FieldTurf
Encyclopedia
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf
playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett
Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA
. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass. The new system quickly began taking market share
from AstroTurf
, and is now the leader in the industry.
The surface is composed of monofilament
polyethylene
blend fiber
s tufted into a polypropylene
backing. The infill is composed of a bottom layer of silica sand, a middle layer which is a mixture of sand and cryogenic rubber and a top layer of only rubber. The fibers are meant to replicate blades of grass, while the infill
acts as a cushion. This cushion improves safety when compared to earlier artificial surfaces and allows players to plant and pivot as if they were playing on a grass field. Proponents of the surface also cite its low-cost maintenance and durability.
player and coach, joined FieldTurf as CEO. The first professional team to install FieldTurf at its training facility was the English Premiership's Middlesbrough F.C.
in 1997.
The merger allowed FieldTurf to expand their range of products in other types of sports surfacing and add Tarkett's turf options to their range of products. FieldTurf Tarkett is currently run by a head corporate office in Calhoun along with other offices in Canada and in France. FieldTurf is now a part of the Tarkett Sports division and has installed over 7000 athletic fields.
A FieldTurf installation sized for American football cost about $900,000(US) in 2008. However, this cost is at least somewhat offset by lower maintenance costs and longer periods between replacement. The field is warrantied for eight years and should last for ten, according to FieldTurf.
In 2010, another peer-reviewed study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, this time on NCAA Division 1-A football, concluding that in many cases games played FieldTurf-branded products led to fewer injuries than those played on natural grass.
Martin O'Neill
said FIFA officials should "have their heads examined" for allowing FieldTurf after Tomas Sorenson suffered a non-contact hamstring injury during a game in Toronto. According to FIFA at the time, 14% of injuries on grass were non-contact related while the figure rose to 22% on the turf.
in the United States was at the University of Nebraska's
Memorial Stadium
in 1999
. The following year, it was installed in Martin Stadium
in Pullman
. The first installation in an NFL stadium was in 2002
at the Seattle Seahawks' new stadium, now known as CenturyLink Field. Originally planned as a natural grass field, the Seahawks decided to install FieldTurf after they had played the two previous seasons in Husky Stadium on FieldTurf. Conventional artificial turfs, like AstroTurf
, had been disliked by players due to the injuries and soreness associated with playing on the previous generations' harder surfaces. Seattle's coach, Mike Holmgren, said of the FieldTurf surface "it's about as much like grass as you can have a synthetic surface be" and that the "players love it". As the trend continued in the league, FieldTurf received reviews from players who cited that the field provided cushioning for falls, eased pressure on the knees, and did not cause turf burns. Stadium operators also noted the benefits of the improved durability and easier maintenance over natural grass fields. Eleven NFL teams currently play their home games on FieldTurf while 15 teams have FieldTurf in their practice facilities. In 2006, Super Bowl XL
, played at Detroit's Ford Field was the first Super Bowl to be played on FieldTurf. FieldTurf has also been endorsed by several NCAA Division I football coaches, including Houston Nutt
, Jim Tressel
, and Bobby Petrino
.
chose FieldTurf for its new training field. Only artificial fields with FIFA Recommended 2-star status can be used in FIFA and UEFA Finals competitions. Other FIFA and UEFA competitions require at least 1-star status. No World Cup Finals match has ever been played on an artificial surface.
In 2001, Boston University
's FieldTurf soccer field became FieldTurf's first to obtain FIFA 1-star status. In 2005, Saprissa Stadium
in San José
, Costa Rica
became the first stadium to host a FIFA World Cup
qualifying match on FieldTurf. The Dundalk F.C.
Stadium, Oriel Park
received FieldTurf's first FIFA 2-star rating. FieldTurf currently has 29 FIFA Recommended 1-Star installations and 31 FIFA Recommended 2-Star installations. In 2007, the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada had almost 50% of its games played on FieldTurf.
The emergence of the surface in association football stadiums has been controversial. Players and coaches have been critical of the toll it takes on a player's body, and have expressed concerns that it does not play enough like actual grass. The surface has also been criticized for the infill not staying in place. In 2007, Garry O'Connor
spoke out against the FieldTurf surface he played on during a cup final with Lokomotiv Moscow. He called it a "nightmare" and said that he did not believe FIFA should allow qualifying matches to be played on the surface.
Although there are players who dislike playing on artificial turf, FIFA president Sepp Blatter
said that artificial turf will eventually become a big part of the game. "This is not only a point to make headlines, it is the truth,". "Football on artificial turf is the future."
has received criticism.
The installation of the surface at Qwest Field
in Seattle was approved only after the operator of the then new stadium agreed to install a natural grass field when needed. Their concern derived from the surface potentially hindering the city's ability to attract an MLS franchise and international soccer events.
In September 2006, several top Canadian soccer players appealed to the Canadian Soccer Association
to install a natural grass surface at BMO Field
in Toronto. Darren Huckerby
stated that was one reason he chose not to sign with Toronto FC
.
The club removed the FieldTurf playing surface and switched to a traditional grass surface starting in 2010 in a change that was welcomed by many players and fans.
Following David Beckham
's move to Major League Soccer
in 2007, he voiced his opinion that the league should convert to grass for all pitches. In an apology, he stated that the surface is fine at lower levels but that his feelings hadn't changed about the MLS use because of the toll the harder surface takes on the body. He also stated: "It's difficult but it's something we have to deal with. It's part of the MLS and we have to come to terms with it and I'm sure it will be fine."
Beckham later went on to partner with Zinedine Zidane
for the launch of the Footprint Fields program. This program is headed by adidas
, the MLS, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and FieldTurf, and its goal is to donate sums of money to local communities in need of new soccer installations. The selected grantees will have new installations of FieldTurf-branded fields.
The major competitor to Air FieldTurf is AvTurf
.
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett
Tarkett
The Tarkett Group is a privately owned, multinational French company specializing in sustainable flooring and sports surfaces. In 2010 the company had revenues of €1.9 billion, 30 production sites and employed around 8,800 people in over 100 markets across the world. 2010 world wide sales were...
Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA
Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass. The new system quickly began taking market share
Market share
Market share is the percentage of a market accounted for by a specific entity. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 67 percent responded that they found the "dollar market share" metric very useful, while 61% found "unit market share" very useful.Marketers need to be able to...
from AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, and is now the leader in the industry.
The surface is composed of monofilament
Monofilament
A monofilament may be:* Monofilament fishing line, a type of thread* A monofilament as used in a monofilament test in a neurological examination* Monomolecular wire, a fictional type of wire consisting of a single strand of molecules...
polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
blend fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
s tufted into a polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
backing. The infill is composed of a bottom layer of silica sand, a middle layer which is a mixture of sand and cryogenic rubber and a top layer of only rubber. The fibers are meant to replicate blades of grass, while the infill
Infill
Infill in its broadest meaning is material that fills in an otherwise unoccupied space. The term is commonly used in association with construction techniques such as wattle and daub, and civil engineering activities such as land reclamation.-Construction:...
acts as a cushion. This cushion improves safety when compared to earlier artificial surfaces and allows players to plant and pivot as if they were playing on a grass field. Proponents of the surface also cite its low-cost maintenance and durability.
Company history
Jean Prévost bought the patent of the FieldTurf product in 1988 and originally named his company SynTenni Co., a name which would eventually be dropped in favor of FieldTurf Inc. In 1995, John Gilman, former Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
player and coach, joined FieldTurf as CEO. The first professional team to install FieldTurf at its training facility was the English Premiership's Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 1997.
The merger allowed FieldTurf to expand their range of products in other types of sports surfacing and add Tarkett's turf options to their range of products. FieldTurf Tarkett is currently run by a head corporate office in Calhoun along with other offices in Canada and in France. FieldTurf is now a part of the Tarkett Sports division and has installed over 7000 athletic fields.
Product
FieldTurf is made from washed silica sand and rounded cryogenic rubber. Each square foot of turf contains approximately seven pounds of sand and three pounds of cryogenic rubber. FieldTurf does not use shock absorbency pads below its multi-layered infill. FieldTurf offers a number of different polyethylene fibers. The backing of the turf is a combination of woven and non-woven polypropylene. These materials are permeable and allow water to drain through the backing itself.A FieldTurf installation sized for American football cost about $900,000(US) in 2008. However, this cost is at least somewhat offset by lower maintenance costs and longer periods between replacement. The field is warrantied for eight years and should last for ten, according to FieldTurf.
Safety
With regard to injuries sustained, a five-year study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that injury rates were similar on natural grass and synthetic turf. There were, however, notable differences in the types of injuries. Athletes playing on synthetic turf sustained more skin injuries and muscle strains while those who played on natural grass were more susceptible to concussions and ligament tears.In 2010, another peer-reviewed study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, this time on NCAA Division 1-A football, concluding that in many cases games played FieldTurf-branded products led to fewer injuries than those played on natural grass.
Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
said FIFA officials should "have their heads examined" for allowing FieldTurf after Tomas Sorenson suffered a non-contact hamstring injury during a game in Toronto. According to FIFA at the time, 14% of injuries on grass were non-contact related while the figure rose to 22% on the turf.
American football
The first major installation of FieldTurf for footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in the United States was at the University of Nebraska's
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln
Memorial Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. It is the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team....
in 1999
1999 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1999 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
. The following year, it was installed in Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
. The first installation in an NFL stadium was in 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
at the Seattle Seahawks' new stadium, now known as CenturyLink Field. Originally planned as a natural grass field, the Seahawks decided to install FieldTurf after they had played the two previous seasons in Husky Stadium on FieldTurf. Conventional artificial turfs, like AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
, had been disliked by players due to the injuries and soreness associated with playing on the previous generations' harder surfaces. Seattle's coach, Mike Holmgren, said of the FieldTurf surface "it's about as much like grass as you can have a synthetic surface be" and that the "players love it". As the trend continued in the league, FieldTurf received reviews from players who cited that the field provided cushioning for falls, eased pressure on the knees, and did not cause turf burns. Stadium operators also noted the benefits of the improved durability and easier maintenance over natural grass fields. Eleven NFL teams currently play their home games on FieldTurf while 15 teams have FieldTurf in their practice facilities. In 2006, Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, played at Detroit's Ford Field was the first Super Bowl to be played on FieldTurf. FieldTurf has also been endorsed by several NCAA Division I football coaches, including Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
, Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
, and Bobby Petrino
Bobby Petrino
Bobby Petrino is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, a position he has held since the 2008 season...
.
Association football
FieldTurf's first high profile installation came in January 1997 as English club MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
chose FieldTurf for its new training field. Only artificial fields with FIFA Recommended 2-star status can be used in FIFA and UEFA Finals competitions. Other FIFA and UEFA competitions require at least 1-star status. No World Cup Finals match has ever been played on an artificial surface.
In 2001, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
's FieldTurf soccer field became FieldTurf's first to obtain FIFA 1-star status. In 2005, Saprissa Stadium
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá is one of the main sports stadiums in Costa Rica. It is located in San Juan de Tibás, San José. With a capacity of 24,000, it has one of the highest capacity stadiums in the country. The stadium is the home of Deportivo Saprissa, and was named in honour of the team's...
in San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
became the first stadium to host a FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifying match on FieldTurf. The Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
Stadium, Oriel Park
Oriel Park
Oriel Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Dundalk F.C. Its current capacity is about 4,500 with 3,000 seats. The ground was opened in 1919.-History:...
received FieldTurf's first FIFA 2-star rating. FieldTurf currently has 29 FIFA Recommended 1-Star installations and 31 FIFA Recommended 2-Star installations. In 2007, the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada had almost 50% of its games played on FieldTurf.
The emergence of the surface in association football stadiums has been controversial. Players and coaches have been critical of the toll it takes on a player's body, and have expressed concerns that it does not play enough like actual grass. The surface has also been criticized for the infill not staying in place. In 2007, Garry O'Connor
Garry O'Connor
Garry Lawrence John O'Connor is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Hibernian. He has also played for the Scotland international team....
spoke out against the FieldTurf surface he played on during a cup final with Lokomotiv Moscow. He called it a "nightmare" and said that he did not believe FIFA should allow qualifying matches to be played on the surface.
Although there are players who dislike playing on artificial turf, FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
said that artificial turf will eventually become a big part of the game. "This is not only a point to make headlines, it is the truth,". "Football on artificial turf is the future."
Major League Soccer
The use of FieldTurf in Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
has received criticism.
The installation of the surface at Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
in Seattle was approved only after the operator of the then new stadium agreed to install a natural grass field when needed. Their concern derived from the surface potentially hindering the city's ability to attract an MLS franchise and international soccer events.
In September 2006, several top Canadian soccer players appealed to the Canadian Soccer Association
Canadian Soccer Association
The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides...
to install a natural grass surface at BMO Field
BMO Field
BMO Field is a Canadian soccer stadium located in Exhibition Place in the city of Toronto. The open-air structure can seat up to 21,800 spectators, depending on seating configurations. It is owned by the City of Toronto, and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd...
in Toronto. Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...
stated that was one reason he chose not to sign with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
The club removed the FieldTurf playing surface and switched to a traditional grass surface starting in 2010 in a change that was welcomed by many players and fans.
Following David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
's move to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 2007, he voiced his opinion that the league should convert to grass for all pitches. In an apology, he stated that the surface is fine at lower levels but that his feelings hadn't changed about the MLS use because of the toll the harder surface takes on the body. He also stated: "It's difficult but it's something we have to deal with. It's part of the MLS and we have to come to terms with it and I'm sure it will be fine."
Beckham later went on to partner with Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
for the launch of the Footprint Fields program. This program is headed by adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
, the MLS, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and FieldTurf, and its goal is to donate sums of money to local communities in need of new soccer installations. The selected grantees will have new installations of FieldTurf-branded fields.
Public works
A specialized version of FieldTurf called Air FieldTurf has been installed to cover the edges of runways at several airports. Artificial turf has several advantages over natural grass for this application:- Rescue and firefighting vehicles can reliably drive on the artificial surface, as can planes that veer off the runway.
- Foreign object damageForeign object damageForeign Object Debris is a substance, debris or article alien to a vehicle or system which would potentially cause damage.Foreign Object Damage is any damage attributed to a foreign object that can be expressed in physical or economic terms that may or may not degrade the product's required...
(FOD) can be reduced. - Artificial turf provides no food, shelter, or water for wildlife, reducing the risk of wildlife colliding with planes.
- Artificial turf is always bright green, even in winter, and provides good visual contrast with runways and taxiways.
- Artificial turf will not wash away or become muddy, and helps to stabilize runway and taxiway shoulders.
- Less maintenance means fewer workers need security clearances, there is less chance of runway incursions by maintenance machines, and may reduce costs.
- Erosion from aircraft maneuvering is much reduced.
The major competitor to Air FieldTurf is AvTurf
AvTurf
AvTurf is a company specializing in the installation of artificial turf for airport applications. Artificial turf has several advantages over natural grass for this application:...
.