SACRAMENTO-
Members of the grounds crew at Bonney Field spent the day draining up to a foot of water that covered the soccer pitch Friday after a day and a night of steady rain.
“I think, like most people, when they woke up this morning and their front lawns were a little inundated with water, we had some of the same issues here,” Sacramento Republic F.C. spokesperson Erika Bjork said.
Several pumps were able to drain most of the water by the end of the day. The flooding came on the same day the Cal Expo Board of Directors were scheduled to vote on an agreement that allows Sacramento Republic F.C. to expand the stadium from about 8,000 seats to around 11,000 seats.
It will be used for events besides soccer matches, like concerts.
The drainage issue apparently wasn’t a problem. The proposal passed on a unanimous vote. Cal Expo officials say the field was actually built to collect and recycle water during dry periods. The drainage system was overwhelmed by rainfall that was well above average.
Because the water was drained so quickly, there was no damage to the turf. The grounds crew will be paying careful attention to the drainage at the stadium the rest of the winter.
“If these storms continue, yes we’re looking at do we need additional drainage just to be more prepared,” Bjork said.
