Apogee Turf Project Underway

Harry · May 14, 2018

MEAN GREEN FOOTBALL

Apogee Turf Project Underway

UNT Athletics Installing Cool Play Turf In Apogee Stadium

DENTON – Apogee Stadium will receive a new, innovative playing surface for the 2018 football season, North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced Monday.

“We are very excited to be updating Apogee Stadium with new turf,” Baker said. “This new surface, featuring cutting-edge technology, will be safer for our student-athletes. The dynamic design elements will also help elevate the UNT brand for both fans inside the stadium and watching worldwide. I can’t wait to see the finished product on September 1 as we open the season at home against SMU.”

Phase One of the facility upgrade is expected to be completed by June 1, with the end zone portion of the project concluding in early August after the custom color for the end zones is manufactured.

Apogee Stadium will be equipped with the FieldTurf Cool Play surface, which features an extruded composite-top dressing that keeps the surface 35 degrees cooler than traditional sand/rubber infill systems, according to independent laboratory results.

The extruded composite top layer is durable, shock absorbing and takes on far less heat than other alternatives, helping provide a safer surface. Other FBS institutions utilizing this technology include Notre Dame, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Arizona and Tulsa.

Another new design element features recognition of the department’s mission statement, “Building Champions and Preparing Leaders,” which will appear on the visitor sideline.

“We have established our mission is to Build Champions and Prepare Leaders,” Baker said. “Our supporters, coaches and athletes have embraced this mission and we want all visitors to Apogee to know what our focus is.”

The iconic diving-eagle logo will remain at midfield, but will now be atop a shaded outline of Texas.

“The diving eagle is our signature logo and is both regionally and nationally recognized with the University of North Texas,” Baker said. “The shaded Texas outline shows our commitment to recruit Texas as well as our commitment to defend and promote our home state.”

For the first time, the end zones at Apogee will be Kelly green with North Texas and Mean Green prominently displayed on each end of the field.

The UNT logo will be displayed twice, on the 25-yard lines opposite from the Conference USA logo, to provide national branding to the university. This is the first time UNT has been featured on the turf. The conference logo is green, white and gray, while the UNT logo is white.

The average artificial field surface is replaced every six to eight years, and the 2017 season was the seventh for Apogee’s original turf. The athletic department’s commitment to player safety coupled with the condition of the existing turf has led North Texas athletics to make this change ahead of the 2018 season.

North Texas kicks off the 2018 season against Metroplex rival SMU on Saturday, Sept. 1, on the new surface at Apogee Stadium.

Season tickets for 2018 are on sale and fans can purchase tickets through the Mean Green athletics ticket office. For more information, visit MeanGreenSports.com or call the ticket office at 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366.

C Vo · May 14, 2018

Wow, how things have changed! It used to take 20 years to replace the turf, at least at Fouts Field that's what it took, but now it takes only 7 years to replace it.

Edited May 14, 2018 by C Vo

dmaxel · May 14, 2018

I think the most important thing was left out, the design itself!

Harry · May 14, 2018

Awesome news. Looks like we are finally incorporating the great state of Texas! Wonder if we will see similar on helmet or jersey?

Wag Tag · May 14, 2018

35 degrees cooler!! I’m replacing my grass! GMG

UNT 90 Grad · May 14, 2018

41 minutes ago, Harry said:

Awesome news. Looks like we are finally incorporating the great state of Texas! Wonder if we will see similar on helmet or jersey?

Unfortunately, that would remind me of someone else.

James · May 14, 2018

5 minutes ago, UNT 90 Grad said:

Unfortunately, that would remind me of someone else.

However, they still have to put the name on the helmet. #Progress

MeanGreenTexan · May 14, 2018

15 minutes ago, James said:

However, they still have to put the name on the helmet. #Progress

How else would anyone know which school they are?

Wait... who's the AD there?

Salsa_Verde · May 14, 2018

I think the end zones look great, I’m not as enthused about the SOW over the state of Texas...I’m a fan of just leaving that by itself, it’s a great logo and can stand alone but I understand they’re trying to build up a brand. I know some are also not a fan of incorporating UNT into more merchandising and branding but I think it’s going to be used more and more.

GMG

Edited May 14, 2018 by Salsa_Verde

drex · May 14, 2018

We went for years during the Hurley era without even flying the Texas flag at Fouts. Glad to see that we are going back to our Texas roots. Congratulations to the AD for the upgrade.

NorthTexan95 · May 14, 2018

2 hours ago, dmaxel said:

I think the most important thing was left out, the design itself!

I'm not sure what the point is of having the motto written where it will be hidden every game under the opponents' players.

Aldo · May 14, 2018

2 minutes ago, NorthTexan95 said:

I'm not sure what the point is of having the motto written where it will be hidden every game under the opponents' players.

They'll be so inspired by it, they'll be looking at it all game.

Boom another undefeated home slate.

jdennis82 · May 14, 2018

Agree with those who anticipate liking the endzone changes and will wait to see the midfield logo in place before I form an opinion.

Ultimately, the turf improvement seems to accomplish two goals that I can get behind fully:

Helps keep the players and others performing on the field on game-day more safe and comfortable
Demonstrates to recruits that we are committed to continuous improvement that directly supports them

southsideguy · May 14, 2018

Anyway we can leave the old turf on the visitors bench area? I always enjoyed watching Ball State melt into the turf.

Edited May 15, 2018 by southsideguy

DeepGreen · May 15, 2018

For obvious “devious opponent or “hooligan” reasons” I would not put UNT on the field.

Edited May 15, 2018 by DeepGreen

UNT 90 Grad · May 15, 2018

4 minutes ago, DeepGreen said:

For obvious “devious opponent or “hooligan” reasons” I would not put UNT on the field.

Be weary if the MOB travels to our next home game against Rice.

FirefightnRick · May 15, 2018

Love the look of the new turf and am looking forward to checking out how well the cooler technology works.

BTW...the "Diving Eagle"...has a name....The S.O.W., which stands for The Son Of Worm.

Rick

greenjoe · May 15, 2018

I’m surprised, considering the media guide specifically asks that we not be referred to as UNT or Eagles and yet UNT is featured twice on the field. And I agree with UNT Grad, somebody will embarrass us using the UNT logo on the field.

It might be fun to have part of the field turf that hosted “the stand” and “the drive.”

GO MEAN GREEN

UNTLifer · May 15, 2018

So, will cooler field = Green Brigade full uni's?

cogido · May 15, 2018

Sounds like the team won't be able to practice inside Apogee anytime before the sm-who game. Problem ?

MeanGreenTexan · May 15, 2018

3 hours ago, greenjoe said:

I’m surprised, considering the media guide specifically asks that we not be referred to as UNT or Eagles and yet UNT is featured twice on the field. And I agree with UNT Grad, somebody will embarrass us using the UNT logo on the field.

It might be fun to have part of the field turf that hosted “the stand” and “the drive.”

GO MEAN GREEN

Please let this be the MGSF ‘gift’ this year!

Otherwise, I will pay money for a little square of it.

MrStrange18 · May 15, 2018

At first I was on board with the Texas behind the eagle. Now, not so much. I liked that we had a logo that didnt rely on anything else to make it more "legitimate." Can you think of any P5 school that uses the state outline with their logo?

I would maybe consider putting the outline of Texas on the small UNT logo, but don't mess with the eagle.

I will say though, that I do like that it is subtle. Do wish the midfield logo was a little bigger. I like the look that programs are doing with bigger logos there.

Just my two cents...

Edited May 15, 2018 by MrStrange18

meangreenJW · May 15, 2018

8 hours ago, cogido said:

Sounds like the team won't be able to practice inside Apogee anytime before the sm-who game. Problem ?

Not the way I read it. Sounds like it will be installed by June 1. Customized kelly green endzones coming later in the summer but that shouldn't take but a day or two.