Thread: Soldier Field turf?

Originally Posted by soulman

Well the Packers use field turf which is why it looks so good so late in the year because when I lived there my lawn was deader than a doornail when November rolled around. It's the same here in Denver although we keep the green a bit longer but once the first snowfall hit's which is usually about Halloween it starts to go pretty quickly.

Ya know, actually, I've heard (don't know if it's true) that they have some kind of hybred turf which incorporates real grass with some type of artificial stuff. I know that sounds a little different, but that's what I've been told on an old Packer board. But then, you know how those Packer fans are, stretching the truth and all.

I've done alot of work were Artifical Turf has been layed down ( mostly soccer, or striped for both). I've walk alot on them and must say it is so must softer and BOUNCIE then grass. I've layed on it run on it dove on it and i must say it feels pretty good, better the grass. But thats just me. I remember playing on the OLD astro turf. That shit hurt and left BURNS. The new stuff,WOW wish i played on that instead of the old stuff. If any of you ever see a HS, park district.ect Field with the new stuff. Stop and walk and feel it.

Originally Posted by Rogelio

That is true. Lambeau and Invesco don't have FieldTurf. They have a system called DD Grassmasters. It is basically artificially re-enforced natural grass. It has plastic strands woven in to strengthen the grass. However, it doesn't always work well, because that is also used in Pittsburgh and Philly, two fields which are normally as bad or worse than Soldier Field's turf. Also, because of the woven mat in the grass, it can't be easily resodded like Soldier Field can midseason.

I can't speak for Invesco, but with Lambeau, the Packers make it clear they are the only deal in town. Nothing is held on that field during the season. I believe there is one or two early Summer concerts, but come July, the field hosts nothing but football. With Soldier Field, they have high school games and assorted massive concerts. If Lambeau hosted as many events as SF, its field would looks worse, also. That's why Pittsburgh and Philly's fields look like horse shit, because they are used by high school and college teams. Unfortunately, the Bears can't tell the park district not to schedule anything on the field.

Also, as for FieldTurf, here is one of the studies which shows a higher occurrence of knee injuries.

You're right Rogelio. Thanks for the correction. I knew that was the makeup (grass/synthetic). I just used that term Field Turf as a generic and I shouldn't have. It's the DD Grassmasters system not Field Turf.

The use of Invesco Field which is now Sports Authority Field at Mile High (whew) is pretty much limited to Bronco Football once the season begins. Colorado and Colorado State have played their annual game there in early September and periodically the stadium will host a summer rock concert but once the NFL season begins it's all Bronco's.

I'd say that very few stadiums get the alternate use that Soldier Field gets. As long as they continue to do that that playing surface will get stressed. Maybe the Bears should increase their rent to avoid that.

Originally Posted by Rogelio

It is basically artificially re-enforced natural

Like Pamela Anderson!

Last season I thought the field looked better than previous years. In previous years it's looked really bad later in the season. Over the years I've heard comments that some players hate natural grass while others prefer it. So go figure.

If you watch some of the classic old games from way back, there are some great games that were played on fields that were mudholes. Sloppy mud ankle deep. The players look like mud-men. Is that necessarily a bad thing?....I don't know. I feel like the game of football is getting pretty far away from what it once was. FWIW, I love the whole soldier field experience, including the foul weather and natural grass. But of course I don't have to play on it

Originally Posted by Rogelio

That is true. Lambeau and Invesco don't have FieldTurf. They have a system called DD Grassmasters. It is basically artificially re-enforced natural grass. It has plastic strands woven in to strengthen the grass. However, it doesn't always work well, because that is also used in Pittsburgh and Philly, two fields which are normally as bad or worse than Soldier Field's turf. Also, because of the woven mat in the grass, it can't be easily resodded like Soldier Field can midseason.

I can't speak for Invesco, but with Lambeau, the Packers make it clear they are the only deal in town. Nothing is held on that field during the season. I believe there is one or two early Summer concerts, but come July, the field hosts nothing but football. With Soldier Field, they have high school games and assorted massive concerts. If Lambeau hosted as many events as SF, its field would looks worse, also. That's why Pittsburgh and Philly's fields look like horse shit, because they are used by high school and college teams. Unfortunately, the Bears can't tell the park district not to schedule anything on the field.

Also, as for FieldTurf, here is one of the studies which shows a higher occurrence of knee injuries.

IMHO this is the crux of the problem. The park district needs to give the natural surface time to heal and stabilize between games and that will never happen as long as they continue to hold so many other events there during the regular season. The Bears need to put pressure on them to move these events to other venues.

Originally Posted by omc1969

IMHO this is the crux of the problem. The park district needs to give the natural surface time to heal and stabilize between games and that will never happen as long as they continue to hold so many other events there during the regular season. The Bears need to put pressure on them to move these events to other venues.

Yea, I agree. Perhaps the new Mayor will be more accommodating and perhaps his new found buddy (Da Commish), will have more influence with that than the Bears themselves do.