Bergman Field and Stocker Stadium are both getting facelifts as Colorado Mesa University will replace the 10-year-old turfs. The construction to replace the practice field, Bergman Field, started on Monday, while Stocker will be replaced over the summer.
The original artificial turf was installed in 2007 with an eight-year life expectancy, but that was only with one user. CMU intramurals sports, baseball, softball and football teams use the fields for practice while graduations, band practices and track meets also occur at Stocker.
According to CMU Athletic Director Tom Spicer, the university and the city worked together to get better bids to replace each field.
“By working with the city the timeframe would have been a 9-10 week period,” Spicer said.” We felt it would be more prudent for both of us to put the projects together for the purpose of bidding to get a better price.”
Spicer also said by changing the surface that there would be less of a chance of injury.
“There was some concern about safety because of the compaction (on the field) and the age,” Spicer said.
Some members of the CMU football team are also glad that the surface will be replaced because they too believe the field cause injury.
“We’ve had the turf for a while,” CMU football player Aaron Simons said. “I believe that this should really help with reducing injuries as that turf has definitely taken out multiple knees and ankles in various sports during training or competition.”
Simons also suggested that the field could utilize an aesthetic change as well.
“Hopefully we could get a Mav or CMU logo on there to support this university,” Simons said, “and how much it gives back to the city of Grand Junction.”
In additional of the field being replaced, the video board will be updated.
While Bergman Field is currently being replaced, there is no word year as to the date of Stocker Field being replaced. However, installation will occur in early June after the Special Olympics Summer Games.
The CMU football team’s home opener will be on Aug. 31.
