Bryan ISD school board members approve replacing the turf at Merrill Green Stadium

This podcast contains comments from the April 7, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting.Bryan ISD school board members approve replacing the artificial turf at Merrill Green Stadium.The unanimous vote at Monday's meeting (April 7) awarded a nearly $700,000 dollar contract that will be paid by remaining funds from the 2014 and 2019 bond issues.BISD athletic director Derrick Rush said administrators are still pursuing naming rights to offset the cost of the project.Rush said the project will start in June and will be completed in July.The new turf replaces what was installed in 2016. Rush says the life of the existing turf was shortened by the volume of games and events that are held at the stadium.Rush also said the three companies that submitted proposals did tests that showed the current surface failed a "softness" factor that figures into the safety of football players.Administrators also studied returning to a natural grass field. Rush said natural grass was too expensive to maintain and would limit use.