Houston Texans turf donated to local high school

The Panthers of C.E. King high school are officially playing football on the same NFL home field as the 2017 Houston Texans. The ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey with the christening of their Hellas field at Crenshaw Stadium in North East Harris County.

Two-Time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt helped raise $37 Million for Harvey relief. The Texans played on Hellas Matrix Turf with Helix Technology in 2017 at NRG Stadium. Now this same field has been moved to the Panther’s home stadium as part of a donation program to Harris Countyschools in need. Hellas went to Harris County, owner of NRG Stadium, and recommended C.E. King to be the first recipient of the Texans’ turf donation and the county agreed. For the next couple of years, Hellas has a contractual agreement to replace the Matrix Turf with Helix Technology at NRG Stadium following the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and donate it to a school in need in Harris County.

Days after Hurricane Harvey devastated Crenshaw Stadium with close to 50 inches of rain, Hellas crews repaired and sanitized the Panthers’ field. C.E. King did not open until January of this year due to the damage from Harvey. A new C.E. King high school and stadium is set to open in 2020. “Sheldon Strong” is the motto of the school and the Panthers prove it daily.

C.E. King Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Derek Fitzhenry said, “Hellas really helped us. They moved us to the front of the list to sanitize our field and clean it.” Fitzhenry added, “You just had sewer water on the field. That’s going to be a big deal as far as cuts and abrasions. We had students and staff displaced from their homes but when it came time for the games, the parents and community responded and were there to support our players. Our kids had a successful year and due to Hellas, the seniors enjoyed their senior year playing all five home games at their home stadium.”

Frank Petrini, COO of Hellas Construction said, “Those kids of C.E. King were just super excited today when they came off the field. The legacy of the Texans 2017 field out of NRG Stadium, just brings it to a whole new level.”