DECEMBER 2000 VOLUME 13. ISSUE 4 Soccer Stalemate PAUL S. HENDREN AND COLIN JOSE EXAMINE THE STADIUM IRONY THAT PLAGUES CANADA uddled inside a down- circles with their work in the Air town Toronto office, in Canada Centre, General Motors Hthe shadows of City Place and the Skydome, not to Hall, crack teams of architects and mention their numerous interna- designers have worked relentlessly tional projects. to create one of the world's most progressive state-of-the-art soccer A Storied Past grounds. Several blocks away, also Canadian soccer has a storied situated in Toronto's city centre, past with its beginnings dating lies a symbol of the irony that has back to the early nineteenth cen- beset soccer in the land of beavers tury when soldiers of the British and canoes. Varsity Stadium, Ca- garrison situated on the Eastern nadian soccer's home for the better seaboard took on visiting men-of- part of the 20th century, sits in its war or seamen from merchant or own cobwebs narrowly avoiding fishing vessels. Professional soc- the wrecking ball year after year. cer also took root several decades Varsity's condemned East ago with several Canadian teams Grandstand, outdated cinder track, participating in the famous North splintered benches and deteriorat- American Soccer League that in- ing concrete structure continues to cluded legends Pele, Franz house big league soccer while at Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and the same time one of Canada's George Best, to name just a few. leading architectural firms are ex- Even such celebrated global su- porting their expertise abroad. perstars as Sir Stanley Matthews, From right under Canadian soc- Eusebio, Peter Beardsley, Graeme cer's noses Brisbin Brook Beynon of sport offering soccer patrons the ulti- Souness and Roberto Bettega made a liv- Architects, in conjunction with Stadium mate stadium experience in style and ing playing soccer on Canadian soil. Consultants International, have been re- comfort. There will be 100 private suites, In the 1920s and ' 30s Toronto was rich cruited by Turkish soccer giants over 12,000-reserved weather protected with soccer homes. Ulster Stadium, a fa- Galatasaray S.K. who are embarking on a seats, VIP lounges, restaurants, food cility designed specifically for soccer, progressive scheme to redesign Ali Sami courts, a sophisticated three level internal frequently attracted crowds well into five Yen Stadium in Istanbul. A project that shopping mall and an attached office digits and at one time, it was considered will convert the existing inner city con- tower. BBB Architects and SCI have es- the best soccer stadium in North America. crete bowl into a 40,000 seat grand theatre tablished notoriety in Canadian sports Famous England ..... continued on page 7 e Joint ORFAISTA Workshop o Turfgrass Disease Diagnosis (8 Turfgrass Snow Molds e Turf News Briefs G Soccer Stalemate Continued ~ Coming Events o The President's Desk ~ Winter Priorities ~ STA Holiday Gifts Joint ORFA/STA Seminar a Success n Wednesday, October 11, 2000 a joint educational O workshop was held at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex. The event represented yet another step in a proposed partnership be- tween the Sports Turf Association and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association. Terry Piche chaired the event and introduced new ORFA President John Archibald and Executive Direc- tor John Milton to participants. Both spoke STA President Jane Arnett-Rivers talks to about the pending partnership and men- workshop participants about maintaining tioned the benefits and their thoughts for athletic fields and preparing them for winter. the future as being extremely helpful to both parties. of the day was Pam Charbonneau, The day went well with considerable OMAFRA Turfgrass Specialist, who gave information both imparted and exchanged a very professional talk covering all the between speakers and the audience. Four "Basics of Sports Turf Management." main topics were discussed. During the Several exhibitors had booths display- morning session, Michael Bladon covered ing their wares. Olympia, who manufac- "Risk Management" and Jane Arnett-Riv- tures the ice making equivalent of the ers and Dwayne McAllister spoke on Zamboni, donated several gifts to be in- "Maintenance of Athletic Fields and cluded in a draw conducted by Terry Piche Putting Them to Bed for the Winter." at the end of the afternoon. There was a lively exchange of ideas dur- The workshop attracted approximately ing the latter workshop. 45 people for the day, some from as far There were two excellent sessions in away as Nepean, Ontario. Altogether a the afternoon, the first by Gordon Dol of worthwhile event for all concerned and a Dol Turf Restoration Ltd. who dealt with great start for future information sharing "Sports Field Drainage, Irrigation and between these two associations. • General Construction." The final speaker - Michael Bladon I I I Ontario Turfgrass Turfgrass Symposium Education & Trade Show January 3-5,2001, Toronto, ON When registering for the OTS, be sure to indicate you are a member of the Sports Turf Association, a sponsoring association of the symposium. On your registration form please ~ Sports Turf Association to ensure your membership credit is directed to us! Save more money on the registration fees of others from your facility/organiza- tion who are not members of the STA. Non-members registered at the same time as a member qualify for the same lower association rates. Send the registration in the same envelope, fax it at the same time, or make just one phone call to register. 2 • DECEMBER 2000 Turf News Briefs INTERESTING GRASS CLIPS· CONGRATULATIONS ~ Splendour in the Grass A "- to have improved drought resistance or to Atlanta's Garden HouseIII 'Y flourish in the winter. Scotts is also work- Dance Company is giving free 1::. I ing on a genetically modified grass that performances of Mowing in ~ ~ if can withstand the most potent weed-kill- the city's parks, reports The Y !:( ers to remain healthy and green. Journal-Constitution. "Four dane- ers - The Globe & Mail, Social Studies, will partner with non-motorized push- Michael Kesterton, August 30, 2000 mowers in a seductive paean to the sum- mer ritual of lawn care. The dancers will Editor's Note: For more information on GMOs in Turf, be sure to attend Dr. Steve waltz with their lightweight mowers, lift Bowley's seminar on January 4, 2001 at them, even play them as instruments, all the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium. the while carving continually changing patterns into a 38-by-38 foot expanse of grass. By the time it's over, the grass is OPA/ORFA Update cut." Our congratulations to STA member - The Globe & Mail, September 13, 2000 John Howard on his appointment as Ex- ecutive Director of the Ontario Parks Association. John adds another dimension Frankengrass to a very strong career with parks and hor- Recent notes about genetically altered ticultural services both in the public and grass include: private sector. • Grasses that have different colours or Congratulations are also in order for contain a luminescent gene that would make them glow in the dark are being stud- Terry Piche who steps down as President ied by Monsanto, Scotts Co. and the of the Ontario Recreation Facilities Asso- Biotechnology Centre of Rutgers Univer- ciation to assume the position of Technical sity. Director. John Archibald will carry out the • In its Ohio research laboratories, role of acting President. Best wishes to all! Scotts, the world's largest maker of lawn and turf products, is field-testing varieties of "low-mow" lawn grass that will grow more slowly. Other strains could be bred SPORTS TURF MANAGER • 3 The President's Desk JANE ARNETT-RIVERS epending on the work you have Another milestone for our Association (905) 847-9181) know your hat is in the been carrying out this fall, the - Dr. Bob Sheard's book will soon be ring. No stress, just fun. Dweather has been spectacular. available. I am fortunate to have read parts As STA members, you are cordially We have been installing tile drain on one of Understanding Turf Management and invited to join our Annual General Meet- of our Little League diamonds and the can say this is a valuable and comprehen- ing and luncheon during the OTS. The sunshine and absence of rain seem to have sive text. It is instrumental as a reference invitation is included with this issue of been custom ordered. Now that the on countless topics and will have a per- Sports Turf Manager. This is an excellent trenching, back filling and sodding are manent spot on my desk. Much gratitude opportunity to meet the Board, hear what complete, precipitation can begin! goes out to the sponsors of Understand- is happening in the Association, and at- Hope your fall renovations are moving ing Turf Management, Bannerman, G.C. tend nominations. I sincerely hope you along smoothly - surely the prolonged Duke Equipment Ltd. and Textron Golf, will attend on Wednesday, January 3rd higher temperatures have helped extend Turf and Specialty Products, NuGro Cor- beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please join us. timelines of work that needs completion poration and Rain Bird International, Inc. Lastly, I have spent the better part of prior to frost. We will be using 'turf tarps' Their support will allow the cost to remain this message thanking associates. This is again this year on some of our goal mouths accessible to all, something Dr. Sheard the last edition of the Sports Turf Man- and centre field areas to extend the seed- was adamant about. Congratulations and ager for the year, so I will close by ing season. I'm writing this column in thank you on this accomplishment, Bob. thanking all members of the Association mid-November and we are still waiting for Your hard work will assist us in making and the Board.