Brooklyn Cyclones Replace Damaged Grass Field At MCU Park With Artificial Turf
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Brooklyn Cyclones' all-natural field is going, going, gone.
The Mets' Single-A affiliate will play its home games on artificial turf starting this season after Superstorm Sandy spoiled the grass surface at Coney Island's MCU Park.
The Cyclones have installed cutting-edge FieldTurf, which "has the look and feel of traditional sod, but is optimally designed for durability and severe weather," according to the team's official website.
"Our new field will be a great addition to MCU Park," Cyclones general manager Steve Cohen said in a statement. "The added durability of the playing surface allows us to use the ballpark almost year-round. We can now host soccer, football, lacrosse, concerts, corporate outings and more in addition to the youth, high school and college baseball games that we typically schedule. Equally important is the fact that it is designed to withstand severe weather, which bodes well in the event that the recent trend of storms continues."
The pitcher's mound and batter's boxes will remain a mixture of clay and dirt.
Cyclones spokesman Jason Solomon told the New York Daily News that the decision "was kind of made for us by Mother Nature."
The team said the ballpark, which sustained extensive damages due to Sandy, will be ready "well in advance" of the Cyclones' opener against the Staten Island Yankees on June 18. Brooklyn also had to renovate other low-lying areas of MCU Park, including the locker rooms and dugouts.
"Like so many of our fans and neighbors, we felt the wrath of the storm," Cohen said. "We realize that while we are ready to return to business as usual, there is still a lot of work to be done both here on Coney Island and in other communities throughout the area. We are excited to get back on our feet and embrace the opportunity to continue helping our friends, fans and neighbors in their recovery efforts."
MCU Park opened its doors in 2001, when it was known as KeySpan Park.
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