MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN LUBBOCK ATHLETIC COMPLEX, BERL HUFFMAN

  United States, Texas, Lubbock - 11/04/2019 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Last fall, the City of Lubbock unanimously approved a $7 Million investment to renovate and upgrade the 40-year-old Berl Huffman Athletic Complex. The complex spreads over 151 acres and includes 45 soccer fields and four softball fields. 

The City of Lubbock in partnership with Market Lubbock, Incorporated is funding the renovations, which will include new roadways and facilities, additional parking lots, new irrigation for the natural grass system, and 375,000 square feet of synthetic turf fields manufactured by Hellas Construction. The facility will be able to play up to eight games at once on the synthetic turf, increasing the opportunity to host youth events from all around the South Plains. 

Lubbock is known for its soccer-playing population and Berl Huffman has historically been a soccer- centric venue; However, with the improved upgrades to the park, the city will now be able to attract sports that require more field surface space. 

“The Berl Huffman Championship Complex will be a tremendous use of community space that helps enhance the experiences of our families and specifically our children”, according to Mark Haberer, Client Manager for Market Lubbock, Inc. Haberer adds, “Furthermore, the facility will support tourism and help boost the local economy by attracting regional and statewide soccer enthusiasts to play at one of the top facilities of its kind.” 

Safety, durability, and utility were a priority for the City of Lubbock which is why Matrix®Real M®turf, Ecotherm™ infill and a GMAX drain pad was selected to be installed by Hellas. Matrix Real M fibers are manufactured at Hellas Fibers Plant in Alabama and tufted into a durable, triple-layer backing at Hellas Textiles Plant in Georgia. The innovative blade shape helps increase foot stability for the players and provides the closest thing to natural grass in terms of ball roll, reaction time and speed of movement. 

Ecotherm infill is made from recyclable material, and unlike other infills, Ecotherm does not require watering, resulting in over 3 million gallons of water saved annually per synthetic field. The unique shaped infill granules are made from recycled vinyl TPU and cellulose fibers and use the ambient moisture in the air to decrease surface temperatures up to 20 degrees than traditional black crumb rubber. 

The GMAX drain pad will provide an extra layer of safety increasing shock absorbency as well as providing efficient water drainage of the fields. Hellas is The Official Turf Provider of the Dallas Cowboys and their practice facility at The Star in Frisco. Hellas is The Preferred Turf Provider of the Houston Texans and the Houston Methodist Training Center for the Texans.                                                     

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

The City of Lubbock is the 11thmost populous city in the state of Texas and the county seat of Lubbock County.  Lubbock has a projected 2020 population of 327,424. Lubbock’s nickname is “Hub City” which derives from it being the economic, educational, and health-care hub of the multicounty region north of the Permian Basin and south of Texas Panhandle commonly called the South Plains.  The area is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world. marketlubbock.org

Lubbock Economic Development Alliance has a mission of creating high-quality jobs while investing in new capital improvements by providing economic growth in Lubbock, which is the third-largest city between Interstate 35 and the front range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. lubbockeda.org

Parkhill Smith & Cooper is deeply rooted in communities providing innovative, comprehensive and relevant solutions. With 10 offices located in Texas and New Mexico PSC employs architects and engineers dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to complex problems. team-psc.com

Dallas Cowboys Football Club headquartered at The Star in Frisco, TX, with home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the Cowboys are part of the NFL’s NFC East. dallascowboys.com

Houston Texans headquartered in Houston, TX at NRG Stadium, the Texans entered the NFL in 2002 and are part of the NFL's AFC South Division. houstontexans.com