The changing face of Sandy Park

By Mark Stevens

Fans are used to seeing Exeter Chiefs players tearing up the pitch - but nothing quite like this as contractors have removed the hallowed Sandy Park turf to make way for something completely new.

Tony Rowe OBE says multi-million pound redevelopment works at Sandy Park are "progressing nicely" as work on and off the field continues to gain momentum.

Just weeks into the project, Sandy Park - the Westcountry's Premier Conferencing and Banqueting Centre, as well as home to the Exeter Chiefs - is a figure of it's former self as construction workers get stuck into expanding the award-winning Devon venue.

The main part of the works this summer will see the existing West Grandstand undergo a £7.5 million transformation, doubling it's capacity for usage on both match-days and events throughout the course of the week; while other plans will see a new East Terrace developed in time for the start of next season, as well as £1m spent on the pitch as the Chiefs bring into play a new DESSO Grassmaster hybrid playing surface.

It's underlines once again the commitment being shown to ensure Sandy Park will be the home of premier sport and events for the whole of the South West for many years to come.

"Work at Sandy Park is progressing nicely," said Rowe. "The redevelopment plans are certainly moving along at quite a pace with this week alone seeing framework around the West Grandstand being installed; the playing surface being totally dug up and the East Terrace removed completely.

"Over the coming weeks and months people will see a total transformation of Sandy Park, both inside and outside the complex, and come the conclusion I know we will have a facility that will be the envy of many throughout the region.

"This is a significant investment into a complex we know will provide state-of-the-art and first class services for all those that come to use it."

In addition, the new DESSO pitch - which is used at various leading sports ground around the world, including both Twickenham and the Aviva Stadium - will not only provide the Chiefs with a superior playing surface, but will allow for more intensive use, even better drainage nad faster recovery times.