Boise State to Replace Playing Surface for Soccer
5/15/2025 12:45:00 PM | General, Women's Soccer
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State Athletics announced today another phase of the department's What's Next Initiative with upgrades and renovations to the soccer program's facilities. Starting this week, crews will start replacing the competition surface at the Boas Soccer Stadium with a new grass field. Boise State Athletics has selected Burton Excavation for the removal of the old field and to regrade and laser level the new competition field. Raft River Sod, an Idaho company, has been selected to provide and install the new grass surface.
This is the first time that the surface has been completely replaced since the facility opened in 2003. The project includes replacing several inches of the dirt foundation before the new sod is laid in a couple of weeks. Improvements to the irrigation system will occur at this time as well. The installation of the grass surface is scheduled for completion in early June, before the start of preseason training at the end of July.
The project is just one of several upgrades and improvements that have taken place over the last two years at Boas Tennis and Soccer Complex, including the renovation of the soccer locker room, the remodeling of the team meeting room, the addition of a fueling/snack station for student-athletes, and last year's addition of stadium lights for the soccer stadium. Future upgrades include expanding the current 80-yard practice field to full size and resurfacing the facility's parking lots.
Questions and Answers About the Project
...on the need for the pitch upgrade.
"We are excited to continue to elevate and expand on the Boas Complex as we enter this new era of athletics," said Heather Berry, Soccer Sport Administrator and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Athletics Personnel Services and Athletics Chief of Staff. "One of many items we have focused on is the need to upgrade that facility. Last year, we updated the locker room and team room, as well as added lights to the soccer complex. This year, we are redoing the pitch for the first time since the soccer stadium opened over 20 years ago. Projects like these are important to the future of the athletics department and for the student-athlete experience. The project is also being completed at a great time as we prepare to host the Mountain West Soccer Championship this fall."
...on the process of replacing the competition surface.
"The project started last week with us using a drone to shoot a topographical survey of the whole area," said Jeremy Fairbanks, Director of Sports Turf Operations. "After that, the data will be fed into a GPS system for the skid steers or tractors. We are using Raft River Sod as the installer of the field. They will start by taking a couple of inches off the current surface before they tickle in a bunch of sand that's mixed with peat, followed by a bunch of fertilizer. They will grade it again and put more fertilizer out, then the sod will be laid on top of that. We are installing a sod that is a Kentucky Bluegrass and rye mix. It's about 80-20, 80 percent Kentucky Bluegrass and 20 percent rye."
...on the impact on the soccer program.
"It's such a multifactorial reward for a championship program that's continually performed at the highest of levels," said Jim Thomas, head soccer coach. "It's certainly a reflection of this administration's desire to operate at the highest level. No stone will go unturned when it comes to what Jeramiah (Boise State Director of Athletics, Jeramiah Dickey) will do to put all of his programs at a championship level. This pitch will enable us to perform at a quality level of football (soccer) that the community can enjoy, so that we can host the highest level of events, and continue to be the shining light of the conference."
