Work is underway to replace the synthetic playing surface at Henry Winston Stadium, giving Friendswood High School athletes and the community a safer, more durable field in time for the start of the 2026 football season.
The Friendswood ISD Board of Trustees recently approved a contract with Hellas for the project after determining the stadium’s existing artificial turf, installed in 2016, had reached the end of its expected service life. District officials said the field has required repeated repairs and patching over the past several years, but its overall condition has continued to deteriorate.
The replacement project is expected to take approximately five weeks from mobilization to completion and is being scheduled to minimize disruptions while ensuring the stadium is ready for upcoming athletic programs.
The project includes removing and disposing of the existing turf, evaluating and repairing the underlying base and drainage system as needed, installing a new shock pad to improve athlete safety, incorporating cooling technology to help reduce surface temperatures during Texas summers, and installing a new synthetic turf playing surface complete with football and soccer markings.
Although Hellas submitted the highest of the three proposals considered by the district, trustees selected the company based on factors beyond cost. According to district documents, Hellas was chosen for its experience installing athletic fields throughout Texas, the quality and long-term performance of its turf system, advanced safety and cooling technologies, and a 10-year manufacturer warranty. The approved contract totals $868,374, while competing proposals from Tarkett Sports and Symmetry Sports Construction came in at $729,401 and $839,338, respectively.
Funding for the project will come from the district’s Capital Projects Fund.
Renderings included with the proposal show the new field will retain the familiar blue end zones with “Friendswood” and “Mustangs” lettering, along with the Mustang logo at midfield.
Henry Winston Stadium serves as the home field for Friendswood High School football, soccer and numerous community events throughout the year. District officials said the new playing surface is expected to improve player safety, field performance and long-term reliability for the thousands of students, athletes and community members who use the facility each year.
