Trade Center Entices Indoor Soccer At The AstroTurf Arena
Courtesy of the Dalton Daily Citizen
Written by Charles Oliver
March 29, 2006
Are you ready for some futbol?
The Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center could be hosting indoor soccer as early as this summer.
The trade center authority board Wednesday approved the purchase of an artificial field from Dalton-based manufacturer AstroTurf.
The deal calls for the trade center's Highlands Arena to be renamed the AstroTurf Arena for the next five years.
"This will provide our partner in this effort with opportunity to increase visibility of their product and will allow the trade center the opportunity to market the venue under a recognizable and unique name," said trade center executive director Rick Tanner.
The field will be made from AstroTurf's latest PureGrassTM product, which was introduced just last year.
AstroTurf officials said it surpasses previous artificial turfs for both durability and natural appearance.
"This will help us with our research. We'll be able to get instant feedback that might ordinarily take weeks or even months," said AstroTurf president Bryan Peeples.
Peeples said it also gives the company a chance to give something back to the community it has called home for more than 40 years.
Trade center officials said play could begin as early as this summer.
Officials said in February that the trade center is anticipating seven tournaments a year. Figures presented then showed projected revenues -- from rental fees, tickets and concessions -- of $10,000 per tournament, with operating expenses of $3,948, for a net profit to the trade center of $6,552 per tournament.
Trade center director of operations Doug Phipps said Wednesday he would be developing more precise figures in coming weeks.
Phipps said one pleasant surprise in talks with local soccer leagues was that many players expressed interest in playing during the week as well as on weekends, which would allow the trade center to maximize use of the field.
Ricardo Valdez, president of the International Dalton Soccer League, said Tuesday he expects there would be tremendous interest from soccer players across Northwest Georgia in playing at the trade center.
"A lot of people in this area go up to Camp Jordan (in East Ridge, Tenn.) to play now. If they had a local place, and didn't have to travel, I'm sure they'd be interested," he said.
Trade center officials said that, in addition to hosting local tournaments, they are interested in creating special events for the arena. Board member Ken Brown, who helped negotiate the deal with AstroTurf, said some of the possible events include Tennessee vs. Georgia soccer games or bringing touring teams in.
"We'd like to see the arena be more sports focused," said Tanner.
He said the field could also be used for indoor football and could increase the trade center's chances of landing an Arena Football League team.
