Crushers' Mercy Health Stadium in Avon gets new $700,000 turf

AVON — Mercy Health Stadium, home of the Lake Erie Crushers, is in the process of replacing its aging playing surface with a new $700,000 turf field. The Crushers, one of 16 American and Canadian teams that play in the independent Frontier League, played their final game of 2022 on Sept. 4. Workers removed the old turf last week. It had lasted 13 years. Turf normally lasts eight to 10 years "so we got the use out of it," Operations Manager Joe Juda said Monday. On Monday, crews were smoothing out the base layer underneath so there are no bumps when the new turf is laid down. The whole process will take four to six weeks, Juda said. The old turf was removed last week and the new turf was delivered by two semitrailers on Monday, he said. The new turf will look better, not be as matted down as the old, and be easier on players' feet and legs, Juda said. "We're always trying to renovate and bring a new experience to the fans," he said. "Our players, they'll enjoy it a lot." The new turf also will allow the stadium to host more events such as flag football or soccer. The stadium also is "playing with" the idea of a new scoreboard and video board. It is the only stadium in the Frontier League without a video board. Such a board will allow for even more events like movie nights and for more sponsorship opportunities, Juda said. After finishing touches are put on the new turf in week four of the project, T3 Performance flag football will use the field one last time before the stadium shuts down for the winter. Then "we'll wrap for the year and get ready for baseball season next year," Juda said. Contact Bruce Bishop at (440) 284-0113 or bishop1212@gmail.com. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.