Why Sports Organizations are Choosing Artificial Grass over Natural Turf

Golf, football, baseball, and soccer demand the greatest amount of playing space among all major sports, and it just happens that all three originated on real grass. American football fields are 120 yards in length and around 54 yards in width, while soccer fields usually span 120 yards long and 80 yards wide. Golf courses are by far the biggest, requiring acres to accommodate fairways, tee boxes and greens. More than three-quarters of a baseball field consists of grass. Clearly, these four sports consume a lot of terra firma.

While being popular sports in the U.S., these sports attract a fair share of critics who decry their environmental impacts, particularly large expanses of planted grass that require billions of gallons of water. That’s why sports organizations are currently leaning toward artificial grass over a natural turf. Current playing fields should also consider using a synthetic landscape, as it offers numerous benefits.

More Games, Whatever the Weather

Sports organizations are now shifting to artificial grass because it minimizes rescheduling due to inclement weather. It just doesn’t become saturated as easily as grass and dirt. The game goes on. It’s the same with practices, as there’s no need to reschedule most of the time.

The St. Peter Soccer Club, for one, installed artificial grass because they prefer to continue playing in rainy weather. Tim Mayo, the superintendent for St. Peter maintenance and public works for parks, added that they also liked the fact such fields are available early in the day or late in the day. Their condition remains static, and it’s easier to schedule games and stay on schedule.

Meanwhile, the more practices a team can complete in a given window before the regular season, the more prepared that team will be for the coming games.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Lower maintenance and utility costs weigh heavily in the decision to convert natural landscape to artificial turf. Real grass demands regular watering, apart from feeding it with fertilizer and pesticides. Artificial turf, conversely, needs no water or additional chemicals to stay in good shape. Many public school districts prefer to use artificial grass because it cuts their yearly costs enormously.

In addition, organizations eliminate maintenance equipment expenditures and related costs with artificial grass. Forget about tucking a lawnmower in a nearby shelter or rolling out covers, let alone retractable roofs, over a rain-drenched playing field.

Electricity and gas bills also plummet with less dependence on equipment and gadgetry. This is especially important for sports fields with tens of acres of green grass to otherwise devote countless hours of labor and equipment time: no gas expenditures, no gardeners, greens keepers, or myriad subcontractors.

In short, artificial grass on golf courses, soccer fields, baseball fields and football gridirons saves municipalities, and sports organizations considerable expense.

Long Life

Many artificial turfs can last for 10 to 20 years, depending on its quality and warranty. Libertyville High School, in the Dallas area, noted that their synthetic turf lasted for 12 years, even when the life warranty lasted only 10 years. Artificial grass looks like real grass but can last for decades.

Longer Playing Careers

Players and coaches appreciate artificial grass. Libertyville High School’s athletic director says their players and coaches alike love the artificial turf for its friendliness to players. Injuries are fewer than on real turf and therefore elongate careers and improve the chances of young ones going on to play at a higher level.

Less Environmental Burden

A synthetic landscape means lower water usage and elimination of toxic chemicals. Instead of wasting water on real grass, an artificial turf lessens overall resource extraction and its environmental as well as economical costs. Furthermore, synthetic grass preserves nature by sparing it the pesticides and fertilizers that would otherwise poison the soil and water.

With artificial grass, sports organizations and other sports field proprietors can now perpetuate the integrity of their sport free of the guilt that comes with harming the environment, risking career-ending injuries, and straining their operational budgets. Ask an experienced artificial grass company for more information and get the best fit for the playing needs of your players.

Sources:

“County Spends $3M On Newark Golf Course,” Patch.com
“Libertyville High stadium getting new artificial turf,” DailyHerald.com