Texas Tech to Add New Turf Playing Surface, LED Lighting System
Texas Tech has announced two major projects that will enhance Jones AT&T Stadium for the 2023 season. It’s set to install a new artificial playing surface, in addition to implementing a new LED lighting system as part of the largest facility investment in program history.
“We’re thankful for the support of the Board of Regents as we continue to invest in the future of Jones AT&T Stadium,” said Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt. “The timing of the south end zone and Womble Football Center project made this an ideal opportunity for us to look at all areas of Jones AT&T Stadium to see where other needed improvements could be made. We’re excited to partner with both Hellas and Musco on these two important projects.”
Both enhancements were previously approved by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents during its scheduled meeting this past February.
With that, it becomes the first upgrade to the playing surface at Jones AT&T Stadium since a FieldTurf product was installed prior to the 2017 season. The two projects are expected to cost roughly $2.2 million, and they’ll be funded through philanthropic gifts to the athletics department.
“Our administration fully supports providing the best products to our student-athletes here at Texas Tech, which is greatly appreciated by our entire program,” said head coach Joey McGuire. “This new turf from Hellas is widely-used throughout the NFL and college football and will be a great addition to what we are already building at Jones AT&T Stadium. We look forward to debuting this new surface in front of a packed crowd when we host Oregon on Sept. 9.”
The Matrix Helix® turf is Hellas’ latest technology that has also been installed recently at several NFL facilities, which include The Star in Frisco and AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Rams), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders) and the University of Kansas Health System Training Complex of the Kansas City Chiefs.
As for the new lighting system, Musco is designing it using its Total Light Control technology. It will allow the Red Raiders to utilize choreographed patterns designed to music during its pregame entertainment, in-between quarters and after touchdowns, among other things.
Texas Tech opens up the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Wyoming. It’ll debut these new upgrades the following week against Oregon.
