Article code: 72-074
http://www.panstadia.com (also www.piqr.com and www.panstadia.co.uk)
PanStadia International Quarterly Report: Volume 7 No. 2, October 2000.

[TURF PROTECTION]

OLD ACQUAINTANCES

J. MICHAEL BEANE, Terraplas USA Rentals,
reports that more stadiums are joining
a distinguished list of loyal 
Terraplas® users.

Every year, new stadiums are opening up in the US and older stadiums are being refurbished. With the ever increasing amounts of money that is being spent on the latest in turf grass fields, the stadiums are coming to the same conclusion when it comes to protecting those new, high priced playing surfaces. The new stadiums are turning to an old friend... Terraplas®.

The new NFL stadiums in Cleveland and Nashville have opened in the past year and they have exclusively used Terraplas for events such as INSYNC, George Strait Country Music Tour, The Billy Graham Crusade at Nashville's Adelphia Coliseum and the NFL Hall of Fame Dinner, and George Strait in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Both stadiums are looking for more events in 2001.

The trend to the single use stadium and the retractable roof stadium has created a number of new baseball parks such as: Enron Field in Houston, Safeco Field in Seattle, Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco and Coamerica Park in Detroit. Each of these stadiums used Terraplas exclusively in 2000. They hosted such events as: Enron, Houston: George Strait; Safeco, Seattle: Microsoft 25th Anniversary and the Atlantic Street event; Pac Bell, San Francisco: Time Warner-AOL dinner, Catholic Church Celebration and three other events; Coamerica, Detroit: Dave Matthews Band.

And of course there are the constant renovations as well. In 1998 Anaheim refurbished its stadium, now know as Edison International Field of Anaheim and in 1999-2000 Dodger Stadium completed a facelift as well. Both of the well-known facilities spent considerable money on their playing surfaces and they therefore continued to specify Terraplas® for their events such as the Wiener Roast in Anaheim and Wango Tango at Dodger Stadium. The Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix dispatched its in-house event company Select Artist and its turf manager to view the Wango Tango event both before and after. Their conclusions were put into a report to the BOB management stating that Terraplas was the only answer to the event protection needs of the special grass used in their stadium.

All of the stadiums listed join a distinguished list of loyal Terraplas® users who will not have an event on their field unless it is covered with the world's finest turf protection system. Such stadiums include:

* Giants Stadium - NFL Giants and Jets, MLS Metrostars, XFL Hitmen

* Soldier Field - NFL Bears, MLS Fire, XFL Enforcers

* Foxboro Stadium - NFL Patriots, MLS Revolution

* Pro Players Stadium - NFL Dolphins, MLBB Marlins

* Altell Stadium - NFL Jaguars

* The Cotton Bowl - MLS Burn, Texas-OU

* Arrowhead Stadium - NFL Chiefs, MLS Wizards

* Ohio State University - NCAA Buckeyes

* Lockhart Stadium - MLS Fusion

* Turner Field - MLBB Braves

Each new stadium that opens goes through the same diligent research. Usually the turf manager is given the responsibility to find out who the players are in the turf protection business and which system is right for them. This process usually follows the same pattern. A call comes into the Terraplas USA Rentals marketing office in Kilgore, Texas. The turf manager needs to know what the rental price is for our system because the upper level management has decided to go after an event (or events). Now the turf manager reveals that he was promised that the new stadium would be a single use facility and that no events would be held there. That promise lasted until the management talked to other facilities and learned how much money they were missing by not hosting events other than their primary sport.

Well, the conversation continues. The turf manager bears his soul and lets us know that Terraplas® had been the system mentioned by the other turf managers that he respects and if he is going to be 'forced' to cover the grass during the season, then he wants to use the best. And always added to the conversation is the comment that; "I know you have done this in other stadiums; however, our grass is unique and I am not sure it will work here".

Soon the discussion turns to pricing. As is always the case, the best turf protection costs the most as well. This is true with any fine product whether it is a car or a fine wine. To get the best, you have to pay the price. After the usual heart palpitations on the other end of the line, the turf manager says, "Well, send us a quote and a video and let us take a look".

It doesn't take long for the phone or fax to ring again. "We are ready to rent," says the voice on the other end of the line. The research is over and the business relationship is beginning. A contract is extended and money changes hands.

The turf manager has assured the team president and the coach that the field will be just fine after the event and even though the entire infield will be covered, it will be in great shape when the team returns to play a home game only three days later (Seattle Mariners, September 5, 2000 - The Microsoft 25th Anniversary on Monday, removal on Tuesday and a game on Friday).

Everyone in management has talked to his or her friends on the Terraplas Client and Reference List and they all got the same response. If you have to cover your field, there is only one system that will assure the best results... Terraplas®; the loop is closed and another satisfied customer is in the process of being made.

This story happens over and over each year. A satisfied customer is always the best form of advertisement. At Terraplas USA Rentals our motto is; "We protect your turf as if it were our own". The best way to know if that is true is to call those who use Terraplas® and ask them what they think.

More stadiums are under construction and others are being designed. Simply put, they are just more Terraplas® friends in the making.