Four companies bid to replace the Huskie Stadium turf Monday, bringing NIU one step closer to a better playing field.

SafePlay Surfaces, of Richardson, Tex., submitted the lowest of four bids Monday to replace the playing surface.

At the January Board of Regents meeting, the board gave NIU permission to receive bids for the turf project.

The Regents govern NIU, Illinois State University at Normal and Sangamon State University in Springfield.

Bids for the NIU field ranged from about $449,000 to about $676,000 for turf, padding, lines, under-turf repair and pylon inserts only, said an NIU official.

“Understand that these numbers are just preliminary and no bid will be approved until later this week by the Board of Regents,” said Don Widick, NIU Materials Management director.

Other costs include $6500 to $16,000 for red endzones reading “HUSKIE” in white-rimmed black letters, $7500 to $9800 for a 50-yard line huskie logo like the one on the west exterior stadium wall and about $20,000 to about $59,000 for an eight-year maintenance contract, the official said.

NIU President John La Tourette suggested at the January BOR meeting replacing both ISU and NIU playing fields this summer because they are about the same age and condition.

Bidders submitted lower estimates for replacing the NIU playing field if replaced at the same time as the ISU playing field.

“The replacement of this (NIU) turf is necessary for the health and safety of those who practice and perform on it,” La Tourette said.

The field is used by Intercollegiate Athletics, the Office of Campus Recreation, the physical education department, the Huskie Marching Band and DeKalb High School, LaTourette said.

AllPro Inc., St. Louis, AstroTurf Industries Inc., Dalton, Ga. and PoliGras U.S.A. Inc., Clearwater, Fla., also submitted bids. The Regents will approve one of the bids Wednesday.