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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
 Posted - 10/24/2019 : 14:32:53
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With rain looking to be a problem again this weekend and given the fact that it's almost always a problem in the spring, what all tournament locations have turf fields available in the state? Has anyone heard of any that are on the books set to open up soon?
This is a growing trend around the country and it seems like Georgia is getting left behind. |
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igotitigotit
20 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2019 : 08:56:28
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| Not happening unless its a new park being built. Infield tarp at the parks would be a much cheaper and higher probability. |
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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2019 : 13:09:17
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That's actually not true about it being much cheaper. Long term there is significant cost savings. Natural playing surfaces require expensive upkeep. Mowing crews, fertilization, overseeding in winter in some cases, and that's not to mention the prep work before games and tournaments as well as costly repairs caused by significant weather events.
Tarps, on the other hand, are even more unlikely. Tarps cost anywhere from $1,000 - $4,000 depending on size and quality and typically have a shelf life of about 3-5 years depending on how well they are taken care of, handled, and stored when not in use. Additionally, they aren't feasible for cities as they require several people to pull on and off the field. It's not like you can leave those things on for days at a time. |
Edited by - georgiabaseball13 on 10/25/2019 16:39:19 |
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RUSemiPro
95 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2019 : 10:25:48
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Tarps are useless if they are not used. We were in the PG tournament today to play at McEachern high school. Not only did PG screw up telling us at 545am the games were on, only drive all the way to McEachern high school to find out the games were cancelled.
Without the tarp, Field could have been playable with some slight work (Sponges/dolphins), but most frustrating was looking down the RF Line there was a tarp rolled up never put on the field.
What good are tarps, if people aren't proactive and put them out. I am shocked PG wasn't pro-active and sent someone out there to roll it out before the heavy rains, to salvage the tournament.
Bottom Line, people have to remotely care and put a little effort in for tarps to be effective.
PG giving up lakepoint may turn out to be a big mistake for them, especially if weather plays a role in spring, like it has the last few weeks.
The selling point on the turf fields, very little maintenance. Ocee Park did a nice job, doing turf infields, and leaving the outfield as grass, that may be a way to go as well, as rarely games are called due to outfield conditions, it's always the infield.
quote:
Originally posted by georgiabaseball13
That's actually not true about it being much cheaper. Long term there is significant cost savings. Natural playing surfaces require expensive upkeep. Mowing crews, fertilization, overseeding in winter in some cases, and that's not to mention the prep work before games and tournaments as well as costly repairs caused by significant weather events.
Tarps, on the other hand, are even more unlikely. Tarps cost anywhere from $1,000 - $4,000 depending on size and quality and typically have a shelf life of about 3-5 years depending on how well they are taken care of, handled, and stored when not in use. Additionally, they aren't feasible for cities as they require several people to pull on and off the field. It's not like you can leave those things on for days at a time.
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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2019 : 08:09:58
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This is my point from above about tarps
While the HS has them, PG typically doesn't have the staff on-site to be able to pull them on. Putting a dry tarp on a HS size field takes 6-8 people minimum. To take them off after a rain you are looking at 12-15 guys and that's assuming there isn't a 15-20mph wind blowing after a cold front has come through.
For travel ball tournaments tarps - especially on multiple fields - will NEVER be a legitimate option.
Turf infields are a happy middle ground for sure. That was the point of my OP, to determine what other parks might be considering doing such. With the money PG and East Cobb are hauling in for example, and in turn, losing rainout weekends, it would seem beneficial to all involved to at least give turf a long hard look. |
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2019 : 18:16:17
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The issue with turfing existing fields, is the down time needed to do so. You need 60-70+ degree days for the adhesive to cure/dry. And between prepping the field(s), to turfing them, it could take 4-6 weeks to get it done. That's 4-6 weeks a field is out of commission. That's 4-6 weeks you can't play games on that field. That's money lost. Not to mention, think about it... ANY org outside of PBR, doesn't have access to a ton of turf fields, so what happens? The org will move mountains to get everyone 2 pool games, then what? Cancel with $0 refunded. What incentive is there for an org to dump a ton of $$ into fields, when they are making bank? $625 for 2 games?
It ultimately falls on us consumers. We have to speak. But with PG still out-drawing PBR 2 to 1 in most cases, PG will do nothing. No reason to. |
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oneZone
117 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2019 : 22:15:42
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quote:
Originally posted by turntwo
The issue with turfing existing fields, is the down time needed to do so. You need 60-70+ degree days for the adhesive to cure/dry. And between prepping the field(s), to turfing them, it could take 4-6 weeks to get it done. That's 4-6 weeks a field is out of commission. That's 4-6 weeks you can't play games on that field. That's money lost. Not to mention, think about it... ANY org outside of PBR, doesn't have access to a ton of turf fields, so what happens? The org will move mountains to get everyone 2 pool games, then what? Cancel with $0 refunded. What incentive is there for an org to dump a ton of $$ into fields, when they are making bank? $625 for 2 games?
It ultimately falls on us consumers. We have to speak. But with PG still out-drawing PBR 2 to 1 in most cases, PG will do nothing. No reason to.
Other than the fact that Lakepoint is multiple times better than East Cobb Complex, PBR just doesn't do things as well as PG. |
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PGADMIN
178 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2019 : 11:58:29
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quote:
Originally posted by turntwo
The issue with turfing existing fields, is the down time needed to do so. You need 60-70+ degree days for the adhesive to cure/dry. And between prepping the field(s), to turfing them, it could take 4-6 weeks to get it done. That's 4-6 weeks a field is out of commission. That's 4-6 weeks you can't play games on that field. That's money lost. Not to mention, think about it... ANY org outside of PBR, doesn't have access to a ton of turf fields, so what happens? The org will move mountains to get everyone 2 pool games, then what? Cancel with $0 refunded. What incentive is there for an org to dump a ton of $$ into fields, when they are making bank? $625 for 2 games?
It ultimately falls on us consumers. We have to speak. But with PG still out-drawing PBR 2 to 1 in most cases, PG will do nothing. No reason to.
Unfortunately when rain does fall here in the area, we are ultimately at the mercy of the high school facilities that we partner with... We (Tony, Donny, Telly, and crew) do everything within our power get the fields up and running and get baseball played for our teams (for those that played at ECB this past weekend can attest). At certain points when field conditions deteriorate, we are not able to get on the fields to get them back up and running in safe conditions and are shut down. In addition, for the teams that are unable to get their minimum guaranteed games, we do issue a credit for what was not played. Facility upgrades across the city are in the works, and we will keep everyone posted here in the next few weeks/month.
PG Youth |
Edited by - PGADMIN on 10/29/2019 12:01:42 |
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georgiabaseball13
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2019 : 13:14:23
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| PG - thanks - that's great information and I look forward to hearing about these upgrades. That is exactly what I intended on when posting the topic - not to turn it into bashing PG or anyone else. My son has participated in several PG events this fall and I have been impressed with the work they have done on the fields to get them ready and during tournaments to keep them field ready. Having said that, I'm a believer in the turf option and was curious to see if that movement was coming to Atlanta and Georgia like it is in other parts of the country. |
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McGlovin
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2019 : 23:18:28
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| I like the idea of all turf infields and grass outfield. Games get canceled because of infield conditions and not the outfield. |
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bigroc19
158 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2019 : 15:59:29
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| @PGADMIN..great job at ECB on Sunday with the fields..guys did a great job |
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Turf Fields
