No More Turf War, Veterans Is Ready

Philadelphia Eagle Coach Andy Reid pronounced the artificial turf at Veterans Stadium fit for play after a short practice session Wednesday.

“The field’s ready,” Reid said after his players spent about an hour jogging and kicking on the NeXturf carpet. “I think the city has gone to great lengths to get this facility ready to play. The responses of the players has been positive.”

The team’s workout was another critical test of the turf that caused the cancellation of the Eagles’ exhibition opener.

The Eagles’ opponent in an exhibition game tonight, the New York Jets, were scheduled for a similar workout later in the day.

Both practices were closed to reporters.

Some Jet players expressed concern about the safety of the turf and warned that they might balk at playing if there were still problems of the sort that preceded the Eagles’ game against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 13.

Stadium grounds crews worked Tuesday to implement the latest fix--a layer of asphalt under the turf--and to convert the playing field from baseball to football in time for today’s game.

After reviewing Wednesday’s practice, the city’s managing director, Joe Martz, said he was pleased the field conversion was completed on time.

“Now the only way to know how good this field is to play on it full speed,” he said.

After tonight’s game, the city will rip up the turf and asphalt and replace the clay to get ready for a Phillie home stand later this week. Meanwhile, City Controller Jonathan Saidel said he will subpoena city officials for records related to last year’s awarding of a no-bid contract to the makers of the NeXturf surface. Saidel, an elected watchdog over city finances, is investigating how Southwest Recreational Industries got the $1.8-million deal to install the turf. Normally state law requires the city to seek several bidders on a large contract.

City officials claim Southwest’s NeXturf brand of artificial turf was the only one that met the replacement job’s requirements.

City Solicitor Ken Trujillo said Tuesday the city would comply with all Saidel’s records requests. “There are no state secrets here,” he said.