MetraPark and the Billings Outlaws Announce new NFL quality Field!

25 February 2006

NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bill Dutcher, Interim General Manager, announced today that the Billings Outlaws of the NIFL will play on a new state of the art artificial turf this season. The field will be in place for the home opener on March 17th at the MetraPark Arena against league rival, The Wyoming Cavalry. This new turf, manufactured by Sportex, is the same turf that is used in several NFL stadiums and is sanctioned and required for all AFL (Arena Football League) teams.

"The old turf that has been used at MetraPark for the last five seasons was purchased used and was showing its age both cosmetically and structurally," stated Dan Austin, General Manager of the Outlaws. "We can't really afford to buy a new field of this quality but since it's a matter of safety we can't afford not to. We had 3 significant knee injuries last year that we think may have been prevented with the new technology offered in the Sportex product". The thickness and padding of the old turf started out as 8mm but over time that has compressed to less than 5mm (@ 3/8") while the new turf has a 20mm padding and polyethylene field yarn rather than the arm burning nylon that was common in early models."

John Ostlund, Chair of the Yellowstone County Commission with management responsibility for MetraPark stated that, "The Outlaws approached the Metra about the condition of the old turf and their desire to upgrade both the presentation and the safety of the field. While that is a goal for us also we felt like there were other higher maintenance priorities and could not make a commitment for this season but explored with the Outlaws how we could partner together to make it happen. We came up with a plan that uses a portion of the improvement fund that is part of each ticket sold to help the Outlaws get comfortable with purchasing this new asset and in the end, the players will have a safer surface to win on, the public will have the best and highest quality field in their league and Outlaw sponsor partners will have fresh crisp logos and visibility for the first time!" Austin stated: "The old field had logos painted over logos, used paint that dried to a hard sandpaper texture and overall gave a poor first impression of indoor football, the Outlaws, and the Metra. But now all that will change. Several businesses who heard about the turf contacted us to get involved and now we only have 3 corporate field panels left" stated Austin.

Last year when the Outlaws current owners agreed to take over the team less than a month before the season, the turf was a low priority. This year, with 40 professional athletes from the clubs two tryouts in Billings and Oakland California, a solid coaching staff in place, new uniforms and helmets at the ready, they are willing to make this $125,000 investment for the community. Austin said that "Season ticket sales are quadruple last season and our corporate sponsors seem to be more energized and excited about our plans and the product that we will put on the field!"

Season tickets for the Billings Outlaws home games are currently available by calling: (406) 254-6287. For info online about the Outlaws including the Most Wanted Dance team, team roster, and sponsorships, visit: www.billingsoutlaws.com

Source: oursportscentral

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