Tucson Unified School District
The Tucson Transformation
Every school district has a list of needs and challenges they must evaluate when determining any major project, and that list is unique to each district based on location, funding, and community involvement. For Tucson Unified School District, they had multiple schools in need of upgraded fields with a focus on improving player safety, decreasing maintenance costs, and helping with water conservation efforts. And the challenge was clear—create a first-class facility without compromising athlete safety in one of the hottest climates in the country.
People say turf will get too hot in the summertime. This field is far beyond what turf used to be.
Cesar Miranda, Principal, Cholla High School
Innovation & Community Cool it Down in the Desert
It’s no secret that synthetic turf generally runs warmer than natural grass surfaces. One of the biggest culprits behind this is the traditional rubber infill used with turf fields. But in the record-breaking heat of the desert Southwest, that warmer surface turns into a serious health risk for athletes. The only way a synthetic turf field could work in this dry, arid climate was to redesign it from the ground up.
TUSD partnered with MMTH’s Design, Engineering, Construction, and Creative teams to replace four natural grass fields with new GAME ON® synthetic turf fields throughout their district. All four fields had almost become unplayable, and could best be described as hardened, concrete-like dirt littered with lumps and potholes. MMTH’s plan started with intentionally designing the fields to address the number one challenge: the heat.
A natural infill mix of Geofill and CoreMax® from Shaw® Sports Turf was selected for its incredible evaporative cooling properties and high performance. Geofill is made of recycled coconut fibers, a natural product known for its moisture retention. Fields using Geofill have proven to be 40 degrees cooler than traditional turf fields, and they retain the cooling effect 18 hours longer, making it the perfect product to pair with the irrigation systems MMTH installed. CoreMax is crafted out of olive pits, a 100% natural alternative infill that offers maximum performance with improved traction and reduced surface abrasion. Together, these products deliver a sustainable, high-performing, and affordable solution that beats the desert heat without compromising quality.
The way MMTH worked with us was unparalleled. I’ve never had a company that was with you every step of the way. Even though they were facing a timeline, they never sacrificed quality.
Kevin Amidan, Principal, Sabino High School
A Field Fit For them
Each of the four fields uses Shaw’s GAME ON synthetic turf, chosen for its innovative tufted-in technology that allows designs like logos, lines, and numbers to be produced in a single run. This reduces the number of cuts and seams, which helps increase player safety, reduces maintenance needs, and extends the life of the turf. From personalized logos to lyrics from the school’s fight song, this technology is how MMTH delivered fully customized fields that celebrated the pride and traditions held deeply by each school.
One of the things Tucson Unified District has really loved about the turf and the Game On is the flexibility. Every field has to have certain guidelines, like the end zone and sidelines, but it’s really up to the school to design that turf in a way that represents them. It really gets to capture that culture. Although the schools are all very similar, they’re very unique and different.
Dr. Charlotte Carter, Tucson Unified School District
Beyond the Sidelines
MMTH captured that same pride and excitement in team hype videos. Produced by MMTH’s Creative team for each of the four schools, these videos deliver game day energy in promotional content that each school can use to celebrate and highlight the team long after the initial excitement of the new field is gone.
When we realized it was more than just a football field is when we saw the reaction from the community.
Kevin Amidan, Principal, Sabino High School
Today, Sabino, Cholla, Sahuaro, and Pueblo high schools serve as examples of the power in community, and the pride that’s felt when everyone is invested in building the future of sport.
