Finding seats to the big game isn’t always that easy. Finding wheels to go along with them can be just as difficult. Because big league sporting events are always played in major league venues, there are always a phantasm of logistical nightmares, infrastructure management issues and personnel and crowd control problems, which makes a transport vehicle an essential chariot of fire when working athletic grounds management — whether it’s at Yankee Stadium or at your local collegiate coliseum.

The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the final scream of the buzzer are often followed by the vulcanized screech of wheels from a sports transport. Ground crews need to move quickly to prepare for games, manage their property and solve problems as they arise. A utility vehicle or UTV has become a rugged and heavy-duty alternative for many sports arena groundskeepers who need to motor around the game on a John Deere Gator or a Polaris RANGER.

While electric golf carts are fine vehicles for moving staff, guests and players from point A to point B, they do not offer the payload capacities and durability, cool options like electronic fuel injection (EFI), on-demand four-wheel drive or a whole slew of
innovative suspensions and engine technologies. When facility managers decide on a UTV, they can design a fleet of mini trucks to transport supplies, spoils and employees, as well as run attachments like brooms, salt spreaders and mowers.

“Most customers that manage sports properties need to do a multitude of activities ranging from hauling rock, dirt and mulch to moving injured athletes off the field — and everything in between,” says Sean Sundberg, strategy manager at John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division. “So the product they purchase must handle all the different types of jobs the customer wants to do. That’s where UTVs excel. You can haul everything you need and dump it easily, you can modify the product with many different attachments and you can get four-wheel and two-wheel drive versions, cabs, different types of tires and more. You can be sure of one thing, a utility vehicle is meant to work.”

Work of Art
Two thousand years ago, the Roman Colosseum was the apex of the ancient world’s sports arena attractions. Seated in the center of Rome, the iconic amphitheater was capable of housing 50,000 spectators, who would watch bloody gladiatorial contests, public spectacles like mock sea battles and the greatest in classical theater.

Managing that mega sports facility would have been a madhouse, especially with a boss like Nero, requiring thousands of paid and slave laborers. With the right tools and vehicles of transport, big sports arenas on a similar scale of Roman spectacle can save on backbreaking labor and the amount of workers. Keep your crews mobile to move perishables quickly to concessions, to provide crowd security at a moment’s notice and to organize athletic trainers and medical personnel to administer critical health operations.

When it comes to maintenance, give your groundskeepers a company car. Keep turf experts on tires so they can easily haul supplies, as well as wield the disciplines of Agronomy in applications of soil science and turf grass development. All of these jobs call for workers to be motorized and traveling, which is why companies from Kubota to Kawasaki have been targeting the stadium market.

“Toro and our distributors have forged relationships with sports turf managers representing many professional, university and K-12 stadiums and athletic fields — from baseball to football to soccer,” says Wade Tollison, marketing manager for debris products and utility vehicles at Toro. “Toro turf maintenance agreements and partnerships are currently in place at Talladega Superspeedway, Walt Disney World of Sports, the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame University, the Super Bowl, U.S. Soccer Foundation and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.”

There are oodles of big names in the UTV market today, including John Deere, Kubota, Toro, Polaris, Husqvarna, Club Car, Bobcat, Cub Cadet, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Arctic Cat and AUSA (a UTV importer from Spain). Step onto a dealer lot and find engines (gas, diesel and electric) from 10 to 40 hp, payload capacities ranging from 400 to 1,500 lbs, towing capacities ranging from 600 to 2,000 lbs, options in wet disk brakes, power steering, EFI, hydraulic bed lifts, enclosed cabs and a whole slew of innovative suspensions and attachments. When it comes to moving workers, bench seating is the best for utility (carrying three people), but bucket seating is more comfortable (but only carries two). Considering drivetrains, you will have the option of 2x4, 4x4, 6x4 and 6x6 utility vehicles.

The six-wheeled models (only made by Polaris and John Deere) are the least popular design, but they are the hardest working. The Polaris RANGER 6x6 sports a 40-hp engine, a 1,250-lb cargo box capacity and 2,000-lb towing capacity, great for serious hauling and heavy-duty applications. The majority of these machines in this market are 4x2 because of sensitive terrain — add turf tires and you’re good to go.

“Four-wheel drive systems are typically tougher on turf than two-wheel drive systems, so unless you operate in difficult terrain, purchase a two-wheel drive vehicle,” explains Sundberg. “Turf tires are a must because they are less aggressive and won’t damage the turf. Don’t use the differential lock while operating on sensitive turf, as locking the differential can increase the propensity of damaging the turf. And check out the ground pressure and rated psi for the vehicle. The less psi that the vehicle has in contact with the ground, the lesser the impact will be on the turf.”

Pricing for 4x2s is usually in the $6,000 to $8,000 realm today, 4x4 UTVs tend to range from $8,500 to $10,000, while 6x4s and 6x6s are falling between $8,300 and $11,000.

Besides price and drivetrain, speed will be a big concern in commercial and green markets where liability increases dramatically and so does turf damage. There are certain underwriters who will not insure a vehicle with a top speed of over 25 mph, insurance and safety being a must at sports arenas. Higher speed vehicles are fairly new to the market and are popular on the recreational side with Arctic Cat’s Prowler XT and Polaris’ RANGER UTVs going up to around 50 mph.
Some speed modification technologies are on the market — like Polaris’ SpeedKey (costing around $200) in which a control module can limit the vehicle’s speed without a loss of power, depending on which key is used in the ignition. For most jobsites, 25 mph is the limit (so choose accordingly). Also, Toro’s heavy-duty Workman includes a “supervisor switch” that allows the supervisor to limit the operator from switching into third gear and John Deere also offers its Optional Speed Limiter kit that allows full power and acceleration with keyed lockout to limit top speed to 20 mph.

“Stay at a safe speed and make sure those operating the UTV read the operating manual, safety warnings and get plenty of practice, especially when using accessories,” says Donna Beadle, Polaris spokesperson.

Most UTV models come with a gas engine, but diesel power plants are on the rise; Kubota, Club Car, Toro, Kawasaki, Bobcat, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna and John Deere now offer diesel engine options. There are even some electric UTV systems on the market. Gas is still the most popular choice amongst users in North America, but there are pros and cons for all three power systems. Electric machines offer the advantages of being quiet, however, they need to be charged for a number of hours when the batteries run low. They are also heavier and more expensive.

Diesel powered units are thought of as being longer lasting than gas units, have more torque for tougher jobs that require lots of hauling, climbing and towing and provide for more diverse and sometimes less expensive fuel options. The downside is diesel units are generally more expensive than gas powered units, don’t offer some of the higher top speed options that gas units do and generally don’t offer options such as EFI and electronic governor and throttle control.

Gas units generally offer options for higher top speed, EFI, electronic governor and throttle and are less costly than electric or diesel units. The cons of the gas engine are sometimes more expensive fuels and potentially shorter life than a similar diesel engine.

Cost is often the big differentiator — the typical cost difference between an air-cooled gas and liquid-cooled diesel engine is between $1,000 to $2,000 at purchase. EFI is also growing into the UTV industry — offered by both Polaris and John Deere today. EFI is an engine management system to efficiently meter the injection of fuel into an internal combustion chamber. Operational benefits include smoother and more dependable engine response, easier and more dependable engine starting, better operation at extremely high or low ambient temperatures, reduced maintenance intervals and increased fuel efficiency.

Fleets of Attachments and Features
When big operations call for multiple squads of professionals, just one UTV won’t do — some facilities need fleets. If a sports facility is purchasing a fleet of vehicles, work directly with the manufacturer’s commercial sales department. Ask your local dealer if the manufacturer offers national account pricing, government or educational discounts.

“A good example is John Deere’s discounts for governmental institutions, including universities and community agencies,” says Sundberg. “John Deere also offers a multi-unit discount program, called Greenfleet, which offers serious product discounts based on the volume of product purchased.” When it comes to making large purchase orders, customers should flex their buying power. Ask to attend a field day sponsored by your local distributor or better yet call your salesperson for a personal demonstration at your facility. It’s great to actually discuss the different applications that you will need to accomplish with your utility vehicle on site — infield grooming, tool hauling, people moving, sand dumping and everything in between.

Also include your marketing team on the negotiation table. Seeing Cub Cadet utility vehicles used during Cleveland Browns football games is great exposure for the brand; it never hurts to bargain with the power of subtle, on-field television and fan advertising.

The process will be similar to the automotive fleet industry. Product performance, durability of the unit and local service should be three key buying criteria, whether a sports complex is buying one or 20 UTVs. Get the most value from your purchase by expecting long equipment life, performance capabilities and total cost of ownership.

“Think of your current projects as well as possible future activities you may undertake to make sure you purchase the right vehicle now,” says Sundberg. “Make sure the vehicle is set up to carry the rated load that you need to carry and still deliver the optimum ride for the operator. Ask yourself how fast do you really need to travel and make sure the machine you choose meets that spec. Purchase the attachments at the same time as the vehicle because you may qualify for a package discount price.”

Attachments and features are equally important parts of the purchasing puzzle. Most capable UTVs will also have an easy-to-use hitch configuration, which can haul from 200 to 2,000 lbs, usually with a trailer ball hitch or pintle hitch. For groundskeepers, hauling spreaders, aerators, seeders, ball park groomers and wagons will be par for the course.
“The Toro Workman utility vehicle is a versatile product for the sports field manager,” notes Tollison. “Sports field managers use the Toro Workman for hauling tools, transporting people, moving sod and infield fill mix. The Rahn infield groomer is an attachment that is specifically designed for grooming baseball and softball infield areas. Canopy tops, solid windshields, folding windshields, heavy-duty bumpers and the electric bed lift are also very popular features.”

Along with rear implements, attachments for the front of the vehicle will allow a greens crew to diversify their utility vehicle investment. The most popular front tools are winches (which often work in conjunction with other front attachments); for more winch information see the sidebar online at CE Unbound (www.compatequip.com). The winch can be used to hold a broom attachment for clearing snow, garbage, mud or green debris. Fitted with a small engine and a 12-volt connection to your vehicle, heavy-duty commercial bristles can clean sweep the contours of your facility for around $3,000 to $5,000.
If snow management is an issue, UTVs are excellent for seasonal winter work (especially when fitted with a heated cab). Snowplows with no lift mechanism can run as low as $250 and go as high as $2,000 or more for systems with large blades and hydraulic lifts. Ranging from 48 to 72 in., crews can choose from straight, angle or V-blades, matching a salt spreader on the back for serious snow and ice applications.

“Plows, cabs, spreaders and winches,” Beadle counts off the snow essentials. “Field crews will need to have a winch for a plow [typically] and Polaris offers traditional and Lock & Ride plows that make it easy to take a plow off and on quickly.”

Looking beyond implements into ancillary options, UTVs can be customized much like your car. Mirrors, bed liners, toolboxes, back-up alarms, horns and electric bed lifts top the list. A cab can cost between $500 to $5,000, depending on the options and type. Many sports venues opt for basic poly roofs and rear panels to block the sun and heat. Full cabs with heaters are available for parks that need to plow in the winter or spread salt.

Other cool accessories include a slant board (instantly transforming your utility vehicle into an injury transportation system), folding or solid windshields (both protect the operator and passenger from environmental conditions), stake sides (increase the versatility of your UTV by simply adding capacity with durable plastic wood) and some even have a deluxe refreshment center (insulated cold storage bins and a slide out tray for sandwiches and drinks).

Some manufacturers will even have pre-customized green models tailor-made for the industry. Cub Cadet offers a premium 4x2 SE utility vehicle for parks, grounds maintenance and sports fields, equipped with a fully independent suspension, 24-in. turf tires, green hood, 14.4-cu ft steel cargo box and a low profile. The vehicle is available for $7,800. Deere offers two packages that are well suited for the sports professional, including the hauling package which consists of a rear receiver hitch, drawbar and bed liner and the work site package which contains a back-up alarm, deluxe light kit and fender guards (pictured to the left). Whatever you decide, most UTV owners get more than what they bargained for.

“Thanks to its versatility and numerous attachments, UTVs end up doing far more for a customer than they originally expected,” explains Sundberg. “Tasks can include everything from hauling equipment to people and material, blading
to towing and of course maneuvering through the stadium during game day.”

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment.