HOOVER, Ala. — Back in January, when UK received approval to build a $45 million practice facility, Mitch Barnhart asked the question for the first time.”We’ll have to make the decision: Do we go to turf in the stadium, in the game-day stadium, in Commonwealth or do we stay at grass?” Barnhart said.In search of every possible means to best prepare their team, Mark Stoops and his staff were considering moving away from the bermuda grass surface at Commonwealth Stadium in favor of synthetic turf.At Southeastern Conference Media Days on Thursday, Stoops answered the question.”It looks like we will go to turf after this season,” Stoops said.After the 2014 season, construction crews will tear up the field at UK’s longtime home to finish a $120 million renovation. When that happens, Stoops confirmed a new synthetic surface will be installed.By doing so, UK will maximize the time the team can spend practicing in Commonwealth. Kentucky’s temperate climate makes keeping grass in good condition a challenge, particularly during colder months late in the season and during spring practice. That undercuts the Cats’ ability to get in work on their home field as much as Stoops would like.”Our grounds crew does a phenomenal job,” Stoops said. “They work their tails off and do an incredible job, but the fact of the matter is, we can’t get on that field much.”UK wouldn’t be the first SEC school to make the move. Four teams already play their home games on synthetic field: Missouri and Ole Miss play on FieldTurf and Arkansas and Vanderbilt on Shaw Sports Turf. Ole Miss, Arkansas and Vandy have all switched to turf within the last five years.For schools facing climates more comparable to Kentucky, it’s an even more popular choice. Ten of the 14 schools in the Big 10 play on turf surfaces. Even Notre Dame, long famous for its grass field, opted to move to turf this offseason.This decision, however, is all about Kentucky. When the three fields in the new practice facility when it opens in 2016 and turf in Commonwealth, UK will be spoiled for choice.”I think it might be in our best interest to be turf in the stadium, indoor turf and two grass practice fields,” Barnhart said in January. “It gives us lots of options in terms of practice.”