SYNTHETIC TURF OR

NATURAL GRASS Which is best for your program?

Anton King

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Contents

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 4

History of Synthetic Turf .............................................................................................................................. 5

The Astrodome (AstroTurf) ...................................................................................................................... 5

Synthetic Turf: First Generation ............................................................................................................... 6

Synthetic Turf: Second Generation ........................................................................................................... 7

Synthetic Turf: Third Generation .............................................................................................................. 7

The History of Natural Grass ........................................................................................................................ 8

Trends in Field Surfacing .............................................................................................................................. 8

Synthetic Turf: Injury Risks ........................................................................................................................ 11

Dangerous Temperatures ........................................................................................................................ 11

Natural Grass Temperatures ................................................................................................................... 12

Installation of Synthetic Turf ...................................................................................................................... 13

Synthetic Turf Time Table ...................................................................................................................... 15

Natural Grass Time Table ....................................................................................................................... 16

Head to Head Costs ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Maintenance Costs .................................................................................................................................. 18

Considerations with Cost of Synthetic Turf ............................................................................................ 19

Current Professional Stadium Surfaces ....................................................................................................... 19

National Football League ........................................................................................................................ 19

Major League Baseball ........................................................................................................................... 19

Interviews .................................................................................................................................................... 20

Brad Morrison – Maumee Bay Turf Company ....................................................................................... 20

Dr. Jan Ekstrand – UEFA Medical Committee ....................................................................................... 21

Lenny Yoder – Head Groundskeeper, Lansing Lugnuts ......................................................................... 23

Quinton Holloway – Pitcher, Trine University ....................................................................................... 24

Ryan Bethel – Pitcher, Huntington University ....................................................................................... 25

Kory Shackle – Outfielder, Trine University .......................................................................................... 25

Alvaro Castelan – Soccer, Football; Trine University ............................................................................ 26

Rogers Centre – Home of the Toronto Blue Jays ....................................................................................... 26

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 28

References ................................................................................................................................................... 29

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Executive Summary

Sports today are an ever changing industry. New rules and regulations are introduced

every single season as a way to improve the game. As an athletic administrator begins to make

decisions, they must make sure they make the right choices. One of the biggest decisions to make

is deciding on what surface should be put on the fields that star athletes play on at any level. One

must consider cost, maintenance, ascetics, injury risk, installation time, and overall player

satisfaction. Weighing these options is no easy task of any athletic administrator but it is a

decision that must be made.

Upon reading this document, there should be a good understanding of what each surface

has to provide and what surface is best for each program. With a focus on baseball, football, and

soccer; this report digs into the good, the bad, and the ugly of synthetic turf and natural grass.

While the focus is mainly on baseball and football fields, the assumption can be made that the

surfaces used for lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, and softball are similar to dimension and cost of

the focus sports. This information is import as the data is applicable for the majority of major

outdoor athletic programs.

Synthetic turf has evolved since it first started in the 1960s. While AstroTurf played as

indoor carpet, it was hard and unforgiving. The second generation of synthetic turf came around

the late 1970s. This surface began to look like the surface we have today. With short fibers and

minimal infill, the progress of synthetic turf was on the rise. The third generation of synthetic

turf is what is found on fields today. Long fibers and hefty amounts of rubber infill provide a

more natural feel to the field. Until synthetic turf was invented in the 1960s, natural grass was

the only outdoor grass-type surface available. Advancements in chemicals and pesticides

throughout the years has provided the fuel for success in natural grass surfaces.

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Injury risks are an important factor to consider when deciding the surface for an athletic

field. Synthetic turf has high risk for heat exhaustion and concussions because of its hard,

concrete base and plastic fibers radiating in the heat. Natural grass can play uneven and could

provide potential injury possibilities. Not only does synthetic turf provide significant injury risks,

it also takes about five times longer to install than natural grass.

Natural grass has a much lower initial cost to install at a base price of $500,000 compared

to installing synthetic turf at $750,000. However, at an average of $50,000 a year, the cost to

maintain natural grass is much more costly than synthetic turf ($5,000.) At the end of each

surfaces lifespan, the cost analysis meet each other around the same ballpark with synthetic turf

actually being cheaper in the long run. In major league baseball, all but two stadiums have

natural grass as the surface. In professional football, the number are split about even. In both

sports, it is determined on whether the facility is domed or not.

After conducting several interviews with professionals and athletes with experience using

each surface the conclusion of the report comes to a final recommendation. If a program is

located in a warmer climate, can afford to maintain the surface, wants to prevent injury, and

wants a cheaper initial cost, the recommendation is natural grass. If a program is located in the

Midwest Region, a domed facility, values aesthetics over injury risk, can afford a high initial

cost, wants to limit maintenance costs and time, and is located in a water restricted area, the

recommendation is synthetic turf. In the end, they cost about the same price after a 10 year span,

so it comes down to what values are most important in each situation for the program.

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Introduction

The purpose of this capstone project is to compare and contrast the differences and

similarities of synthetic turf and natural grass on an athletic field in all aspects. The view point of

this project is presenting a client with all of the possible information available for them to choose

which playing surface to use in a variety of sports for their program.

The thought process of this paper is to provide as much information possible on the area

of synthetic turf and natural grass in an athletic field setting based on which program the surface

would be used for. The research on this topic includes the history of each surface, pricing of each

surface, the price and steps needed to install either surface, the maintenance costs and

procedures, and the current trends of each surface. Other factors discussed are current

professional surfaces by the numbers, time tables to install each surface, and interviews with

Lenny Yoder, Lansing Lugnuts Head Groundskeeper and Brad Morrison, CEO of the Maumee

Bay Turf Center.

One of the main factors in deciding a surface for an athletic program is the risk of injury.

Included in the paper is a number of injury risks for each surface and what effects those injuries

can result in. Upon reading of this report, the client should have a good understanding on which

surface is best for their program by using the information provided and considering the impact of

the specific details provided through in-depth research.

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History of Synthetic Turf

The Astrodome (AstroTurf)

The Astrodome is the first known use of artificial turf in the 1960s. The first generation

of artificial turf was known as AstroTurf because the company Monsanto first developed the

product. Monsanto no longer owns the rights to the registered trademark to AstroTurf. The term

AstroTurf has widely been used as describing all artificial turf even to this day. AstroTurf, which

is the first generation of artificial turf, contained short-pile fibers that lack infill between the

spaces. It was simply just open fibers with nothing in between.

When the Astrodome was built in 1965, it was the first ever domed stadium/athletic

venue. The original playing surface was natural grass. In order for natural grass to grow, be

green, and stay healthy, sunshine and irrigation is a must. Making sure the grass was well

watered was no problem with having a sprinkler system underneath the playing surface. The

problem that was apparent was getting the grass sunshine and light while being in a dome. The

roof of the Astrodome at the time of erection had a greenhouse-type roof on it. This allowed for

sunlight to reach the natural grass and help it stay green and continue to grow. In theory, the

problem had been resolved, however, once players took the field and experienced playing in the

Astrodome the real problem became clear. Players were having trouble seeing the ball off of the

clear glass roofing because of glare from the sun and lighting inside the stadium. Outfielders and

infielders alike were dropping popups and fly outs like never before. Not only that but players

were colliding and even becoming blinded because of the greenhouse-type roofing of the

Astrodome. The problem was resolved by painting over the roof to prevent sunlight coming into

the dome. Once the roof was completely sunlight free the natural grass died creating the need for

new playing surface. A company called Monsanto developed the product known as Astroturf.

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This Astroturf was installed in the Astrodome before the 1966 season so no sunlight was needed

to make it green or lifelike. During the inaugural 1965 season, the grass of the Astrodome was

nonexistent once they painted over the glass in the roof. By the end of the season, the grounds

crew of the Astrodome painted dirt green to give the field a real grass look. A move to Astroturf

was needed and a step in the right direction.

At the start of the 1966 season, AstroTurf, formally known as ChemGrass, was not

readily available. To be exact, there was only enough artificial turf to cover the infield portion of

the field. Due to the lack of supply, AstroTurf was available for the rest of the field until after the

all-star break that season. Up until the all-star break, the Astros continued to paint the dirt in the

outfield green to give the appearance of grass. After the all-star break, while the team was on an

extended road trip, the rest of the field was installed with AstroTurf.

Synthetic Turf: First Generation

The first generation of synthetic turf was established in Europe in 1970. It was known as

synthetic turf carpet originally made of nylon. However, the new kind that was designed wasn’t

made of nylon, it was made of polypropylene. The polypropylene had more upside than the

original nylon turf. These upsides are the fact that it was

cheaper than nylon, it was more comfortable, and it was softer.

Being that the polypropylene was more comfortable and softer,

there were less risk of injury and discomfort for athletes playing

on the surface. This first generation is now known today as

carpet turf, with tightly pack tufts acting as the soft, comfy surface.

Figure 1 - AstroTurf

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Synthetic Turf: Second Generation

The second generation of synthetic turf came around in the late 1970’s. This new

generation of playing surface contained longer strands of fiber with more space in between each

strand. The space was filled with sand that would be thrown on top of the turf as it settles into the

empty gaps. This generation was more like natural grass than

the generation before but it was still some ways off. This

synthetic turf plays flatter than natural grass which results in a

better ball control and limits the amount of bad hops. With this

synthetic turf, a more natural bounce is inevitable. This type of

turf was an improvement over the first generation but it still was not very popular in the sporting

world as a choice for athletic fields. For instance, in soccer, the synthetic turf still didn’t play

exactly like natural grass which resulted in unhappy players and poor play. Also, when

attempting to slide on the synthetic turf, abrasions of the skin were far too common due to the

sand filler in the turf. This also added to the risk of injury for the second generation of turf.

Synthetic Turf: Third Generation

This third generation of synthetic turf is the current type of turf used today on all shapes

and sizes of athletic fields. This new turf is longer, more grass like, and is spread farther apart.

This allows for a more natural feel and look. In reality, this

third generation turf cannot be compared to the previous two

generations because it is so night and day different. The third

generation of synthetic turf is not usually made of

polypropylene but with polyethylene, which is even softer and

kinder to the skin resulting in a comfortable playing surface that yields less injures and problems

Figure 2 - Second Generation Turf

Figure 3 - Third Generation, Current

Turf

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for athletes. The turf fields today are top dressed with rubber granulates and sand. That mixture

settles at the bottom of the turf to fill in the gaps between the polyethylene fibers. The rubber

granulates offer a more comfortable playing surface and much more friendly to people who dive

and slide on the field. The current turf allows for cleats to sink in deeper than generations before.

This helps players’ joints by relieving the stress of running around and fast movement. With the

ability of having your cleats sink in more, the athlete is able to reach under the ball with their

foot to gain more power with a kick. This is a good thing, especially in soccer. On the plus side,

today’s current turf looks and feels like natural grass leaving many to wonder what exactly the

playing surface really is.

The History of Natural Grass

The history of natural grass in sport is an easy one. Until the 1960s, when AstroTurf was

introduced, natural grass was the only option for a playing surface in outside stadiums and

athletic fields of all kinds. Once artificial turf was established as a legitimate playing surface,

some soccer clubs switched to artificial turf only to switch back a few years later in the 1980s.

There were many complaints of an unnatural feel and overall discomfort for players who play on

artificial turf. This caused many clubs to switch back to natural grass like they had had before the

idea of an artificial playing surface. Before synthetic turf, there was only grass.

Trends in Field Surfacing

Colleges and high schools around the country continue to shift to installing artificial turf

fields for baseball and softball. While turf baseball fields at the high school level are not near as

popular as football, there is still a trend of that being on the rise. One of the reasons for this

upward trend is weather. In the Midwest region, college baseball seasons start in February.

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While teams in this region will normally go down to Florida to open the season, they still have to

come back home to play games. In this Midwest region, it can snow into April. This leaves

almost 60 – 70% of the season in likely snow and cold rain possibilities. Synthetic turf has the

ability to have snow be removed within an hour plus with no work needed to be done to revive

the surface. When attempting snow off a natural grass surface for baseball, the surface becomes

mushy and overall unsafe for play. For example, in the MIAA conference, Adrian College has a

synthetic turf field. When they are out of town on the road, they will rent their facility out to

other colleges and high schools to play their rained/snowed out games on their surface. This

serves as a source of income for the college and all they provide is the field.

According to Kromer Co., there is a trend towards synthetic turf in athletic fields. They

say this because there is rapid and evolving development of the technology in the system for

producing synthetic turf. There is a great adoption of the technology by the influential

stakeholders at the highest levels of competition. Key players such as FIFA and UEFA

Champions League have installed synthetic turf into their stadium. Another reason for a growing

market is the development of the fourth generation of synthetic turf in the works. The fourth

generation will provide more durable fibers, a softer feel, and next generational infill and non-

infill systems. There is an increased market awareness of recycling and push for using recyclable

goods. By using synthetic turf, the fibers are recycled plastic that can be torn apart and then

reused in another field. The artificial turf is good for the environment and it will last a long time

since it is maintainable. Some of the big names in artificial turf are joining forces. Ten Cate

acquired Mattex and FieldTurf and Tarkett have just merged. These big names in the turf

industry are looking to have a presence locally as well as globally. Artificial turf is becoming

more popular in the landscaping industry for many reasons. These reasons are the lack of water

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in some areas, the limitations put in place using irrigation, and extreme weather. The needs and

wants of artificial turf within the landscaping industry are a bit different. The turf needs to feel

nice, look nice, and maintenance whereas the body-to-surface criteria is not necessarily

important. The artificial turf industry is quickly moving.

Artificial turf is no longer just a part of the sports industry. Now it is becoming a huge

element in landscaping for commercial and residential lawns and has been since the late 1990s.

It’s cheaper to maintain, the quality of the turf has gone up, it looks natural, and water is not

being wasted when artificial turf is used. Homes are putting the artificial turf inside and outside,

public gardens are using it and so are airports and play areas.

Artificial turf is also increasing as its being used in multi-purpose pitches. High schools,

colleges, sports teams, and communities are using the artificial turf when multiple sports are

playing on one area and when there is a space limit. Multi-purpose pitches are more financially

sound in the long run and optimize space. However, in a perfect world each sport would play on

its own pitch. If choosing a multi-purpose pitch, a certain criteria should be used. This criteria is

thinking about what sports will be played on it, how frequent it will be used for each sport and in

total, and the level of the competition being played on the pitch. When all is said and done, the

surface will have the features of the sport that will be primarily played on the pitch.

The artificial turf industry had a market of 71 million square meters globally in 2006 and

Europe having close to 50% of that market with 33 million square meters. Sixteen million square

meters of the industry was in the North American market. The anticipated global market in

artificial turf was expected to surpass 100 million square meters.

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Synthetic Turf: Injury Risks

Dangerous Temperatures

According to a study by the Journal of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation,

synthetic turf has shown temperatures as high as 95 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit higher than

natural grass when exposed to sunlight. Not only does a sunshiny day make synthetic turf

extremely warm, but if there is any humidity in the air the temperature becomes even worse. The

natural heat from the sun, the reflection off of the turf, and the humidity all add up to make

athletes who are exposed to this extreme heat very likely to heat exhaustion, muscle cramps, and

overall poor health. One way to help limit the heat of synthetic turf is to water down the surface

before competition. However, this is a short term solution and could possibly make the area more

humid than before. On top of that, watering down the surface could potentially make the field

slippery this further putting athletes at risk of injury and poor performance. It is important to

have an inferred thermometer on hand to make sure the temperature of the synthetic turf is not

too extreme. This is backed up by the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA.)

Table 1- Temperature ratings for turf and grass

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In 2011, the Australian Government launched a study into the safety of synthetic turf and

the temperature results they got were very startling. As Table 1 shows, the difference between

synthetic and grass surfaces near 10 degrees Celsius when it’s just sunny with no wind. Notice,

at 3 p.m. on a sunny afternoon (primetime for practice of college and high school sports,) the

temperature of a synthetic playing surface is 72.7 degrees Celsius. To translate that into an

American standard, the temperature of the synthetic surface in the middle of the day is 162.9

degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are very alarming when considering the safety of the

athletes on the playing surface. If you take into account the added weight and heat of gear that

some sports require like football and lacrosse, it just makes that temperature get warmer and

warmer.

According to Terry Pendleton, current Atlanta Braves coach and former St. Louis

Cardinals Third Baseman, he blames playing the majority of his seven year career on artificial

turf for his back and knee injuries. Those injuries required Pendleton to have three operations on

his knees and back in order to keep in playing condition. Pendleton is quoted in saying, “I woke

up one morning after two and a half years playing on that and said, what the hell is going on with

my back and knees?” Pendleton’s fellow Braves coach Kevin Seitzer played on turf in Kansas

City for five years and he hopes that all stadiums would go back to grass. “I’d like to see all

stadiums have grass. I’d like them to all have the same surfaces and same dimensions to make it

all uniform and equalize the game. I know that will never happen,” Seitzer stated.

Natural Grass Temperatures

According the STMA’s expertise, natural grass has been proven to be a temperature

reducer. This means that even if the temperature gets ridiculously warm, the grass will normally

not get any warmer than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This information is based on a study performed

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by the United States Golf Association. In Table 1, the difference in the natural grass temperature

only increases a minimal amount as the day got warmer. This cannot be said for synthetic turf.

One could draw up the conclusion that when it comes to playing surface temperatures, natural

grass is safer than synthetic turf.

Installation of Synthetic Turf

Installation of synthetic turf as far as a time table is concerned is very weather dependent.

Upon research conducted, an estimated 60 days or more is an accurate expectation of what to

expend for the installation of synthetic turf. A quote from Maumee Bay Turf Center states as

follows:

“COMPLETION DATE: TBA – Subject always to delays caused by weather that are

above and beyond normal weather conditions for the city that the facility is located in. For

each day we lose due to inclement weather, we may need to add a day to proposed

completion date.”

Included in a scope of work for installing a synthetic turf system is site preparation and ongoing

services. This would include all certified labor, sub contracted labor, pre-

construction/construction meetings, weekly safety meetings with the staff, corrosion prevention

installation, surveying of field, any drawings, and removal and re-installation of any fences

removed for construction.

The next step included in the scope of work is excavation and base construction. This

includes excavated soil from the game field, removal of sprinkler system on field, capping of

existing catch basins, cutting edge of athletic track to have smooth transition from track to turf,

installing conduits and quazite boxes for electrical, removal of current sideline electrical, capping

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of waterline leading into the field, installation of all drainage systems, installation of 6” concrete

base including 15 year warranty on base and drainage that includes liability.

The next step and main section of the scope of work is the synthetic turf system. The turf

system includes 97,354 square feet of UBU speed turf with already predetermined colorization.

The colorization of the turf is decided by athletic program with pre-approved drawings. Once the

turf is installed, the seams are sewn together and a supply of down markers, set of chains, end

zone pylons, and sideline markers are provided. The turf systems comes with a 10 year warranty

backed by the UBU to fix or repair any issues with the turf.

Once the synthetic turf is installed, maintenance training is provided by the turf center

including owners manuals to all equipment needed to maintain the field. The last thing provided

in the scope of work is the completion items, cleanup, demobilization, and post-completion.

These items include: inspection with owner and installer, site clean-up, removal of all waste

product, demobilization on equipment and labor, periodic testing of pH levels of local soil, and

leaving behind one bag of rubber infill. That infill must be stored in a safe location and also must

be installed by a turf company employee if any filling is needed for the life of the field. At that

time, no charges will be processed because it’s included in the initial install cost.

Included in the initial fee of installation of the synthetic turf system is the maintenance

equipment that is needed. The first item included is the LitterKat sweeper and magnet. This pull-

behind machine pulls up debris from the turf without picking up the in-fill. This item is needed to

keep the surface clean from any metals and trash that is left on the field. The field should be

swept and demagnetized on an as needed basis. The next item provided is the Greensgroomer

brush. This equipment is needed to revive the turf and get it standing right side up and bring up

any low laying areas of the turf. This brush is also a pull behind unit and should be used on the

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field every 80 to 100 hours of use. The next item of equipment included is a spring tine

decompaction rake. The rake attaches directly behind the brush that was previously mentioned.

The purpose of the rake is to comb through the turf and infill, relieving compaction and releasing

the trapped fibers. The final thing offered in the total cost is the goal posts. In some instances

soccer goals are also provided depending in what provider installs the turf. The information for

the scope of work and items included was all provided by Brad Morrison of the Maumee Bay

Turf Center.

Synthetic Turf Time Table

Installing artificial turf is a longer process than installing natural grass. Building the base of

the artificial turf takes about 26 days. The first step is the field excavation to subgrade and that

takes six days. The next step is to install the outer concrete curb which takes another six days.

After this step, there is an installation of the geotextile fabric and field underdrain system, again

taking another six days (FieldTurf). The final step of building the base takes eight days and that

is installing free draining base stone and finish stone. Installing the actual turf takes roughly 27

days. There is three days of off-load turf rolls and place turf. Then sewing the turf panels takes

eight days and installing field markings and the decorative markings takes eight days. The

installation of the infill takes five days. The last step is removing the construction entrance and

cleaning up the work area and that takes three days.

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Some things to consider when installing a synthetic turf field: (These items affect the overall

cost.)

Accessibility for heavy equipment

Type of underground drainage

system

Drainage profile

Cost of freight

Design and engineering

Edge material

Type of attachment along edges

Turf density or denier as they vary

from product to product

Type of backing

Sewed or glued lines and seams

Type of pad and its thickness

Type and quantity of infill

Intricacy of logos and end-zone

lettering, border and other inlaid

marking

Natural Grass Time Table

One person can usually install one pallet, 500 square feet, of natural grass in one and a

half hours. However, if there are areas where there is a lot of cutting and could be difficult to

reach, it could take longer. Using an example that a group of five men were to install natural

grass onto a football field, it would take about 115 pallets of natural grass to cover the field. Each

crew member would have to install 23 pallets. Therefore, each crew member would need 34 and

a half hours to install their portion of the pallets, taking possibly three work days to complete the

installation.

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Head to Head Costs

Table 2 - Based on 80,000 sq. ft. and on U.S. Averages. According to FieldTurf.com

The chart above gives a good breakdown on the basis of this capstone study. As you can

see, natural grass is more than half the cost of synthetic turf with a difference of $170,000 for

initial base preparation. When comparing actual material cost for natural grass and synthetic turf,

natural grass is again the cheaper option by costing $160,000 less than synthetic turf. When

broken down by square feet, synthetic turf costs almost double as grass for pure material cost

alone. Together a total initial install cost for natural grass is $570,000 while the total install cost

for synthetic turf is $750,000. At this point, natural grass is the cheaper option of the two.

However, when factoring the scheduling possibilities for each surface in the equation, synthetic

turf is the more cost effective option if there is heavy use on the field. Over a span of ten years,

there are three times more hours available for use on a synthetic field than natural grass. This is

because natural grass needs time to rest, heal, grow, and be taken care of. Synthetic turf needs

drug, swept, and occasionally watered to keep. The maintenance costs for synthetic turf is night

and day cheaper than natural grass and with less work needed to maintain the surface, the more

time it has to be used. Once all these factors are put together, synthetic turf cost $25.07 per hour

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to use compared to natural grass $91.20. The conclusion of the chart simply means that if you

can fill up your field with use then synthetic turf is more cost effective.

Maintenance Costs

Annual Maintenance Costs

Natural Grass Field Turf

Mowing Equipment $ 7,068.00 $ -

Labor Cost ($20/hour) $ 6,000.00 $ 1,000.00

Clipping Removal $ 2,861.00 $ -

Fertilization $ 4,856.00 $ -

Overseeding $ 466.00 $ -

Coring $ 2,848.00 $ -

Topdressing $ 9,565.00 $ -

Thatch Removal $ 185.00 $ -

Monitor Irrigation $ 846.00 $ -

Equipment Depreciation and Fuel $ 3,500.00 $ 1,500.00

Water Cost $ 5,400.00 $ -

Subtotal $ 43,595.00 $ 2,500.00

Re-Stripping Field Lines

Labor $ 5,800.00 $ 1,000.00

Material $ 3,105.00 $ 1,500.00

$ 52,500.00 $ 5,000.00

Looking at the annual maintenance costs of both natural grass and field turf, it is more

costly to maintain a natural grass surface compared to an artificial turf surface. Many different

costs go into maintaining the natural grass surface whereas there are only a few that go into the

artificial turf maintenance. Labor costs, equipment depreciation and fuel, and the labor and

material that go into re-stripping field lines are the only costs that are needed to maintain an

artificial turf surface annually. Those costs plus mowing equipment, clipping removal,

fertilization, overseeding, coring, topdressing, thatch removal, monitor irrigation, and water cost

are all involved in the annual maintenance costs of a natural grass surface. The previous

information was provided from wellesleyma.gov.

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Considerations with Cost of Synthetic Turf

Synthetic infill can cost anywhere from $6.50 - $11.00 per square foot. This includes:

rough grades, curbing and tack strip, carpet and rubber fill, lines and logos, geo textile, labor,

base design and installation, stone and freight for base, drain collector, lateral drains, sod and

topsoil backfill of curb, laser grading and compaction, equipment and trenching, demolition and

excavation, quality control testing, adequate water source cleaning and field maintenance,

material distribution labor, and cleanup. A few other things to consider that add cost in the

forming stage of the field include: water meters, irrigation systems, maintenance equipment,

underlying shock absorbing pads, backflow prevention, and even goal posts.

Current Professional Stadium Surfaces

National Football League

Out of the current NFL stadiums, there are 17 that have natural grass, 12 that have

artificial turf, and 2 that are hybrids. The two hybrids are the new Miami Stadium where the

Miami Dolphins play and Lambeau Field where the Green Bay Packers play. Some of the

stadiums that have natural grass are Heinz Field where the Pittsburgh Steelers play, Soldier Field

where the Chicago Bears play, and FirstEnergy Stadium where the Cleveland Browns play.

Some of the stadiums that have artificial turf are Lucas Oil Stadium where the Indianapolis Colts

play, Ford Field where the Detroit Lions play, and AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys

play. The previous information was located on each individual team’s website.

Major League Baseball

Out of the current MLB stadiums, there are 28 that have a natural grass surface and only

2 that have an artificial turf surface. The two stadiums that have artificial turf are Rogers Centre

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where the Toronto Blue Jays play and Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play. Many

writers anticipate that all of the MLB stadiums will soon become grass and this will be the first

time since 1966. The previous information was located on each individual team’s website

Interviews

Brad Morrison – Maumee Bay Turf Company

An interview was conducted with Mr. Brad Morrison of the Maumee Bay Turf Company.

He provided access to a couple of documents provided by his company about “Why Synthetic

Turf Makes Sense” and a question and answer document on the injuries of synthetic turf and

natural grass.

In the first document; “Why Synthetic Turf Makes Sense,” the performance of synthetic

turf is one of consistence. It is engineered for the everyday use of athletes from a variety of uses.

Whether the field is used for soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, or just

sprinting practice, the synthetic turf is built to withstand the abuse and keep its fresh look while

providing comfort in every situation. The article addresses the issue of player safety by saying

that synthetic turf systems are proven to lower critical player injuries. Studies have been made

and proven that concussions, knee and ankle injuries, and lower body injuries are reduced when

using a synthetic turf system. The document did not list the sources of this statement and gave no

legitimate data to back it up.

The document goes on to talk about the limitations that natural grass has such as usage

time, rain troubles, spraying chemicals, and saving water. The unlimited use that synthetic turf

offers is night and day compared to real grass in the spectrum of care. While synthetic turf does

take some maintenance, it is not near as much as natural grass. While the needs for more usage

on athletic fields today grows, the amount of time to take care of a natural grass surface stays the

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same. This creates a negative correlation in the supply and demand of athletic fields. Synthetic

turf offers more functionality with less time and care needed. While upfront cost are more with

synthetic turf, the rationality is that over time the synthetic turf makes its money back by saving

you time, resources, and money. While bringing up the point of “home field advantage,” the

document makes the statement:

“Synthetic turf offers the consistency required to give your sports programs a reliable

“Home Field Advantage”. Consistency is a requirement for success, why shouldn’t it be

a requirement from your playing surface?”

This point is a good one. To offer a dominate sports program at the high school or college level,

a consistent product is a necessity. Synthetic turf gives the program that opportunity. With less

variables out there, the chance of a program bringing the same product time and time again is

greater than ever. Synthetic turf allows players to prevent running inside to chance shoes for the

elements. Rain, snow, or shine; synthetic turf will be the same no matter the elements. Again,

consistency is a theme with synthetic turf. In point, the need for chemicals to promote growth,

limit growth, and prevent weeds are not needed as they are with natural grass. Without these

chemicals, players are not exposed to them, nor is the ground. This prevents harmful substance

run off into streams and water supplies yielding a healthier area.

Dr. Jan Ekstrand – UEFA Medical Committee

In November of 2014, FIFA.com interviewed Jan Ekstrand. He is a professor of sports

medicine, team doctor of the Swedish national team in the 1980s and 1990s, and is currently the

vice-chairmen of the UEFA Medial Committee. Ekstrand serves as the director of the Football

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Research Group in Sweden which has resulted in carrying out multiple studies on the risk of

injury on artificial turf. That experience will serve as scientific data to prove the discussion he

had with FIFA.com.

Research was done by FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) and the

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) roughly ten years ago to explore the injuries

that are caused on artificial turf. Dr. Ekstrand was part of the UEFA research group and their

mission was to research the injuries within European elite football. To achieve this mission, Dr.

Ekstrand’s team studied teams that played their football games on artificial turf at home and that

played their football games on natural grass in visiting matches and the prevalence of injuries on

the artificial turf and the natural grass.

The conclusions were constant among looking at elite football in Europe to youth and

amateur football in the United States. These conclusions are that the chances of injuries

occurring while playing on artificial turf are the same as the chances of injuries occurring while

playing on natural grass. The recovery times after the injuries arising were the same as well.

Some research has presented a drop in muscle injuries but a rise in ankle ligament injuries while

playing on artificial turf. However, Dr. Ekstrand’s team fixated on injuries that would cause a

player to miss a match or training and only on injuries that were short-term that would affect

absence. Long-term injuries are challenging to study as appropriate follow-ups are hard to get

after twenty years.

The chances of getting a leg burn are the same when looking at playing on artificial turf

or natural grass and getting tackled. When artificial turf was first introduced, leg burns were a

common occurrence. This was because the artificial turf was essentially plastic carpet. However,

artificial turf has come a long way since it was introduced in the seventies. When asked if the

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quality of turf makes a difference, Dr. Ekstrand says that he really doesn’t know since there are

so many types of it. Questions that continue to be unanswered are if the type of construction of

the pitch or the maintenance of the turf has an effect on the artificial turf. When asked if the

quality of grass makes a difference, Dr. Ekstrand states that he and his group compare high-

quality grass and artificial turf. The grass typically has less quality than the artificial turf. He

mentioned that about half of the football matches in Scandinavia are played on turf. This is

because it can be played on longer, it’s easier to maintain, and the other alternative would be

low-quality grass.

Artificial turf is not well-liked by the coaches and players of European football. They feel

this way about artificial turf because of their previous experiences with it when artificial turf was

first introduced. Dr. Ekstrand mentioned that perception and reality are two different things. The

top European football teams have fields that are quality artificial turf. He feels the new

generation will have a better attitude toward artificial turf since they have been playing on it.

Dr. Ekstrand was asked to discuss if it was more challenging for older players to play on

artificial turf and he said there is no data to support this. He can add that increasing age also

increases injuries. However, muscle injuries decline on artificial turf so it could be beneficial for

players to play on turf instead of natural grass. In conclusion, Dr. Ekstrand firmly believes

artificial turf is a safe surface as long as it maintains a proper quality. The surface does not affect

male or female players differently.

Lenny Yoder – Head Groundskeeper, Lansing Lugnuts

An interview was conducted with Lenny Yoder, the head groundskeeper of the Lansing

Lugnuts. Mr. Yoder has been involved in sport turf the last 7 years of his life. He studied Turf

Management at Michigan State University and has previously worked at MSU, the Los Angeles

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Dodgers, and the Great Lakes Loons. Mr. Yoder serves on the Midwest Regional board of the

Sport Turf Managers Association (STMA.) Lenny has a strong opinion in the favor of natural

grass. He stated that research has shown that playing on synthetic turf increases your risk of

injury and concussion. This is partially because a person’s feet will not turn and slide like natural

grass, which in result will cause breaks and tares and when they fall, dive or even slip on

synthetic. If that happens, there is a high chance of skin burn and concussions. He says natural

grass will stain your clothes and lessen the chance for concussions. Either working or playing on

synthetic turf on hot days will take their toll on a person. There is a possible change of a 20 to 40

degree spikes by being on synthetic turf. When working on natural grass, the difference between

the air temperature can be 10 to 20 degrees and that is because the soil keeps the ground cooler.

The cost of synthetic turf is almost 3 times as much as natural grass and it will only last a few

years before it needs replaced. Mr. Yoder is currently managing an 11 year old natural grass

surface with the Lansing Lugnuts and states that if you take care of something you can make it

last no matter what the limit is on something. Mr. Yoder ends his talk by saying that he would

much rather work and play on natural grass because he would rather deal with having to maintain

the surface and not have players get injured. He says, “If I wanted to be a carpet guy I would go

work for a carpet laying business.” In short Mr. Yoder is 99% for natural grass.

Quinton Holloway – Pitcher, Trine University

An interview was conducted with Quinton Holloway, formerly a pitcher at Trine

University. He felt that artificial turf made it more dangerous for his position because one-hop

line drives would come faster. If the field was done wrong, it created an odd lip around the bases

and the mound. He played on a different surface growing up so he thinks turf takes away from

the game. The hops in the infield and outfield are different and harder for fielders and it’s

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difficult to deal with errors such as those in the game. He prefers the natural grass over artificial

turf.

Ryan Bethel – Pitcher, Huntington University

An interview was conducted with Ryan Bethel, a junior currently pitching at Huntington

University. He says that nothing is better than playing on field with natural grass. He feels it is

more authentic, looks better, and brings a greater atmosphere. He does see the positive effects of

artificial turf as it is easier to maintain than grass and it drains better. Another positive note about

artificial turf is the lines do not have to be set before every game. The first game he had last year

involved a snowfall right before he played on a turf field. The snow had to be plowed to the side

and that could not have happened on a grass field. He mentioned that with turf, bad hops are not

a worry like they are on a grass or dirt field, however he thinks games are more interesting with

hops. Ryan does not like playing on turn infields and grass outfields. He thinks the fields look

sloppy. When he gets stains all over his pants from either sliding or diving, he feels a sense of

accomplishment after the game. Ryan has always played on natural grass and dirt and think it’s

beautiful and therefore he will always be bias toward it.

Kory Shackle – Outfielder, Trine University

An interview was conducted with Kory Shackle, currently an outfielder at Trine

University. Kory prefers grass when it comes to playing baseball. He has a firm belief that

baseball should be played on a nice grass field. He says the game is more realistic because of the

natural hops and speed of the game. He does not believe it is the same to be playing on a turf

field as he has played on numerous turf fields. He does see the benefits of turf, such as field

maintenance and it’s great for bad weather areas, but he definitely thinks baseball should be

played on natural grass.

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Alvaro Castelan – Soccer, Football; Trine University

An interview was conducted with Alvaro Castelan, a former football kicker and soccer

player at Trine University. He personally thinks that football is better to play on turf since it is

more consistent. Natural imperfections can occur on grass and especially at youth levels of

competition. When it comes to soccer, he prefers playing on natural grass so the game can be

played slowly and more manageable. If the team is fast playing, then turf would be favorable.

However, there could be a fear of ripping skin with dives that cause turf rash. Alvaro mentions

that in the summer, turf can get up to 10 degrees warmer than a natural surface. Players have a

greater chance of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and risking further injury. Issues could be caused

with player performance and the overall health of an athlete. This then raises the question if a

turf field is worth the hype.

Rogers Centre – Home of the Toronto Blue Jays

Former a completely synthetic turf surface, the Rogers Centre has upgraded itself to dirt

base paths for the 2016 season. If the current study by the Universiy of Guelph shows that a full

transition to natural grass is feasible, it will only be a matter of time before it happens.

Throughout the years, players have complained and dreaded going to Toronto to play baseball.

The synthetic surface that covers Rogers Centre is AstroTurf 3D Xtreme which was installed in

2015. As soon as that turf was installed, the problem started to roll in. Reports of poor surface

conditions, players slipping, and even having troubles with players getting hurt with turf burn

and tripping on lips of the infield. Underneath the turf, there is a layer of concrete. This concrete

serves as the base and foundation for the entire field.

Before the 2016 baseball season began, the cement and turf that was located in the base

paths was removed and replaced a 12 inch layer of gravel, sand and clay. This is installed to

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maintain a proper moisture content in the infield and base path area. The total area removed and

replaced with dirt is approximately 12,000 square feet.

In an article written by Kevin Reichard of Ballpark Digest, he sees the evidence of the

Toronto Blue Jays heading towards a time where an all-natural surface will happen. The former

team president Paul Beeston, has prevented any notion to making that happen. However, new

team president, Mark Shapiro, has brought the issue to the forefront of discussion. By adding dirt

base paths and infield skin, it’s a step in the right direction. The one major issue that is

preventing an entire natural surface of the Rogers Centre is there is no drainage system under the

synthetic turf. This would be a major undertaking to install after ripping up the old service. This

massive amount of work would require a longer amount of time than a normal baseball

offseason. That raises the question of determining if it is worth the hassle of switching to natural

grass. Another issue, albeit a smaller one, is the fact that the Blue Jays share the Rogers Centre

with the Toronto Argonauts who play in the Canadian Football League. Currently the Argonauts

have moved to another facility for the 2016 season while the Blue Jays play baseball and also

while the University of Guelph does a feasibility study on Rogers Centre to see how likely it

would be to install natural grass for the playing surface. At that point, the Argonauts would have

to find their own permanent home other than the Rogers Centre.

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Conclusion

In conclusion is it import to remember what the purpose of the surface is. In the case of

the Midwest region, it’s going to snow and rain from February to April and give a baseball

program troubles to get games in during their season. If the field is a turf field, it will keep work

on the field a minimal effort. If the surface is natural grass, there will be struggles to get games

in during the snow and rain season. In the situation of football, synthetic turf will keep field work

to a minimal but also give troubles in higher rates of concussion and turf burn. Also, don’t forget

the temperature increase on a turf field when players are doing two-a-days in the August sun. A

natural grass surface will keep the temperatures cool but require more effort to keep the field in

top notch form. The natural surface will keep a softer landing area for players to drive and twist.

While synthetic turf offers a more consistent surface with minimal maintenance, it comes

at a high initial cost. After the course of its ten year life span, the synthetic turf pays for itself.

Keep in mind the opinions of the athletes and their thoughts about the surfaces. Even if turf is the

trendy hot item, the best interest comes from the athletes that play on the field. Natural grass is a

much more cost effective option from the initial standpoint but the maintenance costs will drive

up the overall cost. In baseball, the majority of professional stadiums use natural grass because

the players prefer it and they have the budgets to maintain it. If given the opportunity to maintain

a natural surface anywhere other than the Midwest region, the recommendation is a natural

playing surface. If located in the Midwest region, and the program can afford the initial upfront

cost of $700,000, the recommendation is synthetic turf for baseball and football. It’s important to

keep in mind the best interest for the players involved in the program. Their safety should be a

forefront of concern. After that matter, the decision is solely based on what is best for the

program.

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