FieldTurf and new lighting coming to Central Catholic
2010 Stadium renovation
June 28, 2010
This summer, you will not find a single quarterback, wide receiver, or football player of any kind practicing at the Bob Benson '66 Stadium at Central Catholic High School.
No, this summer the field is home to tractors, heavy equipment and workmen who are installing some 97,340-square feet of FieldTurf Duraspine Monofilament Artificial Turf (the same material used by the University of Texas and many professional football stadiums. See www.fieldturf.com).
The FieldTurf material will arrive in huge rolls -- 10-foot wide and the width of the field -- and will be installed over two layers of crushed rock that is applied over a drainage mat and liner material. The field will drain into the storm drainage system.
FieldTurf has the look and feel of natural grass and is known for its durability and safety for athletes. Best of all, there is no need for watering, pesticides or fertilizers.
"The students are excited and the coaches are excited," says Project Manager, Jack Dysart '68, Dysart, L.L.C. "I feel it will be the best field in the city."
"Indeed," said Coach Carlos Enrico, Central Catholic Athletic Director, "the artificial turf was on my wish list back in the 1990s when we first began playing football at home. Now it is becoming a reality!"
The project is scheduled to be completed by August 1, 2010.
Later in the summer, Central Electric under the direction of Chris Martinez '96 and, his brother Ernie Martinez '95, will install more than double the current lighting capability in the stadium. The 32 lights in the stadium now will be removed and will be replaced with 72 fixtures of 1500 watt sports lights.
"The Friday night lights will defininetly be seen from the highway!" says Chris Martinez. The lighting will be completed by the first home football game scheduled for Friday, September 17.
The stadium was named in honor of Bob Benson '66 upon receipt of a $4 million gift made by Tom and Gayle Benson and Family last September. Robert C. Benson, son of Tom and his first wife, Shirley L., Benson, was a graduate of the Central Catholic Class of 1966 where he was active in JROTC and the Student Booster Club. He passed away in 1985 at the age of 37 after a battle with cancer.
Several improvements to the stadium were completed last September, to include a new state-of the-art Daktronics sound system, a 25-foot scoreboard by Daktronics and a new 60-foot air conditioned press box with accommodations for coaches and media personnel, etc.
The $4 million is one of the largest gifts received by Central Catholic High School in the school’s 158-year history and is one of the lead gifts for a campus expansion plan focused on supporting and enhancing the school's historic academic and student development program with new classroom space, a new library resource center, tuition assistance funds and a convocation center that will enable the school to gather for school community events including liturgy, assemblies, athletic events and alumni events.
The Bob Benson '66 Stadium is home to four Central Catholic sports: football, soccer, lacrosse and track. It is also the site for other activities such as JROTC Brigade Drills.
