HELLAS PUTS A SPARK IN SPARKMAN WITH FUSION XP2™, ECOTHERM, & REALFILL INFILL

  United States, Alabama, Harvest - 08/19/2019 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

The Sparkman Senators are taking a page out of some legendary teams and going big time with its new high school football turf. Sparkman has partnered with Hellas Construction to install the Fusion XP2™ with Helix Technology synthetic turf surface. Sparkman Athletic Director Jennifer Gray couldn’t be happier with the partnership. “This is my first experience with Hellas. They’ve been so easy to work with and so helpful,” Gray said. “The football players and coaching staff are so excited to kick off the new season on our new field.”

The field’s synthetic Fusion XP2 turf fibers are manufactured at the Hellas fiber factory in Dadeville, Alabama and are tufted at the Hellas textile plant in Chatsworth, Georgia. The fibers have a natural look and feel, providing a soft yet strong surface with a long-life span. Fusion XP2 with Helix Technology is comprised of slim-film and two-color monofilament fibers. This unique blend results in an excellent and attractive multi-purpose synthetic playing surface. The fiber combination is designed to withstand high use and heavy foot traffic and is the perfect choice for facilities seeking a safe and playable surface for all sports that looks and feels like freshly mowed grass without the maintenance cost associated with it.

Hellas Construction’s patented REALFILL™ infill starts with a unique silica pea gravel base. This feature provides proper fiber support, energy restitution, enhanced shock absorption, and rapid drainage. After the base layer is infused in the turf system, there will be a mixture of REALFILL and EcoTherm® rubber granule infills. The larger granules in the REALFILL won’t compact under severe weather conditions and heavy use, allowing a consistent GMAX, which is a surface hardness score assigned to an athletic field. A surface with a higher GMAX score will absorb less force. The rubber granules have a deliberate shape and size to minimize “fly-out” and migration of the rubber. The EcoTherm infill will help keep the field about 20 degrees cooler than traditional crumb rubber. The pea gravel holds the system in place while assisting in shock absorption and drainage leading to superior foot stability. The overall result is a uniform, predictable playing surface. “I was speechless when I first saw it. I was at a conference when our principal sent me photos, and they didn’t do it justice,” Gray said. “We now have a wow factor.”

The Senators kick off the 2019 season in what Gray said is a “Jamboree Game” versus the Athens Golden Eagles on August 23. Gray added head coach Laron White, his staff, and players are all excited about playing on a surface manufactured by Hellas Construction—who’s partnered with some of the biggest college and pro football teams in the nation such as the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama A&M University and Troy University. Hellas is the Official Turf Provider of the Dallas Cowboys and the Preferred Turf of the Houston Texans.

Sparkman also partnered with Hellas Construction, who installed an epiQ 1000® running track to complete the project. “Before getting our new track, we were not able to host sanctioned track meets, but we can now,” Gray said. Sparkman High School is located in Northern Alabama and consistently rated above the state average in key measures of college and career readiness.

Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX, is one of the largest sports construction contractors in the United States, specializing in the general construction of sports facilities and sports playing surfaces. Hellas champions the manufacturing of innovative artificial turf, base construction, field, track and tennis planning, installation and maintenance. hellasconstruction.com

Dallas Cowboys headquartered at The Star in Frisco, TX, the Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and are part of the NFL's NFC East Division. dallascowboys.com

Houston Texans headquartered in Houston, TX at NRG Stadium and are part of the NFL's AFC South Division. houstontexans.com

University of Alabama-Birmingham or UAB is a public R1 research university developed from an academic extension center established in 1836 becoming a 4-year campus in 1966. UAB.edu

Troy University is a public university located in Troy, Alabama founded in 1887 as Troy State Normal School within the Alabama State University System by an Act of the Alabama Legislature. troy.edu