Several high school football teams in Greenville County are facing disruptions to their home schedules this week due to ongoing delays in artificial turf installation. While some schools are ready to play on new surfaces, others must relocate their initial home games.
Woodmont High School in Piedmont officially opened its new artificial turf stadium field on Monday, allowing the Wildcat football team to begin practices immediately. Their first home game is scheduled for this Friday against Southside Christian.
The turf upgrades also include advanced safety technology, such as high-tech first aid kits equipped with tourniquets, bandages, splints, and burn gel. These kits feature interactive screens that guide users through injury treatment until emergency medical services arrive, a system also utilized by Lake Norman High School.
However, Hillcrest High School’s planned home opener this Friday against Summerville has been moved to Sirrine Stadium in Greenville because its artificial turf installation will not be completed in time. Fountain Inn High School’s home opener on September 4 may also be affected; if construction is not finished by August 31, the game will be hosted at Wade Hampton High School. Eastside and Riverside high schools are also awaiting the completion of their stadium upgrades.
Greenville County Schools Executive Director of Facilities, Scott Carlin, acknowledged that the district has been slower than other regional schools to adopt artificial turf. Carlin stated that maintaining grass fields from the start of football season in August through the end of soccer and lacrosse seasons in the spring has proven extremely difficult. The new multi-use fields will also be shared by marching bands and other athletic teams. Sprinturf, the company contracted for the five athletic fields, has not yet commented on the project delays.
