“The Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium” is the latest upgrade at a facility whose long-term future is about to come under discussion.
When players run out of the tunnels this season, this is what they’ll see…the same UBU sports turf system at the Superdome, the Metrodome, and Roosevelt High School.
"The beauty that everybody’s going to notice that plays on this right off the bat is it’s much more resilient. The old field, over a period of time they harden up,” said Dennis Sadowski of Applied Surfacing Technology.
The nearly $2 million project makes use of hundreds of thousands of pounds of recycled rubber tires turned into infill, along with 1.6 billion blades of synthetic grass
"It will definitely attract new clients, one as new as the international soccer that we’re pleased to announce,” said Scott Chan, Aloha Stadium Manager. "We’re excited to be entertaining new events besides just football itself.”
This time last year, the privately sponsored 60-by-20 foot high definition screen was unveiled. This 110,000 square foot field also comes thanks to private sponsorship, this time by Hawaiian Airlines with a new teal blue hue, a new addition to the previous purple.
"We think it’s obviously money very well spent,” said Mark Dunkerley, president of Hawaiian Airlines.
"It’s a community activity, it’s one of the things that brings everyone in this community together.”
How much longer that will mean coming together here remains to be seen
"The governor had mentioned an advisory committee to look at what does the future of the stadium look like? Should we continue investing? Should we look at a new stadium? Should we look at moving the stadium?” said Bruce Coppa, state comptroller.
"That’s for engineers to try to decide how long the stadium can make it, but certainly this new investment breathes new life into the stadium,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz.
The capital investments go beyond just the sponsored centerpieces. Other significant spending has been made on structural reinforcement, roof and replacements, handrail additions and more, with other projects still in the pipeline
"If we entertain the thought of a new facility it’ll take at least 8-10 years so you still need to invest money in this facility,” said Chan. "We’re confident that we’ll have several more years."
The first to get play on the field will be Iolani and Radford High School at the Father Bray Classic.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
