo State University, and many others.
"There is no finer academic athletic program than at Baylor, no better college coach, no better stadium. We are proud to be part of this incredible project and could not have hoped for a better outcome," said Reed J. Seaton, President & CEO.
Baylor selected Hellas Construction for the project after a successful run at the Floyd Casey Stadium. Hellas, who is working closely with distinguished builders Austin Commercial and Flintco, was also responsible for the Matrix® Turf installation at the practice field for Baylor's Lineman. Populous, one of the most preeminent global stadium designers is the architectural firm on the McLane Stadium project. Andrew Elmer, Field Designer for Populous, visited the project and was impressed by what he saw in the subgrade, field installation process, and the overall quality of everything in place.
The Baylor Bears will open their 2014 season on the new synthetic turf against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs on Sunday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CST which will be nationally broadcasted on FOX Sports 1.
About Hellas Construction
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Hellas Construction is a nationwide contractor with a strong reputation for delivering premium-quality sports construction projects across the United States. Hellas has the ability to custom-manufacture and install proprietary brands of synthetic surfaces for field sports, running tracks, and tennis courts, by controlling all related operations. For more information, visit hellasconstruction.com and matrix-turf.com, or follow them on twitter and facebook.
About Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Baptist university in Waco, Texas. Baylor University is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. It participates in seventeen intercollegiate sports, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference for all NCAA Division I athletics. The recently-named McLane Stadium opens in 2014 as the home of the Baylor Bears, replacing the Floyd Casey Stadium as their current home. Visit www.baylor.edu for more information.
About Populous
Populous is an architectural firm that specializes in the design of sports facilities and convention centers, as well as special event planning. One of the largest architecture firms in the world, Populous is responsible for projects that include the Yankee Stadium in New York, the Wembley Stadium in London, the United Center Arena in Chicago, and the Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Populous has twelve offices around the world. For more information, visit www.populous.com.
About Austin Commercial
Austin Commercial is one of the largest, most diversified builders in the United States. They are recognized for their exceptional safety records, diversity inclusion programs and innovative construction solutions in markets such as university, public assembly and sports, and healthcare. Some of their projects include the Museum Tower in Dallas, Texas, the LAX Bradley West Gates and Core in Los Angeles, California, and the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in Sugar Land, Texas. For more information, visit www.austin-ind.com/commercial.
About Flintco
Flintco is an American construction company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma that specializes in commercial and institutional construction. Flintco is listed as one of the top Native American-owned companies. Some of their projects include the Texas State Capitol, the University of Oklahoma Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, the Oklahoma State Capitol, and many others. For more information, visit www.flintco.com.