Safety Issue May Lead To New Turf For Albi Seacab Holds Informational Meeting; Gsl Schools Would Help With Costs

Safety concerns have the city considering replacing the artificial turf at Albi Stadium before the next high school football season.

The Sports, Entertainment, Arts and Convention Advisory Board (SEACAB) held an informational meeting for representatives of Greater Spokane League schools, which would participate in covering the cost of a new playing surface.

Tentative plans called for the current turf, installed in 1985, to be replaced prior to the 1997 season. However, coaches and team doctors believe more injuries have been caused by the turf and have urged SEACAB members to change the time line.

SEACAB, which advises the city council, agreed, according to chairman Greg Tripp.

Mike Kobluk, head of entertainment facilities for the city, said the city has been setting money aside, anticipating the need to replace the turf. He explained how the financing would work from the city’s side.

School and city people are working with a preliminary estimate of $800,000 to replace the turf and pad, to be split in half by the two groups.

Kobluk also detailed the history and possible ways to replace the turf.

Among the possibilities is the removal of about 7,000 seats that were added about 30 years ago to bring the capacity up to almost 35,000, mainly for Washington State University football. The field was lowered to accommodate the extra seating. Removal would require refilling the ground, but it would also provide a larger field for soccer, in addition to eliminating the concrete walls close to the current field that concern football coaches.

The extra cost has been estimated at $350,000-$400,000.

Don Hogan, an engineer from Seattle who specializes in the field, gave an in-depth report on different brands of artificial turf and the pros and cons of artificial turf, natural grass and combination surfaces.

Tripp said all parties face a tight time line if they hope to have the project done by the GSL opener on Sept. 12.

The first step is to form a small travel committee to check out other stadiums.

A recommendation could be made by Feb. 1, when the bidding process would begin. Tripp estimated work would have to begin by June 1 for it to be completed by fall.

Bobby Brett, who owns the local professional baseball and hockey teams and, as of last month, the Spokane Shadow soccer team, wants SEACAB to look into the larger project.

Currently, Albi Stadium is utilized on about 25 dates per year, with at least 19 of those for GSL football. Brett said that without more uses for Albi, the facility will continue to deteriorate.

“SEACAB has a window of opportunity to make that a multi-use facility,” he said. “If they don’t, they’re making a mistake.”

Brett speculated that an improved facility, not just a new playing surface, could be used upwards of 50 times per year and private financing could be found, although maybe not in such a short time frame.

Tripp told Brett to check out potential financing, but SEACAB will try to stick to its time line.

, DataTimes