New Tennessee Titans turf...with new technology

[DaveThePanther2008]

9 hours ago, ladypanther said:

I watched the UT/VA college game which was played in the Titans stadium in Nashville.  The announcers mentioned this turf and made positive comments.  Instead of using the black rubber pellets, organic cork is used.(Immediately thinking softer, cooler) One of the announcers said they walked on the field and it felt like grass. Hope Tepper looks into this.  Here is some info:

https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/why-the-titans-are-switching-to-turf-at-nissan-stadium-starting-in-2023

 Nashville exists in a transition climate zone, which makes growing a consistent grass surface throughout the entire NFL season nearly impossible.

In more recent years, after player/coach concerns, an increase in injuries, and persistent issues with the undependable surface, the Titans amped up their research with data to determine the best, and safest, plan moving forward. Looking at statistics from the 2018-2021 NFL seasons, Nissan Stadium had higher lower extremity injuries than each of the monofilament synthetic turfs in the league.

The conclusion: Putting in a new, cutting-edge field turf that will be installed in time for the 2023 season.

The project – replacing the grass with monofilament, Matrix Helix Turf with organic infill – will provide players with a consistent playing experience year-round. This fall, Nissan Stadium will become the first NFL stadium with the technology of a synthetic turf system that incorporates organic infill.

.....to transition to a monofilament surface with an organic infill that mimics the natural feel of grass while getting the consistency and durability of field turf,"

 Organic infill retains moisture better than rubber infill to mimic the feel and performance of natural grass, while the matrix helix design of the turf limits infill "splash" upon contact.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said the response from the players since that surface was installed prior to last season has been positive.

"There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our players," Vrabel said.

Improved technology: The monofilament, matrix helix turf, combined with the organic infill, is the latest in turf technology. It combines consistency and durability of field turf with the feel and performance of a grass and dirt surface. The organic infill is a type of infill that mimics the feel and performance of natural grass. It can produce field temperatures that are 20°- 40° cooler than fields with traditional SBR infill. It even requires watering, as it is made with natural materials.

Matrix Helix fibers have a corkscrew shape that creates an appearance similar to natural grass while allowing the turf to spring back into place after impact. The shape of the fibers secures infill in place, reducing movement during play and minimizing infill "splash out."

Reed Seaton, president and CEO of Hellas Construction Inc., said the consistency of the turf will benefit the players.

No matter where an athlete puts a cleat in that turf, it's the same all over the entire field from game to game, Seaton said.

"A properly built synthetic turf field with organic infill and a pad is a superior system to a mediocre grass field," Seaton said. "The technology of synthetic turf is now able to emulate a well-maintained grass field.

The new playing field at Nissan Stadium will be similar to the surface and infill that is currently used inside the team's indoor practice facility. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said the response from the players since that surface was installed prior to last season has been positive.

I saw this game too and thought pretty much the same thing.  This type of turf apparently is very similar to grass and the players seem to like it.

Since, Tepper uses the field for other events other than Panther Football it would make sense to invest in this surface since he doesn't want grass.

[Riverboat Ron]

Improving playing fields is a no brainer if you want to keep players on the field and not in the medical tent.

[Wes21]

On 9/4/2023 at 3:15 PM, Jay Roosevelt said:

I heard about this really nice technology for football fields once; it's called grass.

I'm curious about this.  So you are saying they grow plants inside of the stadium, and then play football on them?  What happens if the plants get too tall?  Are they going to invent a machine just for cutting down the plants periodically?

 

[Captroop]

5 minutes ago, Wes21 said:

I'm curious about this.  So you are saying they grow plants inside of the stadium, and then play football on them?  What happens if the plants get too tall?  Are they going to invent a machine just for cutting down the plants periodically?

 

The problem isn't the plants getting too tall. The real issue is this particular species requires an incredibly powerful light source overhead to support the photosynthetic growth of the organism, and abundant application of falling water, making it completely unsuitable for outdoor stadiums. 

That's why this particular plant is so uncommonly found in wide, flat outdoor areas.

[Wes21]

3 minutes ago, Captroop said:

The problem isn't the plants getting too tall. The real issue is this particular species requires an incredibly powerful light source overhead to support the photosynthetic growth of the organism, and abundant application of falling water, making it completely unsuitable for outdoor stadiums. 

That's why this particular plant is so uncommonly found in wide, flat outdoor areas.

Makes sense.  There is simply no way to predict falling water.  And the lightsource would have to be something cosmic, which is not of this earth.

[Basbear]

The best I know is the hybrid of turf&grass is the best. Wawing in turf makes the field less likely to tear up. 

Big issue is in the middle of the field where the 330 OLmen and push against 300 DLmen each snap..