Commencement Ceremonies Te next big spring event for Kenan Stadium was Commencement. UNC's Commencement is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of Tar Heels and recognize the personal drive and determination that led them to graduation. It’s traditionally held at Kenan Stadium, with those graduating seated on the field and those cheering on the graduates seated in the stands. Commencement ceremonies began at 7:00 pm on May 10.
This photo was taken when Carolina Green had just finished installing the additional sod to meet soccer dimensions in preparation for the international match.
As UNC reported, the historic match would draw top-tier soccer talent to the region, attracting fans from across the country and beyond. Mexico took on EURO 2024 quarter- finalists Türkiye (Turkey) for the first time in its history. Te match was Mexico’s first-ever game in Chapel Hill.
Primary damage from the Commencement ceremonies stage was along the 20-yard line.
Carrick says, “Tat was a 10-day setup, covering the field and installing the stage, which came out to the 20-yard line. We had a two-day tear-down after the event. We did have a little damage where the stage was, primarily along the 20-yard line, but Ryan and his staff used intensive cultural practices to compensate for the damage. Our available recovery window extended until the next on-field event, the international soccer match on June 10.”
International Soccer Takes the Field As UNC reported, international soccer excitement was intense when it was announced that Kenan Stadium at Chapel Hill would host the highly anticipated match between the Mexican Men’s National Team and the Turkish National Team on June 10, 2025.
To meet the soccer pitch dimensions, Carolina Green installed 33,000 square feet of GameOnGrass® Tahoma 31 sod over the artificial turf around the perimeter of the Kenan Stadium Field. Price says, “We rolled out a non- woven geotextile material over the synthetic surface before we put down the sod. Tat material is much like a dryer sheet but it’s a lot thicker, like a big doormat. It allows water to go through, but it traps any sand. We always need to cut back into the natural grass field a bit as we install the additional sod to create a smooth transition that doesn’t impact play.”
Back to Football Following the soccer match, summer football camps took over the field on June 12 and 13. With that tight timing, the soccer configuration remained in place—but not for long.
Carrick says, “We had Carolina Green scheduled to return on June 14 and 15 to remove the 33,000 square feet of grass and reset the field for football. Price says, “Our crews are skilled at handling these conversions, so it’s an in- and-out process for us. Casey’s staff takes over from there, assessing what’s needed to be in top shape for whatever comes next.”
Tat’s football training throughout June and July, Carrick reports, so safety and playability are their top priority. “It’s also prime time for on-campus recruiting events,” he adds. “Kenan Stadium is always part of the campus tours for potential students, whether they are athletes or not. And, with a camera on every cell phone, we want the field to be picture perfect.”
UNC’s first football game of the season is set for Labor Day. It’s a home game at Kenan Stadium—on Monday night an 8:00 o’clock game against TCU televised on ESPN. “Tere’s always a buzz around the football opener and we anticipate it will be greater for the first game on the new natural grass field,” says Carrick. “I have a really great staff that is totally on board with the natural grass field and is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to keep the field in top shape. So, it’s a lot of fun for us to host these high-profile events.”
Suz Trusty is co-editor of . Photos by Casey Carrick and Ryan Anderson, University of North Carolina Athletics. Te timeline was provided by Casey Carrick.
20 TPI Turf News July/August 2025
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