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Home > Blog > Sports Grass > Artificial Turf Sun Study Analysis

Artificial Turf Sun Study Analysis

June 2, 2017

When the sun comes out, it’s time to play ball. If only the sky could stick to the NFL’s game schedule! Touchdowns must be scored come shade or shine. That’s why artificial turf is often the best playable option for a field. Because it doesn’t need sunlight to grow, it stays in great shape all year round. Many teams have found that a real grass field simply isn’t something they can rely on. Already, they need to water it and cut it just to keep it ready for gameplay. This costs a lot of money.

When the sun refuses to shine, they have to accept that it won’t thrive. That’s why more and more pro sports teams have opted for artificial turf instead. In fact, news from the world of sports came out of Georgia, and the buzz is all about artificial turf. If you’re interested in following in the footsteps of major sports leagues, Watersavers Turf, the SF Bay Area’s artificial grass experts, has the perfect line of turf products to fit your needs.

Why Sports Teams Prefer Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf is a product that has many uses. If you own a home, it can give you a green lawn that doesn’t need to be watered. If you run a resort, you can design outdoor rest areas with it. Even dog parks have started to make the switch! But the rise of synthetic turf will always be linked to sports teams, and for a good reason. No matter what game you play, the field will take a beating. It also needs to be kept even and healthy, which drives up lawn care costs in the case of real grass. With synthetic turf, sports teams have a surface that stands up to intense gameplay and costs little money to maintain. No wonder they keep embracing it.

Faux Grass Comes to Atlanta

In Atlanta, the sun shines on big ideas. New plans have just been announced there for the Mercedes-Benz sports stadium. This $1.4 billion venue will be the future home of the Falcons NFL team. It will also host the Atlanta United Soccer team. There’s one major upgrade to be aware of, too. After an expert sun study, design experts picked faux grass for the ground instead of real grass. This is because of how the sunlight hits the ground.

Without a lot of direct sunlight, live grass can’t thrive. That means faux grass is the safest choice for players. To keep from being injured, they need a level, soft surface without bare patches of dirt.

Why Fake Turf Won Out

Before fake turf was chosen, experts did a thorough sun study. In the process, many factors are looked at. Scientists account for the time of day the site gets direct sunlight. They consider the path of the sun at different times of the year, and whether there will be light in every season. The ground’s shape and slope are measured. So are the impact of shadows cast by nearby buildings, trees, and hills. Bird’s eye view photos are often used, along with site visits. This gives the full story of where shade lands, and why.

Bill Johnson, the lead architect for this project, told the press that they had looked into live grass as an option, but that the field wouldn’t get enough direct sunlight for a lawn to grow. Instead, fake turf was chosen because it doesn’t require the sun. It also works because it can stand up to the heavy impact and foot traffic of players.

The future stadium’s GM, Scott Jenkins, told members of the press that part of the reason for installing fake grass instead of a live lawn was the multi-use nature of the venue. Because teams will share the space, the grass must be ideal for more than one type of play. Jenkins said, “Versatility is the key for our turf surface, from how the ball rolls for soccer, to safety for football, to what the paint looks like on the field and how natural the grass appears.”

The new stadium opens its doors to crowds of fans in June 2017. In the meantime, we at Watersavers Turf are more than happy to help you select the right artificial grass for your sports venue. Give us a call at 844-974-8873 for more info, and stop by one of our SF Bay Area locations to pick up free 1’ X 1’ samples. If you want a better idea of what it would cost you to make the switch, we’ll gladly provide a free estimate as well.

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