The West Salem High School Titans in Oregon were known for wearing all-black uniforms, so they got an all-black field. Seems a little gimmicky at best and like it would be way more hot at worst. But guess what benefit they really got out of the deal?
How about $150,000. Apparently, Field Turf is black after manufacture and needs a treatment to be made green. Or blue. Or red. Or grey and purple. So, if the company skips the colorization process, it saves the school one hundred fifty large. Quite a savings.
Workers install the black field turf at West Salem High
In fact, so much of a savings, it allowed the team to switch to new green uniforms without barely denting the savings. Also avoids other teams complaining about the color match.
While this color is the first of its kind in an outdoor stadium, its not the first black football field. The Nebraska Danger play indoor football on a 50-yard black field.
Close up of the field on what they call, “The Black Hole”
The look is pretty interesting, though with the rubber added, the field is a little more of a dark charcoal grey than truly black, which is good for depth perception. The yard markers, end zones, and mid-field logo really stand out.
Midfield green and white logo really stand out on the black
So, what do you think? Neat way to rally the troops, or silly gimmick? Are you the type to wish someone had outlawed this madness before it started, or are you trying to figure out how to get burnt orange into U of Texas stadium? Carbon Fiber and metallic for Autzen Stadium? Stupid chicken-wire and cream to match the helmets at Georgia Tech?
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JR Francis is an actor, writer, director, graphic designer, UX guru, father, comedian, and craft beer snob. You can reach him at jrfrancis@sportslogos.net or on Twitter @JRFrancisSLN *One of several full-time uniform reporters this site has including its founder, Chris Creamer, who started his site in 1997
Matt Marczel
Friday, September 7, 2012 at 17:36Looks like asphalt. Cool!
Cheryl
Friday, September 7, 2012 at 17:40could be interesting when they play a team with all black uniforem
Michael Kersey
Friday, September 7, 2012 at 17:48Won't happen! This is West Salem's field, not the opponents!
Jed
Friday, September 7, 2012 at 19:56Football should always be meant to be played on a green grass surface as this is nothing more than a gimmick...what next...a yellow field?
Ian
Friday, September 7, 2012 at 20:55I dont have a problem with it...there is no law saying the field has to be green...and if it saves the school that much money thats great.
paulywrath
Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 08:47Wait! They change their field's color from green to black to match their all-black uniforms, but used the savings to change their uniforms to green? Is this a joke article? Because that is literally how you write a joke.
metalx
Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 10:10The team would have had an unfair advantage if the uniforms were black. So the school had some foresight and changed the colour of the uniforms to green. Smart move on their part.
11in '11
Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 21:57A similar situation arose in a school that installed an all-color field somewhere else. An opposing team complained that their uniforms matching the field was an unfair advantage...West Salem changed uniforms so it wouldn't happen to them.
Peter
Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 19:25I enjoy playing on this field. Any one who thinks this is a gimmick should go sulk in a corner and rethink their life.
ingmar66
Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 16:17Looks like a blacktop, very urban and tough. Where are the hoops with the torn backboards and the iron chain nets? I like it a lot. During the Olympics this summer they had blue artificial turf field hockey pitches in London and the lines and the ball were much sharper on tv. Too bad field hockey sucks otherwise, but the blue field was a pleasant surprise. Go WS Titans!
Jeriat
Monday, September 10, 2012 at 02:33Do those guys have ANY idea how hot that's gonna get in the summer......?
Lights Out
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 20:45Very cool. Take notes, Raiders.