The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has invested $1 million to renovate Field 7 at StubHub Center, which will be used as the official training fields for the LA Galaxy Girls' Academy. The renovations, which are set to be completed this summer in advance of the LA Galaxy Girls' Academy inaugural season, will see the installation of AstroTurf’s cutting-edge DT32 System will replace the existing crumb rubber synthetic field in addition to implementing enhanced field lighting.
“We’re excited to implement these upgrades to Field 7 ahead of the start of the LA Galaxy Girls' Academy 2017 season,” said LA Galaxy Girls' Academy Director Kevin Hartman. “We will continue to invest in resources for our Girls' Academy to ensure a top-class environment that is on par with all LA Galaxy teams that train at StubHub Center. Establishing a high-quality training field that will be available exclusively to our girls is a big step for our program.”
As part of the renovations, the Galaxy will install Zeofill, a non-crumb rubber, organic mineral found in water filtration systems and health food supplements, that will be used across all playing surfaces on Field 7. ZeoFill’s ability to retain water helps reduce surface temperatures and delivers an exceptional playing surface designed for high use and performance, all while eliminating the use of crumb rubber. This venue upgrade comes in support of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks “LA Spec” initiative to replace crumb rubber synthetic fields with non-crumb rubber fields across Los Angeles. When properly maintained, non-crumb rubber fields offer superior playing surfaces as well as added environmental and economic advantages over time. In addition to the improved playing surface, the LA Galaxy and StubHub Center will install an improved lighting system that will fully-illuminate the field with high-grade lights.
In addition to Field 7, the LA Galaxy Girls' Academy will have access to the same StubHub Center training facilities, locker rooms and weight areas as the LA Galaxy (MLS), LA Galaxy II (USL) and LA Galaxy Academy (USSDA).
The upgrades to Field 7 take place in advance of the launch of the LA Galaxy Girls' Academy, which is set to kick off this fall in the first-ever season of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy League. Prior to the start of the season, a full roster of the first-ever LA Galaxy Girls' Academy will be released and training will begin at StubHub Center this summer.
