Artificial UVU Baseball Field Damaged By Juveniles On ATV
Jul 21, 2020, 3:42 PM | Updated: 3:48 pm
Damage to the artificial playing surface at UVU's UCCU Ballpark is estimated at over $100,000. (UVU)
(UVU)
OREM, Utah – Officials with Utah Valley University said two juveniles have been arrested after they allegedly broke into UCCU Ballpark and rode an ATV on the stadium’s new, artificial baseball field, causing over $100,000 in damages.
UVU spokesperson Scott Trotter said the juveniles hopped a fence and broke into the stadium on June 27. Inside the ballpark, they found the keys to a university pickup truck and ATV, which they took out to the field.
“They drove the vehicles on the playing field, doing donuts as they drove,” Trotter said.
While the damage may not look extensive, Trotter said heat generated from the vehicles melted the plastic lining under the artificial grass and dirt.
University officials estimate the repairs will cost more than $100,000, and they were in the process of securing repair bids.
Trotter said the two juveniles were seen on security cameras leaving the ballpark on the ATV.
UVU police arrested the suspects two days later, and they have been booked into the Slate Canyon Youth Detention Center.
The 139,732 square-foot, state-of-the-art turf field was installed earlier this year thanks to a donation from Utah company dōTERRA.
UVU was scheduled to make its debut on the new field against Boise State University on March 14, but the Wolverines’ season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
