Blue Jays use Sportexe Turf to Capture NCAA Championship

ROUND ROCK, Texas. May 30, 2007--Johns Hopkins claimed its ninth NCAA men's lacrosse title Monday, with a 12-11 victory over powerhouse Duke in front of a record-setting crowd of 48,443 fans for the championship final at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The NCAA Men's Championship returned to M&T Bank Stadium and its Sportexe synthetic turf system on Memorial Day Weekend after hosting the event in both 2003 and 2004. A record 52,004 attended the Division I semifinals on Saturday.

Johns Hopkins not only captured its title on Sportexe, but the Blue Jays also played its entire 2007 home schedule at Homewood Field, which also features Sportexe turf. In fact Sportexe has been good to the Blue Jays (13-4) this season as they went 8-3 on Sportexe turf.

"We feel very fortunate to have won the national championship on Monday," said Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse coach Dave Pietramala. "Our familiarity with M&T Bank Stadium and the Sportexe system in place there was no small factor in our success. We are thrilled with the Sportexe surface we had installed at Homewood Field. It is not only a state-of-the-art playing surface, it has significantly enhanced the look of our facility."

Johns Hopkins was one of four Sportexe clients, including Loyola College (Maryland), University of Albany and University of Maryland-Baltimore County, to reach the NCAA Division I 16-team postseason bracket in 2007. The Blue Jays, which also co-hosted the NCAA Championship, entered the semifinals on Saturday along with Cornell, Delaware and Duke.

The Blue Jays defeated Delaware 8-3 in semifinal action on Saturday, as Duke defeated previously unbeaten Cornell 12-11 to advance to the finals that afternoon.Johns Hopkins captured the title in 2005 and has won the event eight times. Johns Hopkins is the only team to have made the championship bracket every year except 1971 – 36 times.

"We had a great crowd on hand for some great lacrosse action this weekend," said NCAA tournament director Marty Schwartz. "The City of Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium and the Sportexe turf system showed why this location should be a regular site to host this event."

"Obviously Sportexe is extremely proud of Johns Hopkins for its success this season and we are thrilled to be underfoot of a championship program," said Sportexe Director of Lacrosse John Burke. "But Sportexe is also extremely proud of the entire sport of lacrosse for continuing its unparalleled growth and success. Sportexe is genuinely excited to play such a vital role in this year's lacrosse championship series and will continue to make huge strides in providing the best synthetic turf systems available for lacrosse and all other sports."

In March, M&T Bank Stadium hosted the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic on Sportexe turf to kick off the college lacrosse season with Sportexe also presenting the player of the game awards for the doubleheader event. Four elite college teams, including Johns Hopkins, met in the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic over the weekend that drew the largest crowd to watch a regular-season match when 20,180 attended.

Sportexe turf systems, the exclusive surface of the NLL, are designed to enhance performance and meet the rigorous requirements for the sport of lacrosse. Sportexe is also the lacrosse turf system at Boys' Latin School of Maryland, which has spent the past two seasons ranked No. 1 nationally in prep lacrosse.

The University of Pittsburgh Football Team Set to Practice on Sportexe Turf

ROUND ROCK, Texas. May 17, 2007–The University of Pittsburgh's football practice facility at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex will be fitted with Sportexe synthetic turf in June. Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, can be found underfoot of many of the nation's elite programs, such as the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, S.F. 49ers and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, LSU, Alabama and Southern Miss.

The UPMC Sports Performance Complex is a state-of-the-art facility that houses training rooms, team meeting and film-viewing rooms, weight rooms and dining facilities. It additionally houses coaching and administrative staff offices as well as the Panthers' academic support personnel.

The complex also features a 35,000-square-foot clinical, teaching and research facility and a 100,000-square-foot indoor center for patient rehabilitation.

"The installation of an artificial surface on one of our outdoor fields will be a major benefit for our year-round practice regimens," said Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt. "It will give us the opportunity to maximize our team's training throughout fall training camp, in-season practices, offseason workouts and spring drills." "We are extremely appreciative that UPMC is assisting us with the installation of an outdoor artificial practice surface for our football team," said Pitt athletic director Jeff Long. "We have world-class teammates in UPMC and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Our association with these tremendous organizations has been incredibly beneficial and allows us to have the best practice facilities in the country."

The Panthers open the 2007 season hosting Eastern Michigan on Sept. 1. "Sportexe is extremely excited to be chosen by the University of Pittsburgh as a daily training tool to help Coach Wannstedt return the Panthers to national prominence," said football insider and Sportexe spokesperson Aaron S. Lee. "Practice makes perfect, and with Sportexe synthetic turf Pitt is well on its way."

Boston to Play Home Games at TD Banknorth Garden on Sportexe

ROUND ROCK, Texas. May 23, 2007--Three days before the Rochester Knighthawks defeated the Arizona Sting, 13-11, on Sportexe synthetic turf at Arizona's Jobing.com Arena in the 2007 National Lacrosse League Championship on May 12, the NLL announced it had awarded a franchise to Boston for the 2008 season.

The Boston team becomes the league's 14th franchise, and will play its home games at TD Banknorth Garden, the home arena of the NHL's Boston Bruins and the NBA's Boston Celtics. As the official turf system of the NLL, Sportexe will also be featured as expansion team's home surface.

"Our league and its member clubs are excited to be in Boston," said Commissioner Jim Jennings. "We have a lot of NLL fans throughout New England, and they will now have a team of their own."

The ownership group will be led by Tim Armstrong, President of Advertising and Commerce for Google. Armstrong is also a former lacrosse player at Connecticut College, where he was a defenseman and team captain. Armstrong is joined by brother, John, who serves as the team's managing owner.

"Tim and I are excited about January when we put down the turf and the team takes the field," said John Armstrong. "We have been impressed with Sportexe's latest products and development and look forward to building a great partnership with them in the future."

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, is the exclusive turf provider for the NLL, Major Indoor Soccer League, Arena Football League and arenafootball2. Sportexe has solid relationship within the lacrosse community and will be featured at the 2007 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship to be held at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, on Memorial Day Weekend.

In March, M&T Bank Stadium hosted the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic on Sportexe turf to kick off the college lacrosse season with Sportexe also presenting the player of the game awards for the doubleheader event.

"Sportexe is excited to not only see the further growth of the NLL, but also play a vital role in its ongoing development," said Sportexe Director of Lacrosse John Burke. "Sportexe makes a commitment to quality and performance in every synthetic turf system it manufactures and installs, and Boston lacrosse fans can expect the very best from both the NLL and Sportexe for the 2008 season."

Sportexe Solidifies Lacrosse Commitment, Sponsors Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic Player of the Game Awards

ROUND ROCK, Texas. Feb. 5, 2007 - On March 3 at M&T Bank Stadium, in what could be a precursor to the 2007 NCAA national championship to be hosted at M&T during Memorial Day weekend, the top four teams in the nation will meet in the inaugural lacrosse Face-Off Classic and Sportexe will be right there.

Sportexe will not only be underfoot of the nation's elite lacrosse teams with its Momentum® synthetic turf system at M&T, but it will also be presenting the players of the game honors during both games. Sportexe's involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one of many relationship-building initiatives spurred by the global turf leader.

What makes this event such a milestone is that every NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship since 1991 has been won by the four teams participating in this event. Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Syracuse and Princeton enter the season ranked 1-4 respectively with Virginia serving as not only the No. 1 seed, but also the defending national champion.

"Inside Lacrosse is excited to have Sportexe involved in the first-ever Face-Off Classic," said Andy Bilello, Director of Business Development for Inside Lacrosse. "This event is all about creating new opportunities for lacrosse players and fans to experience this great game on a larger stage. Thanks to partners like Sportexe, our vision will soon become reality."

On Feb. 2, Sportexe announced that former lacrosse standout John Burke, an award-winning player at Guilford College and Greensboro College's all-time winningest coach (1990-1995), was named its Director of Lacrosse.

"I am proud to represent Sportexe for the sport of lacrosse," said Burke, who will present the awards on behalf of Sportexe. "I feel that my 20 years of experience will give me an edge in providing an honest insight into synthetic turf for the sport. There is some exciting news surrounding Sportexe within the lacrosse community and our involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one example of our commitment to furthering our already strong relationship."

Sportexe turf systems are designed to enhance performance and meet the rigorous requirements for the sport of lacrosse. Clients include National Lacrosse League members Toronto Rock, Calgary Roughnecks, Rochester Knighthawks, Arizona Sting, San Jose Stealth, Minnesota Swarm, Philadelphia Wings Colorado Mammoth, Portland Jax and Edmonton Rush. Other clients include 2005 national champion Johns Hopkins, 2006 No.1-ranked Boys' Latin School of Maryland and University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Lacrosse Championship Returns to M&T Bank Stadium

ROUND ROCK, Texas-- The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships are returning to M&T Bank Stadium and its state-of-the-art Sportexe synthetic turf system in Baltimore on Memorial Day Weekend May 26-28, after a record setting attendance run in 2003 and 2004.

The championship hosts are Johns Hopkins University; Loyola College (Maryland); the University of Maryland-Baltimore County; and Towson University. This is the only NCAA team sport that holds the championships of all three divisions at a common site.

Sportexe client Johns Hopkins is one of four teams, including Cornell, Duke and Delaware, remaining from a 16-team bracket competing for the NCAA Division I title. Other Sportexe clients receiving postseason play included UMBC, and quarterfinalists Loyola and University of Albany. Johns Hopkins captured the title in 2005 and has won the event eight times. Johns Hopkins is the only team to have made the championship bracket every year except 1971 – 36 times.

"The growth of this event is mirroring the growth of lacrosse," said NCAA tournament director Marty Schwartz. "M&T Bank Stadium and its Sportexe turf make this a premiere sporting weekend. Rain or shine this field is always up to the task and we are excited to once again call it home to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships."

In March, M&T Bank Stadium hosted the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic on Sportexe turf to kick off the college lacrosse season with Sportexe also presenting the player of the game awards for the doubleheader event. Four elite college teams, including Johns Hopkins, met in the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Classic over the weekend that drew the largest crowd to watch a regular-season match when 20,180 attended.

"The eyes of the entire lacrosse community will be focused on the field at M&T Bank Stadium throughout Memorial Day weekend," said Andy Bilello, Director of Business Development for Inside Lacrosse. "The national championship will be decided on a Sportexe surface and just as we found during the Face-Off Classic in early March - there's no better stage for lacrosse. The players, coaches, and fans will find that the experience is a memorable one, with Sportexe playing a big part in making those memories."

Sportexe turf systems, the exclusive surface of the NLL, are designed to enhance performance and meet the rigorous requirements for the sport of lacrosse. Sportexe is also the lacrosse turf system at Boys' Latin School of Maryland, which has spent the past two seasons ranked No. 1 nationally in prep lacrosse.

"NCAA lacrosse is quickly becoming mainstream due to events like the NCAA Championship and the Face-Off Classic," said Sportexe Director of Lacrosse John Burke. "Sportexe is very excited to be involved with this growth and be underfoot of this year's top lacrosse athletes. Sportexe makes a commitment to quality and performance in every synthetic turf system it manufactures and installs."

Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling 413.261.RAVE or visiting LAX4Baltimore.org.

Sportexe Turf Underfoot at AFL Championship Game

ROUND ROCK, Texas. May 18, 2007--For the first time since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, a world championship will be played in New Orleans, a city with a long history of hosting title games with nine Super Bowls, four Final Fours and numerous Sugar Bowls, New Orleans Bowls and Bayou Classics.

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry and exclusive turf provider for the Arena Football League, is proud to announce that it will be featured as the official playing surface of ArenaBowl XXI to be televised nationally on ESPN from the New Orleans Arena on Sunday, July 29 at 2 p.m. CST. The New Orleans Arena is home to the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo and features Sportexe synthetic turf. This announcement comes just one week since Sportexe announced it will be the official turf system used for ArenaCup8, the championship game for the AFL's developmental league, arenafootball2.

"We are extremely excited to be underfoot of the AFL's finest athletes at ArenaBowl XXI," said Sportexe spokesperson Aaron S. Lee. "The New Orleans Arena is the perfect venue to host the AFL's championship game. This event which combines the longevity and growth of one of the country's great pro sports leagues with the history and resilience of one of the world's great cities is something Sportexe can hang its hat on with pride. This is indeed a special season for all involved."

Sportexe continues to solidify its status as the top professional indoor synthetic turf provider in North America as it is an official or exclusive turf provider for not only the AFL and af2, but also the Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League. Sportexe synthetic turf system clients also include the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, S.F. 49ers, and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, LSU, Alabama and Southern Miss.

"Whether it's indoor or outdoor, infilled or non-infilled, no other company knows synthetic turf like Sportexe," said Lee. "That is why Sportexe is the exclusive choice of many of the nation's top professional sports leagues and the premium choice among consumers who demand quality and performance."

"Sportexe has been our exclusive turf partner providing a tremendous product to the AFL since 1999," said AFL Chief Operating Officer Joe Vrankin. "They are the perfect supplier for our championship game field."

ArenaBowl weekend will be filled with interactive player and celebrity events, the annual ArenaBall Awards Show, a player combine, concerts, fan festivals and more. Significant community relations efforts will also be apart of the events leading up to the game. ArenaBowl XXI will mark the AFL's third consecutive neutral-site championship game, all of which featured Sportexe synthetic turf systems. ArenaBowl XIX and ArenaBowl XX were both played in Las Vegas.

The University of Houston announced that head football coach Art Briles, who won the 2006 Sportexe NCAA Division I-A Coach of the Year award, received yet another honor. Please follow the link below for further information on the official Houston Cougars website:

http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051707aaa.html

ROUND ROCK, Texas. Feb. 5, 2007 - On March 3 at M&T Bank Stadium, in what could be a precursor to the 2007 NCAA national championship to be hosted at M&T during Memorial Day weekend, the top four teams in the nation will meet in the inaugural lacrosse Face-Off Classic and Sportexe will be right there. Sportexe will not only be underfoot of the nation's elite lacrosse teams with its Momentum® synthetic turf system at M&T, but it will also be presenting the players of the game honors during both games. Sportexe's involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one of many relationship-building initiatives spurred by the global turf leader.

What makes this event such a milestone is that every NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship since 1991 has been won by the four teams participating in this event. Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Syracuse and Princeton enter the season ranked 1-4 respectively with Virginia serving as not only the No. 1 seed, but also the defending national champion.

"Inside Lacrosse is excited to have Sportexe involved in the first-ever Face-Off Classic," said Andy Bilello, Director of Business Development for Inside Lacrosse. "This event is all about creating new opportunities for lacrosse players and fans to experience this great game on a larger stage. Thanks to partners like Sportexe, our vision will soon become reality." On Feb. 2, Sportexe announced that former lacrosse standout John Burke, an award-winning player at Guilford College and Greensboro College's all-time winningest coach (1990-1995), was named its Director of Lacrosse.

"I am proud to represent Sportexe for the sport of lacrosse," said Burke, who will present the awards on behalf of Sportexe. "I feel that my 20 years of experience will give me an edge in providing an honest insight into synthetic turf for the sport. There is some exciting news surrounding Sportexe within the lacrosse community and our involvement with the Face-Off Classic is just one example of our commitment to furthering our already strong relationship."

Sportexe turf systems are designed to enhance performance and meet the rigorous requirements for the sport of lacrosse. Clients include National Lacrosse League members Toronto Rock, Calgary Roughnecks, Rochester Knighthawks, Arizona Sting, San Jose Stealth, Minnesota Swarm, Philadelphia Wings Colorado Mammoth, Portland Jax and Edmonton Rush. Other clients include 2005 national champion Johns Hopkins, 2006 No.1-ranked Boys' Latin School of Maryland and University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Desert West Soccer Complex and Las Vegas Motor Speedway Discover Benefits of Sportexe Synthetic Turf Systems

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 26, 2006 --In the Desert Southwest, synthetic turf has been a blessing for obvious reasons (weather resistance, low maintenance, year-round application, water savings). But with the heat of summer right around the corner, an overwhelming number of facilities in these climate demanding areas are seeking more than just the basics from their systems - and finding it with Sportexe.

Among them are the Desert West Soccer Complex (Phoenix, AZ), the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, City of Phoenix, Flagstaff's Cromer Elementary School, Pueblo Pintado High School (Crowpoint, NM), Tucson Magnet High School (Tucson, AZ) and Saddle Mountain High School (Tonopah Valley, AZ) - and those are just a few lined up for 2006.

"We're finding an increasing number of customers doing intense research on synthetic turf systems and preferring what we provide - sewn seams, four-ply backing with a thicker and higher quality fiber," said Mark Nicholls, company president and founder. "They (these qualities) translate to a longer turf life and a more natural, safer surface."

Among the installations Sportexe has scheduled for 2006 in the desert states are repeat customers, including the City of Phoenix. Sportexe installed its first system for the City last year; pleased with the company's customer service and product quality, the City opted for two more Sportexe fields.

Similarly, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, impressed with the Sportexe turf it installed last year, opted to purchase more this year.

"It's a great resource - and the process of getting it was a great experience." A.K. Johnson, North Point HS Athletic Director

ROUND ROCK, Texas, June 14, 2006- In Waldorf, Md. there's great football to watch - on a great surface. At least that's what North Point High School Athletic Director A.K. Johnson thinks after 2,800 people came to see its freshman football team play on new Sportexe turf.

Like many other Northeast schools, the new science technology public high school chose a Sportexe synthetic turf system after being exposed to it at M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Baltimore Ravens) and numerous other facilities around the region. Sportexe's customer list in the Maryland area alone includes Johns Hopkins University (two Sportexe systems), the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the Boys' Latin School of Maryland (two Sportexe systems) and Baltimore Lutheran School as well as several others.

"We were impressed with the quality of the Ravens' field when we were researching systems - and now that our field is installed, the quality is even better than we expected," said Johnson, who noted that the field will be used for soccer and other sports in addition to football. "The whole make-up of the field, its safety features, appearance, markings, sand/rubber ratio - all of it - is impressive," added Johnson. "It's a great selling point for the school."

Johnson said he anticipates numerous athletes at the local, regional and state level will be exposed to the new turf, as the school is growing from its current seventh through ninth grade enrollment to include 10th-12th grades in the next three years. "It's a great resource - and the process of getting it was a great experience," he added.

According to company president Mark Nicholls, "Synthetic turf is being rapidly adopted in the Northeast and in other areas for obvious reasons: year-round accessibility, weather resistance, multi-sport use and low maintenance,."

"Beyond the obvious, customers are increasingly realizing there are quality differences in turf products. They want what we can offer: thicker fiber, thicker backing, sewn seams, better traction...details that enhance the life and performance of the field - and its safety." added Nicholls.