Peter Barton Stadium has a fresh look heading into the 2024 University of Denver lacrosse seasons. The new turf has a Denver skyline design that no other program in the country has. 

“The field is just fantastic,” said DU Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Matt Brown. “We couldn’t have asked for a better product.” 

The crimson silhouettes of buildings from downtown Denver and white-filled mountains make up the entire bottom portion of the new design. The rebranded Denver arched logo sits just above the faceoff circle.

The new art design is a part of a new turf style as well. The turf is nearly seamless, which will help reduce tears and prevent parts of the field from ripping up. 

This was the problem with the old field that was used last year. The turf was in such bad condition that seams ripped and became a safety hazard for athletes.

“We desperately needed one; it was a long time coming,” said Brown. “We’re fortunate to have the new surface, and it’s going to make things a lot easier and a lot safer for our student-athletes.” 

The turf was laid down in late September, and both programs have held several practices and scrimmages on the new field. So far, the men’s team is getting acclimated without problems. 

“I love the design, it represents who we are,” explained Brown. “At first when they ripped up the old turf and laid down the first few patches, it was just all red which was a bit of a shock. But now it has settled in and I believe it is going to be a trend that catches on across the country.”

With the new field, a question has emerged: does the large amount of white paint impact visibility of the white ball that is used in the sport of lacrosse? According to Brown, the short answer is no. 

“It doesn’t, and I was worried when they first put it down,” said Brown. “But they did a nice job of making sure the white lines for the men out of bounds, [there were] green gaps in between them so you can distinguish what is a line and what is part of a design.” 

DU Lacrosse’s schedule for the 2024 season has not been set yet, but games on the new turf will begin in February.