Aloha Stadium turf passes muster for Pro Bowl
Maintenance workers restriped and touched up the white areas of the artificial turf of the field at Aloha Stadium on Dec. 11. (Star-Advertiser file)
DENNIS ODA / DEC. 2015
Maintenance workers restriped and touched up the white areas of the artificial turf of the field at Aloha Stadium.
The artificial turf at Aloha Stadium has been certified for this month’s Pro Bowl, an NFL spokesman said today.
A site survey was conducted earlier this week by a specialist hired by the league and, “The Aloha Stadium field has passed inspection,” Brian McCarthy, NFL Vice President of Communications, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an email.
The NFL routinely inspects the field and other aspects of the facility in advance of its annual all-star game, which will be played Jan. 31.
The condition of the field became a source of controversy last month when the U. S. Women’s National Team’s Dec. 6 exhibition soccer match against Trinidad and Tobago was abruptly canceled less than 24 hours before the event by U. S. Soccer, which cited concerns about the field.
U.S. Soccer has been embroiled in a dispute with players on the women’s team over preference shown its men’s teams, who do not play on artificial surfaces as often.
Cancelation of the match has prompted a class-action lawsuit by ticket purchasers in state court, and the State Attorney General’s Office said it is conducting a review.
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Football teams from the University of Cincinnati and San Diego State subsequently practiced and played on the field in the nationally-televised Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve without complaint.
McCarthy said, “As in all NFL venues, grooming and maintenance will continue under the supervision of an NFL groundsperson until after the game. This is standard procedure and consistent with all venues utilized, including the Hall of Fame game and the International Series.”
Don Follett, Baltimore Ravens Head Groundskeeper/Senior Director of Fields & Grounds is expected to oversee the field for the Pro Bowl.
An Aloha Stadium spokesman declined comment, citing the pending lawsuit. But last month, Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan told the Stadium Authority, he expects the facility “will be vindicated” in the soccer controversy.
16 responses to “Aloha Stadium turf passes muster for Pro Bowl”
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Looks like the freeway will be empty on January, 31 for the Pro Bowl.
Figures looks like the stunt might backfire on the lady soccer players.
Only time that the stadium makes any money is when the flea market is there. Sports is a loser for profit. Might as well be for non profit.
It took a women’s team to get the Stadium Authority moving. Otherwise, the field would’ve been rejected. It was only when the US Women’s team brought this to the limelight that the Stadium people inspected and repaired the entire turf.
HERE, HERE!! Only when Elected and Appointed Government officials are Publicly shamed–do they react, and fulfill the duties that they were elected to perform… ((Amusing–3 pictures of 3 workers performing the same task–and they don’t appear to have moved even one-inch..) AH-YES! This is what State Government calls “PROGRESS”!) (..comes now, Jodi Leong, to dig Ige out of this one.. Can’t wait to read how she tip-toes through these tulips…)))
Sorry, but you’re off base. Did you read anything about getting the field fixed? It’s the SAME, but apparently good enough for the NFL!
The soccer field is a lot bigger than the football dimensions, so a lot of the problems with the loose seams probably don’t apply here.
Except for the one that Solo grab which was in front of the goal in the field of play.
It’s the exact same field…and it is safe. Further proving that the soccer girls are whining crybabies.
the soccer girls are more like spoiled brats.
Can they now do something about the seats? Hell, someone gonna get lockjaw from all the rust. The condition of the seats are a joke! Just paint the damn thing if they too cheap to replace them. Sheesh!
Take out the seats. Replace them with benches. Save money.
Bench seat are uncomfortable and they try to stuff to much people together Sam Boyd stadium is really bad. Have you ever been to a stadium with bench seats.
Of course it does. USA Womens Soccer can go …well I cant really write what I want to write, but you can pretty much figure it out.
[…] were raised last month when the U.S. women’s national soccer team refused to play a scheduled game at Aloha Stadium, saying the playing surface was so poor that it wasn’t safe. […]
[…] Honolulu Star-Adviser: Aloha Stadium’s turf passes muster for the Pro Bowl. […]