Boys soccer coach Joshua Robinson walked onto the Metea Valley High School stadium turf on Thursday, July 30, and saw something he hadn't seen in 17 years at the school: a fresh surface.
A gold track. A mustang logo painted at midfield. Decorated goals. A new scoreboard with a cleaner, modern design. All of it brand new.
"We've been open 17 years now, so this is the first redo of the stadium," Robinson told Metea Media.
The $1,204,972 synthetic turf and track replacement is the centerpiece of a $2.1 million stadium overhaul at Metea Valley, funded through the voter-approved Safer, Stronger 204 bond referendum.
Indian Prairie School District 204 hired FieldTurf to install the new surface, which is made of latex and polyurethane, according to an IPSD cost summary dated February 2026.
The old turf had served every Mustang football, soccer, lacrosse, and track athlete since the school opened. Robinson said the new surface will change how his players compete.
"Having a nice new surface, it's going to run more like true grass," he said. "It's going to actually make the play better for us."
The track is expected to be ready for the IHSA fall season, which begins Monday, Aug. 10, when boys soccer, cross country, volleyball, and cheer officially start. Football practices begin Wednesday, Aug. 5, with Week 1 games scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21.
The Metea Valley cross country program will debut on the new track surface Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Mustangs' home opener. Head coach Eric Anerino told Metea Media on Thursday, July 30, that the girls' team, which qualified for the IHSA State meet last season, will lean on returning veterans and senior leadership heading into the fall.
The turf project is separate from the larger $143.8 million renovation at Waubonsie Valley and the $96 million project at Neuqua Valley, though all three are funded by the same bond referendum that authorized up to $420 million in borrowing district-wide.
As we reported July 30, $125 million in construction across District 204 will greet students on the first day of school.
Naperville sports calendar: Aug. 5–29
- Wednesday, Aug. 5 — IHSA football practices begin. Metea Valley Mustangs open at their stadium (1801 N Eola Rd).
- Monday, Aug. 10 — IHSA fall season begins for boys soccer, cross country, volleyball, and cheer at all four area high schools (Naperville North, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley).
- Friday, Aug. 21 — IHSA football Week 1 games across the state.
- Saturday, Aug. 29 — Metea Valley cross country home opener, Metea Valley High School. First meet on the new track surface.
