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AFM Magazine


Turf Trends

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Chances are very good that your team has either installed a synthetic turf field at your facility or played at least one road game on a turf field. Each year, hundreds of football practice and game fields are converted from natural grass to synthetic turf. That’s not surprising, considering that today’s turf systems provide safe, consistent, all-weather playing surfaces that can be utilized 24/7 by not just the football team but by a long list of other sports and activities.

    What are the specific benefits of synthetic turf fields from playability, safety, environmental and economic standpoints? If you’re interested in having a synthetic turf field installed at your facility, what are the most important things you need to know? To find out, AFM asked industry leaders FieldTurf President Eric Daliere, A-Turf Founder and President Jim Dobmeier, AstroTurf President Bryan Peeples and Shaw Sportexe Vice President Tom Enright to provide the answers and address topics that can help coaches everywhere be more informed about the benefits of synthetic turf.

AFM: What are the most significant reasons why so many colleges and high schools have decided to invest in synthetic turf football fields in the recent past?

Eric Daliere of FieldTurf: We believe that there are three main reasons why so many colleges and high schools have decided to invest in synthetic turf. Convenience - Artificial turf allows for up to three to four times more hours of use per week than natural grass and provides consistent performance, playing the same no matter what the conditions. Moreover, artificial turf requires little downtime and requires minimal maintenance. Cost savings – Synthetic turf has proven to be four times less expensive than natural grass over a ten-year time period. Research shows that the cost per hour of use for grass is approximately $100.00, while the cost per hour of use for synthetic turf is closer to $25.00. Better for the environment – One field can save between 1-1.5 million gallons of water per year while reducing utilization of pesticides and fertilizers – approximately 8,000 lbs per field, per year. Additionally, each field diverts over 20,000 tires which would otherwise be going direct to landfills.
Jim Dobmeier of A-Turf: From small schools and community rec programs, to big name colleges and universities, sports programs are expanding and evolving. And as they do, synthetic turf continues to gain in prevalence and popularity by delivering on the promise of providing consistent playability, outstanding durability and increased safety. Today, many schools need to have a multi-sport playing field capable of handling continual use without fear of damage. Knowing synthetic grass can be used infinitely more times than its natural counterpart and remain in excellent playing condition is a tremendously huge advantage.

Bryan Peeples of AstroTurf: Increased practice and playing time, a consistent playing surface, and aesthetics are among the top reasons. Synthetic surfaces provide as much as four times the availability. More productive practices make for more successful teams. The durability and consistency of the fields makes for better athletic performance. The realistic look of synthetic turf adds to the aesthetics of any facility, creates a great atmosphere, and builds support for the program. AstroTurf fields not only look like natural grass, they play like natural grass. 
Tom Enright of Shaw Sportexe: Two primary reasons. First is field functionality. Through the use of specific line packages and field markings, a field can accommodate up to four or more sports activities. Everyone in your sports program gets playing time. One of the most important issues the athletic department faces is the utility of their fields. Synthetic turf systems are designed to withstand extensive, heavy use and can replace three or four natural fields. Weather impacts are minimized. This equates to more games and more practice time.
 
AFM: From player safety and environmental standpoints, what other advantages does synthetic turf offer over natural grass?

Dobmeier: In addition to consistency and durability, two other key advantages of synthetic grass are safety and reduced maintenance. With a synthetic grass playing field, there are no bare spots, puddles or mud. Using specialized infill allows for shock absorption that parallels natural grass. By adding an optional resilient ShockPad, the G-Max, or the surface’s shock absorption, is even greater. When you combine safety and consistent playability with the number of uses the school or community enjoys and the long expected life of the investment (12 years or more), it’s easy to see why so many fields are being converted from natural to man-made. Additionally, synthetic fields can be used virtually 24/7 with minimal, low-cost maintenance. Unlike caring for a natural field, there is never a need to use water, chemicals or pesticides to keep the field in excellent condition. Synthetic fields are known for their outstanding playability even in the most extreme weather conditions, while natural grass surfaces can be ruined by just one bad weather pattern at the wrong time. 
 
Enright: A synthetic turf system provides a uniform and consistent playing surface. Often natural grass surfaces become damaged and uneven over the course of a season. Wear and weather create hazardous inconsistencies which are not issues with synthetic turf. From an environmental standpoint, it’s a no brainer. Synthetic turf does not require watering, fertilizers or pesticides. There is no need to maintain the field with pollution producing equipment such as lawn mowers. Because the infill is composed of rubber, millions of tires each year are kept out of landfills. Best of all, all components of the synthetic turf system can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle.

Peeples: Synthetic fields eliminate the necessity for mowing, irrigation, fertilization, applying pesticides, and other activities that are harmful to the environment. As we move toward sustainability and adopting other green initiatives, synthetic turf fields provide a clear alternative with a lower environmental impact. Additionally, numerous safety studies have found that today’s synthetic turf systems are just as safe as playing on natural grass.

AFM: In a challenging economy, what are the primary
economic justifications for an investment in synthetic turf?

Peeples: While synthetic surfaces are more expensive in terms of upfront costs, the long–term financial benefits have become too overwhelming to ignore. Synthetic surfaces eliminate costs associated with man-hours and extensive maintenance requirements. Also, the potential for added revenues are often lost with natural grass surfaces because of weather and other factors related to field conditions. There are synthetic fields in use today, where the owners have found ways to generate revenue streams and operate profitably after only three or four years of use. 

Daliere: We view the current economic challenges as an even bigger reason for our clients to make the switch from natural to synthetic turf. We have over 4,000 clients who can attest to the fact that FieldTurf has saved them money. In fact, many of our clients use our product to generate revenue. Synthetic turf has proven to be four times less expensive than natural grass over a ten-year time period. 

Enright: A synthetic turf field can actually show a return. With all the available hours of play and the durability of the turf, you can lend your field out for band competitions, other sport teams or even community events. Some schools have turned their field into a revenue generating asset. The other thing to consider is the cost per use. Even factoring in the initial investment, synthetic turf provides substantial lifetime savings on a cost per hour of use versus natural grass.

Dobmeier: Investing in a synthetic grass field is a big decision and a big investment. Knowing the dollars spent on one field will pay huge dividends to the entire athletic program (and community events) for 12 years or more makes the investment sound. To truly understand the value, you need to calculate the economics over time, as synthetic turf fields can be used 10+ times as much as a natural field. Add in the savings from reduced maintenance and the investment really begins to become clear.
 
AFM: What is the best way for a football coach who wants to switch to synthetic turf to start the process at his school?

Enright: The first step would be to approach your Athletic Director or athletic staff on doing some initial research to build your case for school officials. Go out and talk to coaches and athletic staff in your area who have already made the switch. Discuss the pros and cons and find out what synthetic turf companies they have used. You can also contact the company(s) that received the best feedback. They should be able to help you gather the appropriate information to present to the deciding school officials. At Shaw Sportexe, we have presentations, cost comparisons, case studies and other materials to support you in this process. The more informed and confident you are, the easier the process.

Peeples: Coaches and administrators should take time to examine cost and performance issues related to the current field surface and look at how that adds up over time. Much of the data they need can be found through the Synthetic Turf Council. They should then begin the process of finding a trusted turf advisor who will work with them to meet their specific and individual needs.

Dobmeier: My advice in starting the process to get a synthetic turf field is always the same – start by doing your homework. Do your research to protect your investment. Ask a lot questions. Ask about a company’s experience in building fields similar to what you want and look at the stability of the company being considered. Ask about the type of warranty being offered and talk to and visit schools that have installed that company’s fields. Is the field holding up over time and is the school satisfied years after the installation?
 
Daliere: School and municipal improvement projects can be a very long and costly process, with many unforeseen delays. Organizations have to go through the hassle of advertising, investigating, obtaining designs, writing specifications, conducting bid meetings, dealing with potentially inexperienced contractors all while managing and coordinating the installation process. Due to the countless steps associated with the bid process it is not unusual for six months to expire before even breaking ground on a facility improvement project.






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