Thread: Soldier Field turf?

Good subject 4da. Much time has been spent on this here too, but I like the new angle given the new GM.

I believe the Hall of Fame in Canton has Field Turf on it's mini field just outside (not the HS stadium, which may also be Field Turf, but the 40 yard field next to the parking lot). I don't live in Canton, so I can't vouch for it's upkeep, but given the lack of real play on that field, I can't imagine that they spend much time working on it. What I do know is that it gets lots of "street play". Pretty cool surface.

Why am I talking about Canton? Well, because I believe it doesn't get much maintenance, yet is in good condition. The lines don't look like they need painting, there are no visible seams, the little rubber pellets (the ones A-11 sees flying up when players drag their feet) pretty much stay on the surface (self redistributing). Rogelio seems to know what the heck he is talking about, and maybe they do have to disinfect the surfaces for NFL games, but what I see there just doesn't jive with the high maintenance that is being discussed here.

I'm a bit of a purist also, but I'm not so much so that I wouldn't change in favor of something that provides a more consistent play. I don't have the answers, but somehow other teams get to play on better surfaces. I'm glad the heat is on the park district, and that they have fewer events planned than in years past. Still, I'm a bit skeptical.

Originally Posted by BearStuff

Good subject 4da. Much time has been spent on this here too, but I like the new angle given the new GM.

I believe the Hall of Fame in Canton has Field Turf on it's mini field just outside (not the HS stadium, which may also be Field Turf, but the 40 yard field next to the parking lot). I don't live in Canton, so I can't vouch for it's upkeep, but given the lack of real play on that field, I can't imagine that they spend much time working on it. What I do know is that it gets lots of "street play". Pretty cool surface.

Why am I talking about Canton? Well, because I believe it doesn't get much maintenance, yet is in good condition. The lines don't look like they need painting, there are no visible seams, the little rubber pellets (the ones A-11 sees flying up when players drag their feet) pretty much stay on the surface (self redistributing). Rogelio seems to know what the heck he is talking about, and maybe they do have to disinfect the surfaces for NFL games, but what I see there just doesn't jive with the high maintenance that is being discussed here.

I'm a bit of a purist also, but I'm not so much so that I wouldn't change in favor of something that provides a more consistent play. I don't have the answers, but somehow other teams get to play on better surfaces. I'm glad the heat is on the park district, and that they have fewer events planned than in years past. Still, I'm a bit skeptical.

Yeah, I have read about it and many things go into upkeep of the surface. Think of it this way - on grass, leaves fall, bugs die, and it all decomposes and goes back into the soil. That doesn't happen when the surface is rubber pellets. Chemicals are used to clean the surface regularly. Although walking on the surface doesn't disturb it much, it does get disturbed from football, and it has to be raked after each game. They have temporary paint (which they used to paint the Super Bowl endzones), but it must be removed with special chemicals. I have heard that crews also have to go over the surface with scotch tape wrapped around their hands to remove the bits of dust and dirt from the surface. Although a high school might not do all of these things, that is what needs to be done to keep a field up to professional standards. The biggest cost aspect is not the tools and chemicals necessary, but the extra man-hours it takes to prepare the field.

Originally Posted by yttocs

I dont know about cost, but from what I've been told it cost less to maintain the grass. Atleast thats what all the park districts and H.S.'s have been saying to me when asked. Just this year ive worked at 6 that have installed it and know of another 6 ill been at the site working. Paint is always down ( lines sewn in ) , no repainting, you brush it up once aweek almost the same as cutting grass no watering. And about the extra strips or patterens they use a chalk-like paint that washes away here. So I'm no expert at all, just what I've been told about justifing the cost.

Good feedback yttocs. Nice to hear an opinion from somebody whose had some first hand experience around it. There may be more upkeep to it at an NFL level than at the HS or College level but I find it hard to believe that re-sodding a field is an inexpensive endeavor.

Grass doesn't grow well from seed here in Colorado. It's to dry and in some places the soil is to hard to it ro root. So most new homes and commercial properties are sodded. Having gone through one summer of nursing along a re-sodded lawn I can honestly say that it's not a hands off process. If the sod doesn't at least take root then it dies and you can pull it up just like you would an old worn out carpet.

I realize soil conditions are much better in the Midwest but it's still a process that needs time and skill. The problem as I see it is that they don't leave that sod alone and unplayed on long enough for it to set properly and when that happens it tears out in chunks.

I don't know if the answer is going to another playing surface or not but they need to maintain that grass field better than they have many times in the past and they need to eliminate other use of the field once the NFL pre-season has begun. More than anything less use will solve a lot of problems.