ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State’s long-time home venue, Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, will receive a facelift this spring as a new turf field is installed in preparation for the 2022 season.
The new turf was 100% funded through private donations made specifically for the project through the Henderson State University Foundation.
GeoSurfaces, a professional construction firm that offers full design, development, construction and installation of high-performing sports surfaces and lighting systems, will handle the project and also made a significant lead gift for the naming rights to the new field.
“I am excited to announce that generous donors have stepped up and provided the funds to update and enhance our turf field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium this spring,” Director of Athletics Shawn Jones said. “We are thrilled to be able to partner with GeoSurfaces to give our student-athletes a new and improved playing surface that will provide them with the highest safety and performance standards. From an age and safety perspective, it was necessary to replace the turf at this point, and we are so appreciative of those donors who were committed to making this a reality. Our previous turf gave us 11 seasons of excellent use, which featured some of the greatest moments in program history. I have no doubt the new GeoSurfaces Field will experience its fair share of memories made over the next decade or more. As we begin on the new turf project, I want to thank Don and Mary Ruggles for their generous lead gift of our first turf field in 2010. Because of their generosity and friendship, the Ruggles name will always be synonymous with Henderson State University.”
Charlie Dawson, GeoSurfaces Chief Executive Officer, said that the new playing surface will provide the Reddies with a huge upgrade in quality and safety this fall.
“GeoSurfaces is proud to continue our over decade long relationship with Henderson State University,” Dawson said. “By upgrading the stadium surface to our latest version of our GeoGreen high density turf system utilizing our GeoFlo+ shock pad system, this technology places the Reddies on one of the safest sport surfaces ever developed. This GeoSurfaces system exceeds all impact standards currently recognized by the NCAA, NFL and all other independent testing and standards agencies while maintaining world class footing and playability characteristics.”
The newly named GeoSurfaces Field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium will feature a fresh design that includes Henderson State’s updated H-Reddies logo at midfield, as well as the white stylized “REDDIES” font in both end zones. The green turf will alternate between darker and lighter shades every 10 yards, giving Henderson one of the premier field designs in all of NCAA Division II football.
“The University is grateful for the generous alumni and friends of Henderson who have made this turf replacement project possible,” Henderson State Chancellor Dr. Chuck Ambrose said. “Our student-athletes have achieved at the highest academic and athletic levels, recording a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for ten consecutive academic terms. Reddie Athletics is setting a high standard for student success at Henderson State University, and I am pleased to see this donor-funded project in support of our student-athletes.”
Installation of the new turf will begin in late March with completion expected this spring. The Reddies will open play on the new GeoSurfaces Field on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
