Construction mishap will delay Schaumburg High stadium turf work

The Cubs aren't the only team having to play a crucial game at a "neutral" site. Schaumburg High School's football squad could be homeless at Homecoming.

A cement mixer crashed through the ground at Saxon Field last Friday night, leaving a gaping hole. The stadium is in the midst of having an artificial turf playing surface installed, scheduled for completion by the Sept. 26 homecoming games versus Fremd.

"(The mixer) crunched a section of the pipe that's going to be replaced," confirmed Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Superintendent Roger Thornton.

Still, he was hopeful the delay won't be too long, and noted that other work can continue.

A crane had to haul the cement truck out, as its load was "far heavier than it was supposed to be," Thornton said, blaming the blunder on "human error."

The vagabond Saxons have been playing home games at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates this season while their stadium surface has been rebuilt.

District 211 Athletic Director Otis Price said if necessary, future Schaumburg home games could be moved to other District 211 schools.

"We're still assessing what's going on," Price said.

After the homecoming game, Schaumburg has one final regular season home game scheduled Oct. 17 versus Conant.

Thornton said the field now could be ready by mid-October, as district officials ordered replacement piping on Monday. The weekend's storms didn't help, since crews were unable to work Saturday and Sunday, Thornton added.

He also said the district won't incur additional cost for the mistake, adding that's the contractor's responsibility. Speedy Gonzalez Landscaping is handling work at Schaumburg and Fremd.

Earlier this year, the District 211 board approved the estimated $8.7 million project for new turf fields at all five schools. Fremd and Schaumburg are the first two District 211 schools to get turf.

Meanwhile, Thornton said the work at Fremd's stadium was progressing, despite a small July union-related delay. Work there is scheduled for completion before the Oct. 3 homecoming game against Conant.