TCF's lack of heating coils

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maliksealy

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I got into a spirited debate with one of my Hawkeye friends at the game on Saturday. He was wondering why there wasn't heating coils built into the new stadium. He said they have them at Kinnick and other Big Ten venues. He was surprised since we were the northernmost location in the Big Ten. I countered and said that they would only be necessary one or two games a year. He seemed to think with as big as college football has gotten that they should have been a necessity and thought the field conditions were ridiculous for the Iowa/Minnesota game in 2010. I was wondering if any of you had insight on why heating coils weren't included with the stadium and what other Big Ten stadiums actually have them?
 

I always thought they should have been included as well but I think they looked at how many times they would actually be used verses the cost of putting them in.
 

They are expensive and very hard to keep up. The Nebraska baseball field has them. Worked great for 2 years and they haven't been used in the last 8. They broke and are too expensive and time consuming to repair.
 

Lincoln hit on it. The budget for the stadium was very fixed and the coils didn't make the cut. They've only been needed for 1 Gophers game (Iowa last year) and even then you could easily argue that the field was ok without them thanks to the efforts of the TCF staff and their hammers (I still LOL thinking about that image). So thus far they've (maybe) been needed for 4% of the gametime spent on the field.
 

And wear the right shoes...not that hard to figure out.
 


I don't understand why it wasn't put in for no other reason than to say you have a first class program and stadium. The cost was miniscule compared to the total cost of the stadium. It says alot to a recruit that you have the best there is.
 

I know if I was an elite college football recruit, my first priority would be to attend a school with heating coils under their field.
 

Let all the other teams in the conference cry about it if they are that soft. The weather is our friend. I hope every game in November at TCF BANK STADIUM is freezing rain, snow or something horrendous on the weather front. (We all know it won't be bad at all.) Let those other Big Ten Teams THINK that they really don't want to have to show up in Minnesota in November.

Being Northernmost point in the Big Ten is where they think we are...so let's let them hype themselves out, wimp themselves out and then let's play ball! Remember: Weather can be a factor so weather IS our friend!

; 0 )
 

Iowa does NOT have heating coils in the field turf.

Also, heating coils do not make a huge difference with Field Turf as they do with natural grass/soil. One pass by a groomer breaks up the rubber and softens the field in cold weather.
 



TheJackass said:
Iowa does NOT have heating coils in the field turf.

Also, heating coils do not make a huge difference with Field Turf as they do with natural grass/soil. One pass by a groomer breaks up the rubber and softens the field in cold weather.[/QUOTE]

That's not what Favre said.
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Waaaaaaaaa I want heating coils installed in my sidewalk so I don't have to walk on cold concrete nor do I then haffta blow snow as often. Shucks, I'm a wimp.
 

station19 said:
TheJackass said:
Iowa does NOT have heating coils in the field turf.

Also, heating coils do not make a huge difference with Field Turf as they do with natural grass/soil. One pass by a groomer breaks up the rubber and softens the field in cold weather.
Click to expand...

That's not what Favre said.
Click to expand...

I think it's a little different when the thing isn't covered in 20" of snow the week prior to the game and temps sitting at mid 20s. With Thanksgiving being the latest game, it would seem just having the ability to lay a tarp over it in case of any significant snowfall would be enough and then just doing some grooming. It rarely gets much below mid 20s prior to December. There may be a rare game every so often when we'll say "Gee, wish we had coils."
 

Monty519 said:
I think it's a little different when the thing isn't covered in 20" of snow the week prior to the game and temps sitting at mid 20s. With Thanksgiving being the latest game, it would seem just having the ability to lay a tarp over it in case of any significant snowfall would be enough and then just doing some grooming. It rarely gets much below mid 20s prior to December. There may be a rare game every so often when we'll say "Gee, wish we had coils."
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But the next thing is then the fans would complain because we didn't have heated seats for their wimpy tushes.
 



If that is an issue, why not consider an insulated cover similar to what contractors use to cover concrete before it sets up in cold weather.

The issue with the field last November against Iowa were the ice spots due to the prior snow and then melt.

If the Queens end up playing there, they can buy a heated one if they need it. But even then, there will be ice build up after the turf freezes.
 

Dr.Don said:
But the next thing is then the fans would complain because we didn't have heated seats for their wimpy tushes.
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Then the State Leg would say you have all heated seats or none.
 

I am certain our field crew learned a lot last year from the IA game and the Vikings game...so I don't suspect we will have the same issues going forward...unless it is just extreme weather where nothing can help it.

The big thing is to get the tarp down before any precipitation gets onto the turf...that way it wont melt/freeze under the tarp like what happened with IA. Then remove the tarp only a couple of hours before game time. The Vikings situation is very unlikely to happen...snow deep enough to bring the metrodome roof down and then freezing temps for two straight weeks just doesn't happen often before Thanksgiving.
 


Dr.Don said:
Give them all heated seats and serve them all beer at the games. Simple.
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With all due respect DR, I think you should excuse yourself from any objective discussion of beer issues.:cool:
 

station19 said:
With all due respect DR, I think you should excuse yourself from any objective discussion of beer issues.:cool:
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19, are you insinuating that I am biased and do not have an open mind?
 

Dr.Don said:
19, are you insinuating that I am biased and do not have an open mind?
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BIASED? Yes

OPEN MINDED? If that means having a hole in your head with a sign saying 'pour beer here', then YES.
 


When I took a tour of Lambeau Field they commented about how much they spend every year maintaining the coils under the field. I don't remember the actual amount but I remember I was fairly stunned. Maybe with the timing of the games they could drain the lines earlier and not see the issues, but there will always be maintenance. For the one or two games a year maximum they may help, probably not worth the on going cost. Plus, I believe the system at Lambeau cost millions of dollars. I'm sure there are cheaper ways to do it, but none are as inexpensive as people think. So with the athletic budget I don't think there is any realistic way they could make the cut when you can buy a handful of tarps from Menards and rent a couple heaters for that one game a year, if necessary.
 

maliksealy said:
I got into a spirited debate with one of my Hawkeye friends at the game on Saturday. He was wondering why there wasn't heating coils built into the new stadium. He said they have them at Kinnick and other Big Ten venues. He was surprised since we were the northernmost location in the Big Ten. I countered and said that they would only be necessary one or two games a year. He seemed to think with as big as college football has gotten that they should have been a necessity and thought the field conditions were ridiculous for the Iowa/Minnesota game in 2010. I was wondering if any of you had insight on why heating coils weren't included with the stadium and what other Big Ten stadiums actually have them?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure Kinnick doesn't have them.
 



The way some people in Iowa act, you would think Iowa was a tropical paradise in winter. The Twin Cities aren't International Falls. Iowa city isn't Cozumel.
 


I guess to me the important detail is whether or not schools like Wisconsin, and Iowa have heating coils under their turf. If they don't, then I think it is fine that Minnesota doesn't have them. If they do, then it's just another example of Minnesota not creating first class facilities (not just the University of Minnesota, but all Minnesota sports).
 

EG#9 said:
I guess to me the important detail is whether or not schools like Wisconsin, and Iowa have heating coils under their turf. If they don't, then I think it is fine that Minnesota doesn't have them. If they do, then it's just another example of Minnesota not creating first class facilities (not just the University of Minnesota, but all Minnesota sports).
Click to expand...

Can someone find out about this?
 

Coils? I'm still disappointed we don't have real grass.
 

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