Cleveland company makes field paint for Super Bowl; Special truck needed so paint doesn't freeze

CLEVELAND - Pioneer Athletics in Cleveland makes custom paint for football fields for 14 NFL teams and 16 college bowl games.

But this year, the company got the call of a lifetime: To make the paint for the Superdome in New Orleans for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The 110 workers have been busy making special-order paint in the team colors of the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.

The paint, made in an enormous warehouse on Cleveland’s west side, is water based. That meant shipping it from Cleveland during the recent arctic blast posed a problem. No delivery company would guarantee the paint wouldn't freeze en route. 

"So we rented a heated truck and two guys volunteered to drive it down to Tennessee where it was warmer and the paint would not freeze and it was one-day shipping from New Orleans," said Chris Bell with Pioneer Athletics

Now, Super Bowl crews need even more custom paint from Pioneer Athletics in Cleveland before Sunday.

There's pride in this paint, but Pioneer workers know what colors they really want to put on a Super Bowl field, someday. 

“We're probably putting orange and brown down next year I'm guessing," Bell said. 

Pioneer also makes custom paint for the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, numerous colleges and high school stadiums.

Pioneer has been making paint since 1905. Demand for their paint soared when they started making paint that can be removed from synthetic turf and not get on uniforms. Its paint is also safe for grass and ground water.