Riverview — Gabriel Richard High School football fans don’t need to have their eyes examined; the field really is burgundy.

Just in the time for the 2015 football season, the Pioneers will be playing on the country’s first maroon-turf field, the latest in a trend of colored football fields popping up across the county.

Gabriel Richard athletic director Kris Daiek believes the new field will help the Downriver school stand out among other schools in the Catholic League.

“We were looking for something that is a little more unique, something that stands out,” Daiek said. “We already decided we were going with a turf field in June, and we decided to go with something besides green.”

Daiek said the maroon field cost a third of what a traditional, green playing surface would cost. The field is near complete and should be ready for the team’s home opener Aug. 28 against Sterling Heights Parkway Christian.

“We are in the final stages of installation, and the project is coming in under budget,” Daiek said. “We played on grass before, but the field was uneven and it wasn’t safe.”

Local company Oakwood Turf Management supplied the playing surface to Gabriel Richard, which also features lines for soccer and lacrosse.

Gabriel Richard claims it has the first burgundy football field in the world, matching the school’s colors, but it isn’t the first colored field in southeast Michigan — nor the first in the Catholic League, for that matter. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School debuted its red-turf football field in 2012, just after Oxford High School, a northern Oakland County public school, installed a blue field in 2011. Eastern Michigan University rolled out its gray-turfed football field last year, nicknamed “The Factory.”

Gabriel Richard football coach Thomas Michalsen is pleased with the new field and believes it will provide a unique atmosphere for games.

“I think they decided they wanted to something unique — with it being the school color — it really shows off,” Michalsen said. “We’ve been talking about doing this for a year. Hopefully, it will get a few more kids to come out (for the team).”

Gabriel Richard finished with a 5-5 record last season, qualifying for the Division 7 playoffs before losing to eventual state champion Detroit Loyola High School. Michalsen hopes the new burgundy field might give his team a small edge during home games.

“I think the uniqueness will make it difficult for other teams to get used to playing on it,” Michalsen said. “For the first couples of home games, I think it will create a great home game field that will pump the crowd up. We have 10 seniors coming back this year, some guys in key positions; we are hoping that leadership will get us back in the playoffs and the Prep Bowl this year.”

Daiek said Gabriel Richard alumni have already complimented the new field, saying it is a great addition to the school.

“We’ve received extremely positive feedback from people,” Daiek said. “We’ve had 10 to 12 people start taking pictures of the field and are looking forward to coming to games and seeing how it looks under the lights. The reaction has been outstanding, and we are looking forward to having this be a part of Gabriel Richard’s unique identity in the area.”