Bagwell Field: Paint It Purple!

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina University Department of Athletics will install a new purple artificial playing surface on Bagwell Field inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium according to an announcement early Saturday morning.

The state-of-the-art grid, which will also feature gold accents, will officially debut on Aug. 12 when the Pirates open their preseason camp scrimmage schedule.

Construction on the project will begin May 8, three days after ECU's Spring Commencement Exercises. In all, including both endzones and sidelines, a total of 63,000 square feet of purple synthetic turf will be laid. The facility's landmark hedges adjacent to the north and south seating areas will be spared in respect of the university's "Go Green!" initiatives.

The Pirates will become the third Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member to play on a non-green artificial playing field, following Boise State (blue/1986) and Eastern Michigan (grey/2014). ECU's nationally-popular "Pirate State of Mind" midfield logo will remain as a centerpiece and both endzones will be marked as "UNDAUNTED" with hashmarks and numbers also presented in vivid gold for easy identification.

"We are thankful to continue the investment in our football program and the new purple playing surface will allow us to promote our identity and stay connected to our Pirate Nation fan base," ECU Athletics Director Jeff Compher said. "This enhancement of Bagwell Field will naturally serve as an early complement to our stadium southside renovation project. This may be the first purple playing surface but it may not be the last."

Compher also shared additional positives and opportunities during his informational overview:

Approval from the AAC for ECU to wear all-purple uniforms for a tactical advantage
Pantone colors include 268 (purple) and 109 (gold)
Rental ease more likely to generate revenue, improve on-campus life for students
Infill of cork, soft-mulch fragments are environmentally friendly
Lack of recovery time during seven-game home schedule becomes a non-factor
Faster surface to help pass offense move from 6th (2016) to 1st (2017) nationally
Overall maintenance savings (paint, water, mow), elimination of pesticide use
Offers team consistency and weekly familiarity to other playing surfaces in AAC
Leads to automatic visual identification for televised games
Strongly supports recruiting efforts

For more information on the installation, please visit PaintBagwellPurple.

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