Construction of The Factory Complete

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – It took 45 days from its announcement, June 19, but Aug. 3 marked the opening of "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium as Eastern Michigan University Head Football Coach Chris Creighton welcomed alumni, students and fans into the stadium for the first time since the final stage of installment of the "EMU Gray" FieldTurf surface.

During construction, a camera was placed inside the press box to create a time-lapse video that can be found below. The video contains 5,068 images taken over a 22-day span and even captured a rainbow overtop the stadium following a passing rain shower on July 27.

With the EMU Athletics Department looking to replace the stadium's turf prior to the 2014 campaign, Creighton was hit by an intriguing thought. Inspired by this region of the state and the student-athletes' own backgrounds, the team has challenged itself to be "E Tough," committed to great effort, sacrifice and triumphing in the face of adversity. In this spirit, the team has nicknamed Rynearson Stadium "The Factory," a place where coaches and staff will go to work each day to help "E Tough" student-athletes become scholars, leaders, champions and impact men. "The Factory" is now highlighted by Division I Football's first gray FieldTurf playing surface for the fall season.

In total, the entire field is made up of 86,336 square feet of field turf, 48,340 of whichs dons the "EMU Gray" color. In addition, the construction crew laid down 268 tons of sand, with 224,474 lbs. of rubber mixed. Finally, on the top layer of the turf, 35,535 lbs. of rubber pellets were laid atop the new playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium.

The concept of the "EMU Gray" field was born during one of the squad's notoriously intense winter workouts in 2014. Ron McKeefery, Director of Sports Performance, challenged the team to an outdoor practice on the snow covered Rynearson Stadium field rather than the warm confines of their indoor practice facility. True to their E Tough demeanor, the team accepted the challenge. Throughout each drill of the bitter cold practice, Creighton delivered the message that EMU Football has the will to compete against "anyone, anytime and anywhere…even on a parking lot covered with broken glass." Inspired by his team's toughness and commitment that day, Creighton's idea of an "EMU Gray" field was born and soon shared with administrators.

Everyone can catch the Eagles kick off the 2014 season for the first game on the new "EMU Gray" FieldTurf inside Rynearson Stadium against Morgan State, Aug. 30. Single game and season tickets are now on sale online at EMUEagles.com, by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices start at just $12 for adults and $5 for youth 12-and-under.

The Factory Construction Facts

• Construction began on July 14, 2014, and was completed on Aug. 3, 2014.

• EMU is just the second Football Bowl Subdivision team to play on a non-green playing surface. Other non-green football playing fields include Boise State University, University Eastern Washington University, Lindenwood University-Belleville, the University of Central Arkansas and the University of New Haven.

• The field is made up of 86,336 square feet of field turf, 48,340 of whichs dons the "EMU Gray" color.

• The construction crew laid down 268 tons of sand, with 224,474 lbs. of rubber mixed

• On the top layer of the turf, 35,535 lbs. of rubber pellets were laid atop the new playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium.

• The Block E at midfield is 31-feet tall by 26-feet wide

• The two Mid-American Conference logos are 16-feet tall by 17-feet wide

• Each yard-line number on the field is approximately 6-feet tall

• Rynearson Stadium has featured artificial turf since 1991 with the previous surface having been installed in 2005.

(7/31/2014) Turf Construction - July 30, 2014

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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