Super Bowl LVII is right around the corner and no matter what team you are rooting for, there has always been a battle between synthetic turf vs. natural grass for the playing field. Die hard fans are on both sides of this debate, but let's take a walk down the history of this rivalry.
History of Synthetic Turf in the NFL:
The use of synthetic turf in NFL stadiums has a relatively long history. The first NFL stadium to install synthetic turf was the Houston Astrodome in 1966, which featured a product called Astroturf. This type of synthetic turf was made of a plastic grass-like material that was glued to a base of crushed rubber.
The use of synthetic turf quickly spread to other NFL stadiums, as it offered several advantages over natural grass. Synthetic turf required less maintenance, could be used in indoor stadiums, and provided a consistent playing surface throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.
However, early versions of synthetic turf were not without their problems. The surface was often hard and unforgiving, and players complained of burns and abrasions from sliding on it. Additionally, early versions of synthetic turf could get extremely hot in direct sunlight, which raised concerns about player safety.
Over time, improvements have been made to synthetic turf to make it more similar to natural grass, and to address player safety concerns. Newer versions of synthetic turf feature longer and softer fibers, and improved padding to reduce the hardness of the surface. Some NFL stadiums have also installed systems to cool the turf, such as misting systems and under-field cooling.
Despite these improvements, many NFL teams still prefer to play on natural grass. While some teams have switched to synthetic turf, others have switched back to natural grass, citing player preference and improved performance on natural grass.
Let’s see the breakdown between the teams. Currently there are 32 teams in the NFL with 16 teams using natural grass and 16 teams using synthetic turf.
Stadiums Who Utilize Synthetic Turf:
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta Falcons
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Highmark Stadium | Buffalo Bills
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Bank of America Stadium | Carolina Panthers
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Paycor Stadium | Cincinnati Bengals
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AT&T Stadium | Dallas Cowboys
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Ford Field | Detroit Lions
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NRG Stadium | Houston Texans
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Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis Colts
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SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams
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U.S. Bank Stadium | Minnesota Vikings
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Gillette Stadium | New England Patriots
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Caesars Superdome | New Orleans Saints
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MetLife Stadium | New York Giants and New York Jets
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Lumen Field | Seattle Seahawks
Stadiums Who Utilize Natural Grass:
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State Farm Stadium | Arizona Cardinals
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M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore Ravens
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Soldier Field | Chicago Bears
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FirstEnergy Stadium | Cleveland Browns
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Empower Field at Mile High | Denver Broncos
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Lambeau Field | Green Bay Packers
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TIAA Bank Field | Jacksonville Jaguars
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GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City Chiefs
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Allegiant Stadium | Las Vegas Raiders
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Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Dolphins
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Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia Eagles
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Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh Steelers
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Levi’s Stadium | San Francisco 49ers
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Raymond James Stadium | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Nissan Stadium | Tennessee Titans
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FedEx Field | Washington Commanders
As a note, some of the stadiums listed above might switch to a synthetic turf playing surface during playoffs, pre-season games and other events in the stadium.
So, where did your favorite team land? The Super Bowl is landing at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. From the list above, it is noted that they will be using natural bermuda grass which George Toma a.k.a.”The Sod God” or “The Sodfather”, now aged 93, will be in charge of as head groundskeeper. He has worked on the fields of the previous 56 Super Bowls.
Are you team synthetic turf and interested in an installation for your own Super Bowl? Lone Star Synthetic Turf can help you! Located in Dallas, Texas and servicing the surrounding area, Lone Star Synthetic Turf has been in business over a decade. They look to provide synthetic turf solutions for both residential and commercial spaces. For more information call (214) 341-4332.