Muhlenberg forced to moved home game due to issue with new turf
2024 Berks football coverage
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(This story will be updated with more details and comments later today.)
Muhlenberg is moving its home football game Friday against Daniel Boone to Kutztown University due to an issue with the newly installed artificial playing surface.
The school district released a statement Thursday morning, citing safety concerns.
Muhlenberg has played just one game on the stadium field, its season-opener against Schuylkill Valley, since the new surface was installed earlier this summer.
Stadium turf was approved by the Muhlenberg School Board in February. The project was estimated to cost $1.4 million. It was completed just before the Aug. 23 opener.
The statement indicates that an issue was discovered during a recent “safety inspection,” which uncovered “a manufacturing defect in the rubber fill of the turf.”
“This decision was made in the best interest of all student athletes, band members, coaches, staff and officials scheduled to (be) on the field on Friday,” reads the statement, issued by the school’s athletic department. “The Muhlenberg School District has put the manufacturer and installer on notice that this situation must be rectified as soon as possible.”
Muhlenberg is scheduled to play at home the next two weeks, Sept. 13 against Lebanon and Sept. 20 against Gov. Mifflin.
The Muhls won their home opener against Schuylkill Valley.
Muhlenberg has played all of its home games at its current home location since late in the 1982 season.
The Muhls called Reading Memorial Municipal Stadium, then home of the Reading Phillies, their football home for more than 30 years, in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. Their final full season at Municipal (now FirstEnergy) Stadium was 1981.
