On Aug. 4, the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) announced that Albuquerque's indoor turf field has been relocated to EXPO New Mexico. According to a press release by the city, the transfer marks the culmination of a COVID-era agreement between Albuquerque and the Rio Rancho Event Center.
“The City has said all along that the indoor turf field would be located in Albuquerque and we have kept that promise,” said Parks and Recreation Director Dave Simon, according to the press release. “The field will provide years of benefits to the Albuquerque community and Metro area.”
According to the press release, the turf field was temporarily held at the Event Center due to pandemic-related constraints that closed Tingley Coliseum to public events. At the beginning of the month, a crew from the city transported the indoor turf field in two truckloads to its fresh location at EXPO New Mexico. Still in good condition, the turf will be stored at the Tingley Coliseum until after the State Fair, at which point further activities at EXPO NM will resume as normal.
Under a ten-year agreement between the city and EXPO New Mexico, the indoor artificial turf field will be housed at EXPO NM's premises, according to the press release. The field will be used for a wide variety of events, open to multiple users and adhere to EXPO NM guidelines. EXPO NM intends to expand access to the turf for youth and adult organizations, particularly during the time period following the State Fair through the summer season. Additionally, the city is entitled to a minimum of five complimentary uses of the artificial turf per year.
Albuquerque's Parks and Recreation Department oversees and maintains nearly 300 parks, more than 143 miles of multi-use trails, over 29,000 acres of significant public open space, four municipal golf courses, and various aquatics and recreation establishments across the city, according to the press release.