Roger Bacon High School
Project Overview
The Motz Group’s partnership with Roger Bacon High School now spans nearly two decades – and two floods. Motz originally installed the school’s synthetic turf field at Bron Bacevich Memorial Stadium in 2008. In August 2016, a 100-year rain event submerged the field, and Motz completed a full replacement in 18 days. A decade later, history repeated itself: on August 12, 2026, a severe storm dropped significant rainfall across the Cincinnati area, causing the same combined storm and sewer line beneath the stadium to overflow again and impact the field. Out of an abundance of caution, Roger Bacon suspended all use of the stadium and once again called on Motz, this time selecting the GAME ON synthetic turf system for the rebuild.
The Situation
Bron Bacevich Memorial Stadium, opened in 1954 and one of Ohio’s oldest high school football venues, had its football/soccer field effected for the second time in ten years when the storm sewer beneath it overflowed following the storm. The closure forced Roger Bacon to relocate its season opener against Indian Hill and play additional games at neutral sites while the field was out of commission. School President Steve Schad’s message to families captured the moment: “History has a way of repeating itself… We will call on The Motz Group to perform another ‘miracle.’” With the school’s original goal set on having the field ready for Homecoming on October 9, and a full athletic calendar on the line, Roger Bacon turned to Motz’s GAME ON system for a faster, more advanced rebuild.
The Play
Developed exclusively by manufacturing partner Shaw Sports Turf, GAME ON tufts the entire field – end zones, logos, lines, and numbers – together in a single manufacturing run instead of the traditional cut-and-inlay method. That meant Roger Bacon’s field could go in with roughly 50% fewer seams than a standard turf system, translating to a faster, more efficient installation with fewer labor hours and materials on-site. The damaged turf was removed and Motz installed the new GAME ON system. The project moved well ahead of the original Homecoming target: Roger Bacon Principal Tim McCoy announced the stadium would reopen on September 25, more than two weeks earlier than planned, allowing the Spartans to host Canal Winchester Harvest Prep on the new field. “Thanks to the hard work from our friends at Motz, we’re able to open up a little bit earlier than what we expected,” McCoy said.
It was a pleasure to work with the team of professionals at The Motz Group. More importantly, it was great to partner with friends. They were there when we needed them – we will always remain appreciative of their dedication and can-do attitude.
The Win
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Motz beat the school’s own Homecoming deadline, delivering a reopened stadium more than two weeks early.
NEXT-GENERATION TURF TECHNOLOGY
Roger Bacon upgraded from its previous system to GAME ON, giving the school a more advanced field with enhanced design capabilities, including the option to tuft in custom logos, watermarks, mow patterns, and messaging directly into the surface.
FASTER INSTALLATION
With roughly 50% fewer seams to cut and glue than a traditional field, GAME ON’s tufted construction meant less on-site labor and a quicker path from removal to a ready-to-play field.
Ready to Get Started?
Interested in starting a project? Have questions about our process and products? Wherever you are in planning your dream field, we’re ready to walk through your specific needs, answer any questions you have, and talk through how our team of experts will be there to guide you every step of the way.
