Natural grass fields...

...is it an issue for you? Would you rather see your favourite side play on it...or trade their grass surface for an artificial one?

I kinda like the way the Packers and Bears play on it, it just seems like part of the tradition. On the other hand, maybe it's a bit of a dinosaur that shouldn't really matter much, or highly impractical in a game where the ball doesn't travel much at grass level anyway.

TOss Sweep

There was talk of the Patriots going the opposite direction and bringing back the grass. The problem is in the northeast and upper mid west and anywhere there is snow the pitches are a mess in the snow and rain. I get what you are saying though about the ball not traveling on the ground but take other aspects like the Dolphins pitch today, they had college football on it midweek and the pitch was a mess because of heavy rain. The Dolphins kicker on a kick off rolled his ankle and messed up the kickoff. Players were all over the place also. There is times the Packers and Bears and others who have grass have had issues with the same thing also. Extremely hard to keep the field in good shape especially if you are a playoff team.

jack presley

As long as it's kept well, I prefer natural grass. However as a Redskins fan I regularly see FedEx Field being in bits and players losing their footing. I think Snyder is too cheap to do a proper job with it.

Itssoeasy

A natural grass field in September in the sun is amazing.

I mean the bits I did see of the games yesterday the Titans field looked a mess and that isn't natural grass so it's not just natural grasss field she that can look a bit worn out by the end of the season.

The field at the linc seems to have held up better then other years.

Jack do the redskins own FedEx field ? I know not all teams own the stadiums they play in.

jack presley

Itssoeasy wrote: »

A natural grass field in September in the sun is amazing.

I mean the bits I did see of the games yesterday the Titans field looked a mess and that isn't natural grass so it's not just natural grasss field she that can look a bit worn out by the end of the season.

The field at the linc seems to have held up better then other years.

Jack do the redskins own FedEx field ? I know not all teams own the stadiums they play in.

Yeah they own it alright.

Itssoeasy

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah they own it alright.

I asked because sometimes the city the stadium is in owns it or another entity owns it and the team lease it.

jack presley

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I asked because sometimes the city the stadium is in owns it or another entity owns it and the team lease it.

The Redskins do own the stadium but I'd imagine it was built, at least in part with public money or with some tax write offs as I know they're contractually required to stay there for x number of years.

It has always been an awful surface though and has probably been the cause of a few injuries over the years.

Itssoeasy

jack presley wrote: »

The Redskins do own the stadium but I'd imagine it was built, at least in part with public money or with some tax write offs as I know they're contractually required to stay there for x number of years.

It has always been an awful surface though and has probably been the cause of a few injuries over the years.

Well I suppose if there was public money there was going to be conditions attached. The city of Philadelphia owns the linc, the eagle operate the stadium and temple university play there.

helimachoptor

Itssoeasy wrote: »

A natural grass field in September in the sun is amazing.

I mean the bits I did see of the games yesterday the Titans field looked a mess and that isn't natural grass so it's not just natural grasss field she that can look a bit worn out by the end of the season.

There was a bowl game there saturday so that would have roughed it up a bit along with the repainting of the end zones

eagle eye

In this day and age there is no need for natural grass. Some of the fields nowadays look and feel just like grass but are artificial. There are so many advantages to artificial grass if it's done right.

Looking through the newer or moved franchises, it surprises me about the number of them that went for grass - Panthers, Jags, Texans, Titans, Bucs. I like the idea of grass, but wonder does it matter that much, and it could possibly be a disadvantage. You look at the Packers in Lambeau and think how good they are on natural grass when the temperature drops...but then you wonder is that a reference to the days of the Lombardi sweep and is it really an advantage for a QB who scrambles as much as Rodgers...

Dirty Dingus McGee

The field in the Rose Bowl is cutting up pretty badly right now.

dfx-

I much rather see grass and I'm glad that Heinz Field is resodded twice a season and the Rooneys want it to be grass (paying for the relaying themselves).

The likes of the Colts' 'turf' looks terrible...

BizzyC

Nah, as a former player I can say that I much prefer a good artificial surface.
Impact wise it makes no difference vs contact with grass and it provides a more consistent foothold for all weather conditions.

A bad artificial surface though is murder, I've played on pitches that were essentially carpet on top of concrete.
You need the rubber based surfaces, none of this sandy stuff.

jack presley

BizzyC wrote: »

Nah, as a former player I can say that I much prefer a good artificial surface.
Impact wise it makes no difference vs contact with grass and it provides a more consistent foothold for all weather conditions.

A bad artificial surface though is murder, I've played on pitches that were essentially carpet on top of concrete.
You need the rubber based surfaces, none of this sandy stuff.

When was the last time sand was used on an artificial pitch? Even your local football/GAA clubs put down rubber based pitches these days and their budgets would be quite small.

BizzyC

jack presley wrote: »

When was the last time sand was used on an artificial pitch? Even your local football/GAA clubs put down rubber based pitches these days and their budgets would be quite small.

You'd be very surprised how many venues still have the old pitches.
Essex Spartans as one example play on a "pitch" that pre-dates the sand based surfaces...

GAA takes care of grass root clubs, I've never seen a GAA club in dire need of facility revamp or equipment.

Itssoeasy

I know it's not a natural grass field but what the hell kind of field did the saints recently put down ? This year especially on tv it's headache inducing. Now maybe it's tv related but it's not good.

jack presley

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I know it's not a natural grass field but what the hell kind of field did the saints recently put down ? This year especially on tv it's headache inducing. Now maybe it's tv related but it's not good.

They went for the frosty look