Find out why this soccer complex is looking to the same company to replace its synthetic turf fields after 11 years of heavy use

by Brianna Crandall — August 7, 2017 — Back in 2006 there was no such thing as an iPhone, Shaq was still winning championships, and Harry Potter could only be found in books, reminds synthetic turf field provider AstroTurf. It’s also the year that the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex (JBL) had its first AstroTurf soccer fields installed. That’s a long time ago in pop culture years, and a long life for artificial turf, notes the company. After eleven years of strong performance, the City of Asheville, in partnership with the Ashville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association, is having those pitches resurfaced this summer with brand new synthetic turf from AstroTurf.

Hand holding a soccer ball against synthetic turf background

The four soccer fields with synthetic surfaces at JBL are being replaced with AstroTurf’s RootZone 3DSF turf system.

The four soccer fields with synthetic surfaces at JBL are being replaced with AstroTurf’s RootZone 3DSF turf system. This signature product features slit film fibers for the ultimate in durability, says the company. The premium surface also contains AstroTurf’s patented RootZone technology, a thatched sub-layer of fibers engineered to stabilize the infill and deliver enhanced safety and performance.

Mike Rottjakob, executive director of the ABYSA, which oversees programming at several soccer parks in the area, including JBL, remarked:

It did not go unnoticed that our last AstroTurf fields gave us over ten years of great performance under very challenging conditions. When it finally came time to replace them, we knew we wanted AstroTurf’s RootZone 3DSF turf system. AstroTurf synthetic surfaces are well-engineered and their product has an excellent track record on our flood-prone and heavily used facility.

The new AstroTurf fields were contracted through the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (National IPA), a cooperative purchasing organization that enables public entities to utilize contracts that were competitively solicited by a lead agency, thereby saving time and money. Work on the project is well underway, with completion slated for the end of July.

The ABYSA is a nonprofit organization that manages both recreational and competitive soccer programs for area youth, including rec leagues, competitive programs and summer camps. The ABYSA also hosts numerous soccer tournaments throughout the year that attract teams from throughout the southeastern United States, and the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex is the flagship venue for tournament play.

For more information about the RootZone 3DSF synthetic turf system and other AstroTurf products, visit the AstroTurf Web site.