2. 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 • vanguard.edu Facilities Operations
Artificial Turf Executive Summary
Office of Facilities Operations
August 2016
as the aquifers have already been drawn from at faster rates than they can recharge. In light of the threats of the
unfavorable playing conditions caused by the current drought and water restrictions, Vanguard University should consider
an alternative approach to ensure its athletic programs remain on the competitive edge. Artificial turf technology is
improving and an astonishing rate and is becoming very popular at all levels of competition across the nation. Because of
its proven effectiveness in arid climates, artificial turf was chosen as the alternative solution for this study. This study has
been done to determine if artificial turf on the ball fields would be a sustainable and economically sound solution to this
problem.
Discussion:
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses have been executed for both natural grass and artificial
turf; therefore, this discussion will be broken into four parts (see Appendices 1.7a-c for the SWOT analyses of natural grass
versus artificial turf).
• Strengths
o Natural Grass
§ Natural grass has a unique biodiversity that breaks down pesticides and other harmful organic
chemicals, which benefits both the environment and the athletes.
§ Biodiversity helps fertilize the grass and assure that the ground is porous in order to facilitate
groundwater recharge.
§ Natural grass is a carbon sink, which can work to improve air quality and result in cooler
temperatures on the field.
§ Natural grass has the ability to repair itself if properly taken care of.
§ Natural grass costs less to remove at the end of its life.
§ Natural grass gives players the right amount of traction. When players collide the grass will give
way and fewer injuries could result.
§ Ball response and field response during play are best on a well-kept natural grass field.
o Artificial Turf
§ Turf provides a play surface that is usable year-round and requires no water (other than the
water required for an occasional decontamination).
§ The increased playtime means that athletes can practice longer, and with no downtime required
after yearly seeding or re-sodding.
§ There are lower maintenance costs associated with turf because there is no longer a need to
frequently perform tasks such as mowing, fertilizing, and seeding.
§ Turf is more durable than natural grass and stands up longer against continual cleat use.
§ There are no pesticides, herbicides, or lawnmower exhaust pollution associated with turf.
§ Dust stabilization is better with turf because there are no dry, exposed dirt patches.
§ There is a lower average cost per hour of use because of the increased play time and
opportunities for revenue.
§ There are no elevated environmental, health, or safety risks involved with turf according to
studies by multiple credible organizations.
3. 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 • vanguard.edu Facilities Operations
Artificial Turf Executive Summary
Office of Facilities Operations
August 2016
• Weaknesses
o Natural Grass
§ The main weakness with natural grass is that it is difficult to maintain and keep up to standards,
especially in drought conditions.
§ In order to keep a natural grass field in good shape, one must make sure the field is designed and
constructed properly, maintained by qualified personnel, and assure that the use of the grass is
limited and controlled.
§ Proper care of natural grass is time consuming and costly, but it will all go to waste when the
grass improperly watered.
§ Natural grass is also very sensitive to inclement weather, which will result in practice and game
cancellations.
§ One sustained rainfall, especially after a long dry period, can close a field down for several days.
o Artificial Turf
§ Turf is expensive to install and dispose of after its lifespan.
§ Another concern with turf is the heat island effect that it creates.
§ Artificial turf absorbs heat and can result in surface temperatures being much higher than the
surrounding air temperatures.
§ Despite all the studies disproving any significant risk, there is still a potential of exposure to
harmful substances and chemicals like lead, zinc, arsenic, or chromium.
§ Though highly unlikely, this could possible create a hazard for asthmatics or create toxic run-off.
§ Turf gives a lot of traction, however that increases the chances of certain types of injuries. Turf is
not as forgiving as natural grass and will resist the movements of the players, which could injure
their joints.
§ Turf also heightens the chance of abrasion injuries, also known as “turf burn.”
§ Bacterial infections could arise due to the synthetic nature of turf, as it lacks the biodiversity that
breaks down chemicals and harmful organic chemicals.
§ The synthetic fibers don’t dissipate noise or light very well, which could increase noise and glare.
• Opportunities
o Natural Grass
§ Due to the nature of the current drought, water restrictions have placed heavy strain on the
current natural grass fields. There are no opportunities at the time.
o Artificial Turf
§ Turf allows for more hours of usage and increases the playability of the ball fields.
§ This allows Vanguard University athletics to get more hours of quality practice and allows
athletes and coaches to maintain regimented schedules.
§ Artificial turf creates more opportunities for revenue because well-kept turf fields can be rent
out to outside entities for events and tournaments.
§ Renting out the fields offsets the steep initial cost of the turf, and can even eventually lead to
profits that can be used to make other improvements around campus.
• Threats
o Natural Grass
§ Water restrictions cut the amount of water that can be used for the ball fields, which results in
an inferior play surface. This jeopardizes the quality of play and the safety of the players.
4. 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 • vanguard.edu Facilities Operations
Artificial Turf Executive Summary
Office of Facilities Operations
August 2016
o Artificial Turf
§ Both the high initial investment required and steep disposal costs could threaten the feasibility of
installing artificial turf on Vanguard University’s ball fields.
§ Any vandalism or damages done to the fields will be costly to repair.
Recommendation:
After assessing both options, the strengths and opportunities associated with artificial turf make it the superior choice.
Though artificial turf costs a lot initially (see Appendix 1.8 for a rough quote from Boone Action Turf), its many benefits
quickly begin to lower the net cost with the chance of possibly making a profit. The maintenance and labor required to
upkeep the turf field after the initial installation are minimal and will save Vanguard University both time and money (see
Appendix 1.9 for the Cost Analysis of Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass on the Vanguard University baseball field). The money
saved could be put towards making other improvements around campus.
The ball teams may not favor artificial turf, however it is the smart choice in light of the current state of the Southern
California climate. Natural grass may have the best ball response; however trying to maintain a quality natural grass field in
the midst of a drought is counterintuitive. Currently on the Vanguard University fields, natural grass has a hard time
remaining consistent, let alone responsive. There are many configurations possible when artificially turfing a ball field, but
turfing the entire field would be the best option for Vanguard University. The water restrictions may be lifted for the time
being, however they will most likely return soon. Not only would this be smart preparation for future drought conditions,
but this would also prevent Vanguard University from having to pay for the different types of maintenance required by the
two playing surfaces simultaneously.
As stated, artificial turf’s initial cost of $750,000 is much higher than the $350,000 it costs to lay down natural grass.
Comparing the two, however, the steep initial cost of artificial turf is almost all that Vanguard University will pay over a 10-
year period. The initial $350,000 required for natural grass skyrockets to over $1.3 million over the same 10-year period.
Caring for an artificial turf field requires much less equipment and labor, whereas natural grass requires many different
materials and types of labor.
In addition to lower overall costs, artificial turf also permits more hours of usage because it does not require downtime
after the maintenance tasks, such as reseeding or re-sodding, that would be associated with natural grass. Artificial turf
also remains playable during inclement weather and will result in fewer cancellations. More playtime and a smaller overall
cost result in artificial turf having a much lower cost per hour of use (see Appendices 1.10a-c for an example of a “cost per
hour of use” breakdown done by FieldTurf). Using FieldTurf’s hours of usage estimates, natural grass would cost Vanguard
University approximately $71.84 per hour and artificial turf would only cost $18.32 per hour. On top of that, the net cost of
artificial turf can be reduced because of the possibility of renting the fields out to external parties for tournaments and
events.
• Artificial turf outperforms natural grass in almost every category:
o The overall cost over a 10-year period is much less
o The cost per hour of use is much less
o There are more hours available for the Vanguard University Athletics Department to practice
5. 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 • vanguard.edu Facilities Operations
Artificial Turf Executive Summary
Office of Facilities Operations
August 2016
o The play surface is always consistent and will remain playable even in the midst of inclement weather
o Renting out the fields out to external parties will reduce the net cost with the chance of possible profits
As aforementioned, there is a possibility to make a profit from installing turf on Vanguard University’s ball fields (see
Appendix 1.11 for the maximum revenue projection spreadsheet for an artificially turfed baseball field). Currently,
Vanguard University baseball generates $2,500 to $3,000 in revenue per weekend tournament and $1,000 per month for
renting out the pitcher’s mound. Artificial turf allows for more hours of play, which naturally brings more opportunities for
revenue. At maximum, Vanguard University can host 52 weekend tournaments with artificial turf while still renting out the
pitcher’s mound. If you multiply that out over the course of 10 years, a revenue of $1.68 million could be made. Not only
would this would pay for the turfing of the field and all of its maintenance fees, but it would also result in a profit of
$874,089.90 that could be used to make other improvements around the Vanguard University campus.
Appendices:
1.1 - Example of an irrigation meter shut-off notice from the Mesa Water District
1.2 - Example of an irrigation schedule from the Mesa Water District
1.3 - Picture of the uneven playing surface on the Vanguard University softball field
1.4 - Picture of the uneven playing surface on the Vanguard University softball field
1.5 - Close up of the uneven playing surface on the Vanguard University softball field
1.6 - Picture of the remnants of a large, hazardous crack on the Vanguard University softball field
1.7 (a-c) - SWOT matrices for natural grass vs. artificial turf
1.8 - Rough quote to artificially turf the baseball field from Boone Action Turf
1.9 - Cost analysis/Rough order of magnitude of natural grass vs. artificial turf on the Vanguard University baseball field
1.10(a-c) - Example of a “cost per hour of use” breakdown done by FieldTurf
1.11 - Maximum revenue projection spreadsheet for an artificially turfed baseball field at Vanguard University
12. Grant Wong
Natural Grass vs. Artificial Turf
Natural Grass
Strengths
• Better air quality
• No heat island effect
• Better groundwater recharge
• Improved biodiversity
o e.g. microscopic decomposers break down
pesticides and harmful organic chemicals
• Reduced noise levels and glare
• Ball response
• Field response in play
Opportunities
• There are no opportunities because of the current
drought conditions.
Weaknesses
• Difficult to maintain and keep up to standards
• In order to maintain high quality grass:
o The field must be designed and
constructed properly
o The grass must be maintained by qualified
personnel
o Use of the grass must be limited and
controlled
• More prone to event cancellations in the event of
inclement weather
o One sustained rainfall can close a field
down for several days
Threats
• Water restrictions cut the amount of water that
can be used for the fields, resulting in an unsafe
play surface
Appendix 1.7a
13. Grant Wong
Natural Grass vs. Artificial Turf
Artificial Turf
Strengths
• Lower maintenance costs
• Increased playability
o Reduced rainouts and consistent play surface
• Increased play time
o No downtime required after yearly seeding or re-sodding
of natural grass
• Increased durability
o Turf stands up longer against continual cleat use
• Free of pesticides and herbicides
• No lawnmower exhaust pollution
• Fewer severe injuries
o Neural, Cranial/Cervical, Third-Degree
• Water conserved
• Dust stabilization
• Lower average cost per hour of use
o Initial/Long-Term investment will be higher than natural
grass, however increased play-time and more
opportunities for revenue will likely offset most of the cost
and result in a net cost that is lower than that of natural
grass
• Easier to maintain compliance with league field requirements
• No elevated environment, health, or safety risks found by studies by:
o United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
o United States Environmental Protection Agency
o State of California
o City of San Francisco, CA
o State of Connecticut
o State of New York
o State of New Jersey
Opportunities
• Increased playability results in more
opportunities/hours for Vanguard University to
make a profit (e.g. renting out the fields to
different leagues for tournaments)
• Saves Vanguard University money, which can then
be used to make other improvements (e.g. field
lighting to allow night play)
• Athletes and coaches can maintain regimented
schedules, because the fields do not need to be
shut down for grass regrowth
Weaknesses
• Heat hazard
o Artificial turf absorbs heat and can result in
surface temperatures being much higher
than the surrounding air temperatures
• Potential exposure to harmful substances and
chemicals
o Lead, Zinc, Arsenic, Chromium, etc.
• Potential hazard for asthmatics
• Toxic run-off
• Bacterial breeding ground
• High installation and disposal cost
• Potential for turf burn/abrasion injuries
• Increased noise and glare
Threats
• Initial cost is very steep and the lack of an
adequate payment plan could put artificial turf out
of reach
• Any damage done to the field will be more costly
to repair
Appendix 1.7b
18. !
10 YEAR COST ANALYSIS
(Based on Field Size of 80,000 Square Feet)!
!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Natural Grass!!!!!!!! !
!
Intitial Captial Cost $380,000 $520,000
(New Sod, drainage, Irrigation)
M aintenance:
Year 1 $52,500 $5,000
Year 2 $52,500 $5,000
Year 3 $52,500 $5,000
Year 4 $52,500 $5,000
Year 5 $52,500 $5,000
Year 6 $52,500 $5,000
Year 7 $52,500 $5,000
Year 8 $52,500 $5,000
Year 9 $52,500 $5,000
Year 10 $52,500 $5,000
Ten Year Total $905,000* $570,000**
*Does not include downtime for re-sodding/ seeding, or un-playable field conditions.
**Increased Usage
Appendix 1.10b
19. Annual Maintenance Costs
! ! !!!!!"#$%&#'!(&#))! !!!! !
!
!
Mowing Equipment
Labor Cost ($20/Hour)
$7,068.00
$6,000.00
-
$1,000.00
Clipping Removal $2,861.00 -
Fertilization $4,856.00 -
Overseeding $466.00 -
Coring $2,848.00 -
Topdressing $9,565.00 -
Thatch Removal $185.00 -
Monitor Irrigation $846.00 -
Equipment Depreciation and Fuel $3,500.00 $1,500.00
Water Cost $5,400.00 -
Sub Total
Re-Striping Field Lines:
Labor
Material
43,595.00
$5,800.00
$3,105.00
2,500.00
$1,000.00
$1,500.00
Total $52,500.00 $5,000.00
Maintenance of FieldTurf
The cost of maintaining FieldTurf is minimal. The primary maintenance item is removing leaves
and other debris which may stray onto the field. Removal is accomplished by a tractor-pulled
vacuum system. These tractors do not remove the fill material. FieldTurf also recommends
brushing the field (every 4-6 weeks depending on use) to redistribute infill material that may
have migrated.
!
Appendix 1.10c
20. Appendix 1.11
Vanguard University
Artificial Turf Maximum
Revenue Projection Spreadsheet
- Baseball Field
Revenue Sources Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 TOTAL
Artificial Turf
Weekend Tournaments (52/year @ $3,000 each) 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 156,000.00$ 1,560,000.00$
Pitcher's Mound Rental ($1000/month) 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 12,000.00$ 120,000.00$
Subtotal 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 168,000.00$ 1,680,000.00$
Totals and Calculations
Artificial Turf Revenue 1,680,000.00$
Artificial Turf Revenue - (Turf Installation + Turf Maintenance) 874,089.90$
Gross Profit
Gross Profit from Artificial Turf 874,089.90$
