Fans will see the Bulls playing on a redesigned turf field this season that emphasizes New York State as part of UB Athletics “NYBI,” or New York Bulls Initiative.
The redesign echoes what’s already been done to the basketball court in Alumni Arena. UB Stadium needs new turf after a harsh Buffalo winter left the former field in an unsafe condition for players. Construction started in July and will finish up by August, before soccer and football games resume. The cost has yet to be finalized.
As the only public school with an FBS football team, White believes the design of the field helps illustrate the university as one of the premiere schools in the region.
“We believe we have more potential than any athletic department in the nation,” said Athletic Director Danny White.
Both end zones will say “Bulls” as opposed to the current “Buffalo” and the Bull at the 50-yardline will be replaced by the words “State University of New York Buffalo” with a faded picture of New York State behind the words. There will be interlocking UB letters and the Mid-American Conference logo at the 25-yardlines.
White said professional turf companies told him UB Stadium at its former state could not be restored to guarantee optimal safety conditions for the student-athletes.
UB Athletics found a solution just a few miles down the road in A-Turf Titan, a synthetic surfacing system in Williamsville.
The school was not planning on replacing the turf, which was 9 years old, this offseason until professionals informed White of the problem in late May. It was a “state of emergency” that forced the decision, White said.
“The safety of our student-athletes is always our No. 1 concern,” White said.
The football team will practice on the adjacent grass field from the stadium until construction is complete.
The Bulls’ football and soccer teams will be playing on a new turf surface made of A-Turf Titan, which is considered one of the best synthetic surfacing systems. A-Turf Titan reduces the number of injuries, especially concussions from surface impact, according to aturf.com. The turf is used on multiple fields throughout the state and country, including Ralph Wilson Stadium and nearby Canisius College.
The field is not the only enhancement currently underway at UB Stadium. A new training room is nearly complete inside and UB Athletics expects it to be finished by the end of July. Buffalo continues to receive donations and seat purchases for the “East Club,” which consists of premium seating, flat screen televisions and private bathrooms along with food and beverage service. UB Athletics said the goal is for “East Club” construction to begin next summer.
The football and soccer teams will share the new turf. There are currently plans to build a soccer-only facility, but there is no timetable for construction, according to UB Athletics.
There will be temporary lines painted on the field before soccer games and removed before football games. The turf is expected to last between 10 and 12 years and White said he believes the new soccer stadium will be completed before then.
The men’s and women’s soccer teams are scheduled to host a scrimmage on Aug. 17. The football team opens its season at UB Stadium Aug. 30 against Duquesne.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
