A stadium can host a variety of events when they can remove the playing surface. If there was permanent grass at NRG, then it couldn't host the rodeo, Monster Jam, Supercross, Final Fours, circus, Disney on Ice, etc. As much as these stadiums cost now, they gotta make them as flexible as possible to host events. I'm surprised Arizonas retractable field concept hasn't shown up at other new stadiums.
Yes, I mentioned that. Still doesn't answer the question why they can't grow grass at Levi's stadium. They grow it in Candlestick and Oakland, so its not a region issue. Did they screw up some fundamental aspect of the stadium?
Sorry, I missed that in your post. I have no idea what it could be. Some stadiums, for some reason, seem to have problems with this. Pittsburgh has had problems ever since Heinz Field opened. Could just be that they keep messing with it and keep messing with it and don't give it an opportunity to get really set in. Baltimore is removing their synthetic turf to go natural. I hope they don't have the same issues there.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/study-704008-fields-turf.html SACRAMENTO – Following increasing concerns about the safety of recycled tire material used on synthetic turf fields, the Obama administration announced Friday a federal study to look into potential health risks. The material in question -- ground-up waste tires -- has been a source of debate across the country since late 2014, when parents and health and environment advocates began demanding studies about whether repeated contact with the material could cause cancer.
my boys soccer club uses this material and one of my son's teammate just quit because his mom was concerned about the rubber pellets. i'm inclined to believe that statistically there is no difference between the general population and kids playing sports on turf fields. i'm thinking the %'s are the same. or perhaps there is another outlier in the players who did get cancer vs the millions who didn't. finding that piece of information would also be a step forward.
nah. It's just easier to take the lazy way out and believe a sensationalistic report from a couple of years ago. This happens every few years within the synthetic turf industry. Time and time again, the accusations prove to be false. Back in 2007 it was lead poisoning. When the initial "report" came out about that one, they had tested the ground of a field at The College of New Jersey in Trenton. Lead levels were high. Turns out...the field was built on top of a former firing range. Not the turf's fault but no one bothered to report that part of the story.
Agreed but it doesn't hurt to have a big study done with all the resources necessary to prove it once and for all.
http://usatodayhss.com/2015/amy-griffin-soccer-artificial-turf-cancer This is where the new look is coming from. There was an ESPN story on the same coach.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">McNair said Texans r checking prices 4 new artificial surface. Don't want 2 use last year's cause it used 4 college and high school games 2.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/711998964669685761">March 21, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Texans had a lot of complaints from opposing players about their tray system. There were no complaints after they switched to AstroTurf.</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/711998642870091777">March 21, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There's a good chance Texans will play on AstroTurf at NRG Stadium 4 a 2nd season n a row. Bob McNair "We’re seriously looking at that."</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/711998372928851969">March 21, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
We know of the player complaints, but shouldn't the cheerleaders have a say? We don't want them to roll and ankle now do we? Spoiler
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ok. Here is a better pic. I think. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> <a href="https://t.co/5IJ0xsXyDK">pic.twitter.com/5IJ0xsXyDK</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/765625091975680000">August 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> will play this season on synthetic turf.</p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/765602233358639104">August 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Obviously a new turf...seperate from the college/high school one. Anyone knows the manufacturer? The other turf is made by Astroturf brand.
It's made by UBU Sports. https://twitter.com/UBUsports Looks like they made the field for the new Vikings stadium too. Edit- And the Bengals, Jets, Saints, and Steelers as well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The new <a href="https://twitter.com/UBUsports">@UBUsports</a> synthetic turf in for Saturday's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> -Saints game. <a href="https://t.co/6IXtF0hvYr">pic.twitter.com/6IXtF0hvYr</a></p>— Adam Wexler (@awexlerKPRC) <a href="https://twitter.com/awexlerKPRC/status/765643821463982080">August 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They haven't had blue end-zones for awhile... I presume this also likely seals the deal that the SB will be played on synthetic turf here.