The home stands at the VSU women’s soccer facility overlook the construction of what will be the future soccer field for the team.

Construction crews are busy these days working behind the Valdosta State Athletic Fieldhouse on new fields that will host the Blazer football team and Lady Blazer inaugural soccer team this fall.

Back in February of 2009, the VSU Athletic Fieldhouse opened, providing VSU’s athletic teams — particularly the football team and soccer team — a new state of the art facility. That was phase one of a major construction project boosting VSU athletics.

Phase two is underway. Construction is coming along on three practice fields. Two of the fields are intended as practice fields for the football team and the third field will be the home of the VSU women’s soccer team.

Each field is equipped with stadium lights, and the two natural grass fields will have draining and irrigation systems. All three will be ready for use by the time the soccer and football teams report to camp in August.

“I think we have a certain pride about ourselves when we talk about our athletic facilities,” VSU athletic director Herb Reinhard said. “We have really nice facilities. I think this is another feather in our cap when it comes to the nice facilities we’re able to offer prospective student-athletes, our coaches and our fans who come out to watch us play and practice.”

One piece of the puzzle has nearly been completed. The synthetic turf for the football team has been put down, and it has everything from hash marks to yard lines to a black and white V-State logo in the middle of the field.

On Tuesday, crews were laying down the sod for the football team’s natural grass surface.

Once the football team reports to fall camp in August, players will be able to walk out of the back of the locker room right onto their practice field. It’s a far cry from car pooling and busing around the cemetery to Reames Field, like in years past.

“I think it puts a cap on a facility that I don’t think anyone would argue is one of the finest facilities of its kind anywhere in the country,” Reinhard said. “If you look at our football facilities now, they rival anybody that we play day in and day out and I would say they rival anybody who plays in the upper level of Division II football. It probably compares very favorably to a number of mid-majors.”

Next to the football fields, a crew  is working on spreading out dirt that will be the base of the soccer field. Bleachers and a press box have already been put up, and are overlooking the future soccer field. Like the football team, the Lady Blazer soccer players will be able to walk out of their locker room and step onto their home field.

“I think the university has done a really nice job of planning and executing women’s soccer,” Reinhard said. “That’s a nice luxury to have. When we roll out the first season in the fall, with this brand new stadium right outside the soccer locker room facilities, I think it’s tremendous for us.”

The type of grass being used on the two natural surfaces is Tifway 419, a turf that was developed in South Georgia and can handle Valdosta’s tough summer conditions.

“It has been recognized for a long time as one of the Cadillacs of athletic grasses,” Reinhard said. It’s a great athletic turf and should give us a wonderful surface forever.”

There were several reasons VSU went with synthetic turf for one of its two football fields. The Blazers play half of their games at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, which has a synthetic Sprinturf surface, and several of their road opponents also use artificial turf. Practicing on the synthetic turf field can help them prepare for dealing with game conditions.

Reinhard also said the synthetic turf can be used during heavy rains or for events that occasionally arise, like an intramural championship game. That way wear and tear will be limited on the natural field.

Reinhard estimated the total cost of the field project to be around $1.9 million. It is being paid by the same student athletic fee that was used to build the athletic fieldhouse.

“This was phase two of the project,” Reinhard said. “It was always part of the plan.”

Cauthen Construction is the main contractor on the project.

With the football team opening two new practice fields, that leaves Reames Field empty. Reames is located between the VSU tennis courts and the Education Building, and has been used by the football team for a number of years. Because it is located on a flood plane (One Mile Branch runs behind it), the state has certain regulations on what kind of structure can be built in the spot.

“At least for the foreseeable future, it’ll remain a field, and I think the first tenant on it will be the (marching) band,” Reinhard said.