Across the Atlantic in the lush green Ringsend park, the install team at Sportlabs UK, Ltd. tore up the old turf on the soccer pitch they had installed a decade ago and made a pleasant discovery. The white Brock PowerBase/GEN1 pads were in “perfect condition,” according to Eric O’Donnell, Managing Director of Sportlabs, Ltd. O’Donnell quickly got on the phone and, in his heavy Scottish accent, called Steve Sawyer, Southwestern Regional V.P. at Brock, to tell him the good news.
“After all these years it (Brock PowerBase/GEN1) was in perfect condition,” O’donnell said. “That’s why I emailed Steve. He was actually on his hands and knees when that Brock pad went down.”
The first generation of PowerBase was developed and manufactured in Europe based on FIFA and World Rugby criteria. The first installation of the system was at the Ringsend Soccer Park for Dublin City Parks in Ireland. Sports Labs UK Ltd. was responsible for the design specification and SportWorks of Dublin was responsible for the sub base construction and surface system installation.
After intense use for a period of 8+ years, the original worn out artificial turf was removed and replaced with a new turf system, leaving the Brock PowerBase/GEN1 in place. The entire removal and replacement process was completed in just 3 weeks. This was the first replacement of an entire field over PowerBase since its introduction, proving that the system can withstand multiple turf lives and replacements while offering long-term performance and safety.
“It’s a very good story. It’s a good story from our point of view because we’ve been able to specify quite a high element of recycling in a contract, so it’s quite a sustainable process and it’s generated a bit of savin’ for the client,” O’Donnell said. “The pad we specified 10 years ago was obviously a good decision because we didn’t have to spend another $50,000 Euros in putting a new pad in.”
Brock has since supplied over 100 projects throughout Europe consisting primarily of soccer and rugby fields. PowerBase/GEN1 was introduced in the U.S. in 2009 and has since become the largest volume base system for artificial turf in North America.
Ringsend Park as benefited from the soccer fields that utilized the original Brock Shock Pad system and currently boasts nearly a perfect five-star status on Yelp. Some of the local patrons have said such wonderful things as, “A great oasis of green, just a few steps away from the Docklands and their busy offices. I often take a stroll here during my lunch break and play tennis on one the 4 free courts in the summer. There’s a good running track and football pitches, too.” – Yvonne B. or, “It’s a really lovely park, always lots of activity going on. I parked in the residential area. There is plenty of space to walk. Always plenty of comical men with very white hairy legs lapping prior to their soccer and at the ready with their witty banter which I live for.” – Annie L.
The park boasts a number of other great features outside of the turf fields with Brock, so when you’re done kicking about on the soccer pitches you can listen an audio-tour or the grounds. Unwind and take in the breathtaking botanical gardens and the parks overall exquisite biodiversity.
