October 8, 2010
Sports
Trinity Academy rents Circle’s field
7
By Alexis O’Neill Sports Editor
Last October, negotiations for Trinity Academy to use Circle’s football field began. Five years ago, Circle replaced its grass football field with a new artificial turf one. Trinity does not have its own football field, and they needed somewhere to play, so Circle now allows Trinity to use the field. It’s not that Trinity doesn’t have their own field; they just don’t have lights on their field. “It’s a big picture item when you’re looking at turf,” said Circle High School Principal Al Sersland. According to Sersland the turf cost $750,000 to install, but it has an eight to 10 year lifespan. With proper care and maintenance it could even last 12 - 15 years. $750,000 may be viewed as expensive, but when the school can no longer use the field, it’ll cost about $300,000 to replace. This amount is less than 50% of the original cost. That may be seen as more cost effective compared to a grass field which costs $40,000 a year to last through one football season. It costs another $40,000 a year to last it through soccer. That’s $80,000 for one year of sports. Multiply $80,000 a year by 10 years, and that’s $800,000. Using turf saves the district $50,000 a year. These savings could be put towards other departments according to Sersland. Circle also receives money from Trinity, paying a ‘rent’ of sorts. It costs Trinity $500 a night to play on the field, add in custodial costs and additional expenses, and the payment comes out to about $750 each game. Trinity has five home games this season, which adds up to roughly $3,750
for one football season. Some of this money goes back into the facility to maintain it, and for the upkeep of other outdoor facilities. Raking and brooming the turf are the only required maintenance duties. The maintenance staff takes a vehicle with a large rake attached to the back of it, essentially smoothing out and plumping the turf back up. “It’s good for people to know that we try to put money back into the school from the rent we receive,” said Sersland. One has to spend time mowing a grass field, fertilizing it, and then somebody has to stay late making sure it gets watered. To paint a grass field, two men spend about six hours. This process is longer for soccer games. After awhile, the paint process starts to get expensive according to Sersland. Compared to grass, turf is a much more ideal situation. “People forget how labor intensive grass is,” said Sersland. The staff at Trinity is grateful for the use of our field according to Trinity’s Activities Director Sheryl Deutsch. “Circle treats us better than we treat ourselves,” said Deutsch. “They make us feel at home, and that’s great when you don’t have a home,” she added. The fee Trinity pays after every game comes out of the money made from their gate admissions and concession stand sales. As a private school, Trinity does not receive money from the government. Almost all of the money the school has is earned from fundraisers and private donations.
Photo illustration by Burgundy Schartz Circle T-Birds and Trinity Knights share Circle’s field for home games. Trinity Academy has five home games this season.
October Home Games Boy’s Sports
Girl’s Sports
Boys Soccer
Varsity Volleyball
Oct. 12 Mulvane at 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 El Dorado at 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 9 Circle Tournament at 9:00 a.m. Oct. 12 Augusta, Wellington, and Clearwater at 5:00 p.m. Oct. 19 Maize South at 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 22 Rose Hill at 7:00 p.m.
Girls Varsity Tennis
Varsity Football
No home games this month
Girls Golf No home games this month