Photo credits throughout (except Seahawk Stadium): FieldTurf 

Simon Waterman delves in to the world of 
artificial turf, from its humble ‘roots’ to 
present day, discovering along the way that 
the FieldTurf system is presently ‘Top Dog’!

t’s been ridiculed, vandalised and has had to suffer whatever the traditional ‘die-hard’ football fan could throw at it. Until recently, ‘artificial turf’ was a phrase you hardly dare whisper around the football stadiums of Europe and any clubs brave enough to have it installed, had to contend with complaints from both disgruntled fans and players, not to mention much of the football-related media. 

It all started back in 1981, when London football club, QPR (Queens Park Rangers), became the first club in the English football league to have an artificial field (OmniTurf) installed. Then, usually referred to as ‘Astro Turf’ (which had achieved infamy over here through a baseball star who, when asked his opinion of it, said, “Dunno — never smoked it!”), the synthetic green surface was immediately ridiculed by fans and players alike, as well as a whole multitude of football purists. In reality, it was its inherent problem with uneven high bounce and the risk of severe abrasion that constantly provided good reason for its continued criticism. However, the surface did survive for seven full seasons before being replaced by natural turf, but not before a group of unhappy fans had sabotaged it with what they saw as the ‘appropriate’ graffiti...
 

Nickerson Field — Boston University, USA.

Belson Stadium (St. John’s University), USA.    

Yet there had been occasions when ‘Astro Turf’ came into its own — anytime the football league’s fixture list was wiped out by freezing weather conditions in fact! Then, with the possible exception of Arsenal and their under-soil heating, the only game in town would be at QPR and their fans were suddenly left with little to complain about. But, in an attempt to confine the bounce of the ball to within the stadium, it would take hours for an army of stewards to throw sand all over the pitch. Unfortunately, British TV football audiences were not convinced either, as television coverage frequently highlighted the more ludicrous bounces of the ball and vividly caught the grimace of players after sliding tackles had resulted in nasty ‘carpet-burns’, some of which could even require hospital treatment.

Bold Venture

Now, some fifteen years on, this old can of worms is about to be opened up all over again, this time with a brave new venture emanating from the most powerful football organisation in the World. Yes. UEFA (The Union of European Football Associations) is about to boldly and artificially go where no other organisation has boldly or artificially gone before! They are in the process of stepping out into the brave new world of artificial playing surfaces, in an attempt to lay to rest, once and for all, the ghost of cancelled and re-scheduled football matches in an otherwise overcrowded calendar. 

In this exciting venture, UEFA will have artificial playing surfaces installed at six different European grounds and then conduct a series of Safety and Medical Research study tests. Their aim is to determine whether it would be practical to schedule such pitches/fields for use in European football tournaments during the 2004-2005 season. The current market leader in synthetic playing surfaces, FieldTurf, will be the one to undertake the task of installing the first artificial pitch/field on such a select site, the pitch having already been installed at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia. 

In fact, the Luzhniki BSA Olympic Stadium (to give it its full title) has had its FieldTurf pitch since June 2002 and, with an attendance capacity of 80,000, is one of the largest grounds in Europe. It has already hosted 25 matches this season, due in part to its underground heating system, an important integral part in the development of these artificial field installations and another first for the synthetic surface industry. This system allows for extended seasonal play despite the most inclement Russian weather. The second such installation is due at the Salzburg Stadium in Austria and, thereafter, another four professional football venues will be chosen in the very near future. Top English Premiership football clubs such as; Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea and Leeds United all train on FieldTurf already.

Actually, it was in June 2001 that the initial, giant leap forward for artificial turf within the football industry had taken place. This was when FIFA (The Federation of International Football Associations), the worldwide governing body of football, had first given its official seal of approval for a then revolutionary new product, FieldTurf, to be installed at Boston University’s Nickerson Field and thereafter be sanctioned for international football competition and domestic league use. This historic ruling meant that Nickerson Field, with its FieldTurf surface, now held ‘recommended’ status and, as such, could be scheduled for preliminary FIFA World Cup matches, could hold Olympic Football Tournaments, as well as be used for professional league games. 

FIFA-Recommended

As this transition to artificial surfaces has so far proved successful, FIFA are now very much in favour of the installation and use of such synthetic turf, especially in climates and stadium microclimates where the maintenance and growth of natural grass is otherwise difficult. Many regions of the world do suffer from extreme climatic conditions and, as a result, are often without sufficient or adequate natural grass playing surfaces. Likewise, the latest trend to build stadia with roofing and steep terraces, for additional spectator comfort, often creates an environment better suited to artificial turf. So, with this in mind, other FieldTurf equipped grounds have also since been given FIFA-recommended status. 

As well as the latest Luzhniki project in Moscow, other facilities currently using FieldTurf are: the Seattle Seahawk Stadium in Washington; the Weingart Stadium of East Los Angeles College; and the St John’s University Belson Stadium in New York, all in the USA; plus the Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Canada. 

They too have received recommendations and now join the existing FIFA-approved, FieldTurf grounds of Boston University’s Nickerson Field and the Fanny Blankers Field at Almere in the Netherlands. “It all started with our Nickerson Field installation at Boston University,” said John Gilman, CEO of FieldTurf. “Boston University wanted the best and that’s what we’re all about. When it comes to performance and safety, our goals mirror those of FIFA.”
  

Now, twenty-something years on from the very first ‘Astro Turf’ playing fields, synthetic turf technology has developed to such an extent that today’s artificial pitches both look and feel like the real ‘McCoy’. 
  

The Tokyo Dome — with baseball cutouts.

In fact, it’s claimed that the latest FieldTurf product so resembles the real thing that you constantly have to resist the temptation to go out and mow it! 

Their advanced FIFA-approved system replicates a natural grass surface, yet provides a synthetic pitch that is not only cost effective, but is also a very durable and safe alternative. Documented research can now be used to show that the type of sports injuries likely to occur will actually be reduced on such a pitch. This is mostly due to their unique sand and rubber infill system, which they claim to be the most significant development in sports surface technology within the last twenty-five years. This is now a patented system that sets FieldTurf apart from all other playing surfaces.

Perhaps the greatest accolade the product has gotten is from elite NFL American football players. In a recent extensive poll undertaken by the NFLPA, FieldTurf at Seattle Seahawk Stadium was rated the third best field in the NFL, well ahead of the majority of the natural grass fields in the league. This is an unprecedented recognition of FieldTurf’s superior performance and grass-like play. Competing artificial fields were ranked at the bottom of the list.

The market for artificial turf is now growing (apologies, please excuse the pun) substantially and some leading European football clubs have already experimented with the new technology by creating their own all-weather training grounds. These reduce maintenance costs and allow for serious training to be undertaken in all weather condition. Clubs that have installed these high-tech training facilities so far include: FC Barcelona in Spain, Werder Bremen in Germany, Glasgow Rangers in Scotland, plus Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough FCs, all in England.

The origins of the FieldTurf product go back to 1988, when a US company called SynTenniCo entered the artificial turf business with a product called NovaCourt. This synthetic surface was for use on tennis courts, but they also ventured into the golf market producing another synthetic surface, NovaTee, designed for use in and around golf practice tees in order to reduce wear and tear on the greens. Next, the company began to look for possible uses for synthetic surfaces in other sports and soon began developing products for games like baseball, lacrosse and football. Eventually, their continued success with the hardwearing NovaTee golfing turf, suggested it be re-engineered to provide a revolutionary playing surface for most field sports.

FieldTurf’s a Diamond

Subsequently, production of FieldTurf branded product began in October 1993, when the company decided to concentrate on the indoor football market. Ever since then, they revolutionised and revitalised a stagnant industry, constantly developing and improving the quality of their artificial turf. Eventually, they were ready to expand into the established worlds of American football and baseball. Although today both these sports fully appreciate the FieldTurf concept, it was not until March 2000 that it first appeared in National League Baseball, at the Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Florida. There on April 9, an American audience first watched as the Devil Rays took to the field against the Cleveland Indians, all showcased on an artificial FieldTurf diamond that had been installed at a cost of $1-million US.

Next, FieldTurf were able to move into the elite world of the NFL, when the company was selected by NFL Properties to install a demonstration field at the NFL Experience, outside Pro Player Stadium, prior to Super Bowl XXXIII. It was used for many interactive events during this two-week period, including ESPN’s Linemen Challenge. 

Subsequent to the event, Trace Armstrong, Miami Dolphins’ defensive end player, requested that FieldTurf be evaluated by the NFL Players Association, of which he was then President. Soon, the Pittsburgh Steelers became the first ever National Football League team to install FieldTurf at their practice facility, which was located at the University of Pittsburgh, home to the Panthers.

Recently, the Superbowl contender St. Louis Rams installed FieldTurf at their practice facility and this marked their eleventh NFL-field installation. It has now become clear that the FieldTurf system is the preferred choice for the US National Football League and there are now two NFL teams, the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions that have actually chosen FieldTurf for their game fields proper. Further examples of artificial practice fields are in use with the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

FieldTurf Achieves International Status

Then in 2002, FieldTurf technology made a truly international impact when it was installed at the world famous Tokyo Dome, home of the Tokyo Giants baseball team. It transpired that officials from the Dome and the Yomiuri Giants had previously toured the Tropicana Field in Florida. They had been suitably impressed and were convinced that FieldTurf was the only artificial product worthy of consideration. They recognised that the latest generation of FieldTurf surface systems could offer them the playing characteristics of natural grass, provide increased comfort and safety for their players, reduce ground maintenance costs and extend opportunities for stadium usage.

Hereafter, breaking into the football market should prove another lucrative step for FieldTurf and their association with UEFA can only enhance an already excellent reputation within the sports community. FieldTurf, presently conducting their own safety studies and compiling injury data with respect to synthetic turf, now look forward to the results that the UEFA project should yield. David Wright, FieldTurf’s Director of Operations-European Business, based in the UK, has expressed his delight at the thought of carrying FieldTurf into the football market with UEFA. He said, “We are pleased that the European Football governing body, chose Luzhniki Stadium and FieldTurf as the first testing installation. We have led the industry since we introduced the concept and it is only right and fitting that we do so yet again. We look forward to working with UEFA.”
   

One obvious advantage that FieldTurf has over natural grass is its durability. Now, with many teams around the world being forced to share stadiums to reduce their operating costs, the effect on a natural grass pitch/field can be devastating and, with two separate teams constantly playing on the same shared surface, some grounds have become almost unplayable. This is a problem that could be eliminated very simply with a FieldTurf surface in place. Looking back at FieldTurf’s success in other sports over the years, you can see why UEFA are also keen to reach out and embrace their concept. 
   

The installation of FieldTurf well underway at the Seattle Seahawk Stadium (62k), Seattle, USA.

...and then — all systems GO at the Seattle Seahawk Stadium, with their FIFA-recommended FieldTurf surface in place.

Now, a new initiative from FIFA is their Quality Concept for Artificial Turf. This is designed to formally set standards that will both ensure the safety of football players and encourage new product developments from within the industry itself. In future, in order to qualify for a FIFA-approved license, any product must first go through a series of rigorous tests conducted under laboratory conditions. These tests will include the following:

• Product Identification
• Durability
• Climatic Resistance
• Player / Surface Interaction
• Ball / Surface Interaction

The eventual performance of any artificial surface will also be dependant upon its installation process, meaning the preparation of the sub-base and the composition of existing sub-soil. Now, not only will synthetic turfs be tested in a laboratory but will also undergo on-site tests, which will include the following:

1. Construction System

2. Player / Surface Interaction

3. Ball / Surface Interaction

John Gilman, CEO of FieldTurf recently reiterated, “We’re proud of all of our 550 fields around the world, but we’re especially proud of our new FIFA-recommended status at Seahawk Stadium; Frank Clair Stadium; Luzhniki BSA Olympic Stadium; Weingart Stadium; Belson Stadium and of course Nickerson Field — the very first artificial field to receive this FIFA award. We look forward to working with FIFA, and its member clubs around the globe, to make football safer, to make the sport more available, regardless of climatic conditions and to simplify and lower the costs of stadium maintenance.”
  

Best Foot Forward

So there you have it. Football is about to take this very brave step back into the world of artificial turf and, assuming that all tests prove positive, the days of matches being called off due to bad weather conditions could become a thing of the past. Also, if it is proven that the normal bounce of a ball on natural grass can be replicated on an artificial surface, then this time around, fans should have no qualms about their teams embracing the concept — unlike in the 1980’s.

On January 15th 2003, Charlton Athletic tabled an unprecedented formal request to the English Premier League for their defeat by Chelsea to be replayed because of the state of the sand-covered pitch. 
  

This season, continual rain has reduced Chelsea’s pitch to a quagmire and this particular game, which Chelsea won 4-1, was only given the go-ahead after the surface (due for re-turfing anyway) had been heavily sanded. Under current league rules, an opponent must be informed if the surface of the pitch is to be changed for a game. Chelsea did not do this and Charlton have therefore claimed they were unprepared for the match.

This last example does make the benefits of having an artificial pitch clear for all to see, but it is imperative that players must feel comfortable on this new surface. If they can perform to the same exacting standards as they would on natural grass, then maybe — just maybe, the artificial grass could be greener on the other side...

Author: Simon Waterman. With special thanks to FieldTurf for all their assistance and the staff at: www.stadium.org