current research and marketing suggests that synthetic turf performs comparably to natural turf ...
TRANSCRIPT
NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC…
THE PRO’S CHOICE
Current Research and Marketing suggests that Synthetic Turf performs comparably to Natural Turf
Footing Minor Injuries Major Injuries Hardness Heat of Playing Surface Longevity
The Debate
The Claims“Brock PowerBase has been proven to prevent concussions by 50% compared to a pristine natural grass field.” - Brock Press Release for Patriots training facility
“American professional football games played on FieldTurf have higher lower extremity injury rates.”FieldTurf claims that their product is equal to, or better than natural grass
“Dr. Bradley reported that 82% of ACL injuries occurring during practice happened on grass while only 18% occurred on Field-Turf.”
Players were 27% more likely to sustain a lowerextremity injury when the game was played onartificial FieldTurf instead of the real thing (P<0.01),according to Elliott Hershman, MD, of Lenox HillHospital in New York City.More specifically, there was an 88% increased risk of an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and a 32% increased risk of an eversion ankle sprain when playing on FieldTurf (P<0.01 for both), Hershman reported at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting here. AAOS: Artificial Turf Injuries Still More Likely in NFL By Todd Neale, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Published: March 15, 2010
The Reality
NFL Surfaces RankingArtificial
1 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: LUCAS OIL STADIUM
2 NEW YORK JETS/GIANTS: NEW MEADOWLANDS STADIUM
3 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: LOUISIANA SUPERDOME
4 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: QWEST FIELD
5 DALLAS COWBOYS: COWBOYS STADIUM
6 ATLANTA FALCONS: GEORGIA DOME
7 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: GILLETTE STADIUM
8 DETROIT LIONS: FORD FIELD
9 BALTIMORE RAVENS: M&T BANK STADIUM
10 ST.LOUIS RAMS: EDWARD JONES DOME
11 CINCINNATI BENGALS: PAUL BROWN STADIUM
12 MINNESOTA VIKINGS: METRODOME
13 BUFFALO BILLS: RALPH WILSON STADIUM
Natural1 ARIZONA CARDINALS:UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STDM
2 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: RAYMOND JAMES STDM
3 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: QUALCOMM STADIUM
4 CAROLINA PANTHERS: BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM
5 GREEN BAY PACKERS: LAMBEAU FIELD
6 MIAMI DOLPHINS: SUN LIFE STADIUM
7 HOUSTON TEXANS: RELIANT STADIUM
8 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: EVERBANK FIELD
9 DENVER BRONCOS: INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH
10 TENNESSEE TITANS: LP FIELD
11 WASHINGTON REDSKINS: FEDEX FIELD
12 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: CANDLESTICK PARK
13 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: ARROWHEAD STADIUM
14 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
15 PITTSBURGH STEELERS: HEINZ FIELD
16 CLEVELAND BROWNS: CLEVELAND BROWNS STDM
17 CHICAGO BEARS: SOLDIER FIELD
18 OAKLAND RAIDERS: OAKLAND COLISEUM
The Player’s Point of View
Which field is most likely to contribute to injury?
Artificial………….. 82.4% 84.8%
Natural …………… 15.9% 13.7%
2010 2008
Which surface is most likely to cause soreness and fatigue?
Artificial…………… 89.1% 91%
Natural …………… 9.2% 7.2%
2010 2008
Which surface do you think is most likely to shorten your career?
Artificial ………. 89.7% 92.6%
Natural ………. 7.6% 5.3%
2010 2008
Which surface do think is more likely to negatively affect your life after football?
Artificial ………. 64.4% 61.6%
Natural ………. 3.6% 2.6%
Neither ………. 29.7% 35.8%
2010 2008
What do you attribute poor fields too?
Multiple Use Facility 35% N/A
Weather ……………….. 19.6% N/A
Stadium Maintenance 18.6% N/AOther Options: Bad Design, Baseball Fields, Hardness, Owners, Quality of Grass, Dirty, Money
2010 2008
What type of field do you prefer to play on?
Natural ………. 69.4% 71.7%
Artificial ………. 14.3% 15%
No Preference 9%11%
Nearly 5 times more players prefer natural rather than artificial!
2010 2008
Do you think there should be a league-wide standard that teams should have to meet in order to be eligible for games?
Yes ……………….. 83.8%N/A
No ………………. 6.3%N/A
No Preference 9.9%N/A
2010 2008
How significant a role do you believe NFL grounds keepers play in the performance of artificial infilled playing surfaces?
Very Significant ……… 23.7% 24.7%
Some What Significant 43.6% 49.2%
Not Significant ………. 17.7% 18.1%
No Opinion ……………. 15.0% 8.1%
2010 2008
"Turf fields in general are better than the old turf fields, but there's nothing like grass," cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. Grass "is harder to maintain. I think it's more difficult for a reason — because it's safer."
The safety issue came into question last season, when three players (Ravens cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb as well as Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith) were lost for the season after tearing knee ligaments without being hit.
Webb said his injury was not caused by the turf but said the artificial surface did play a role with Smith. Washington isn't sure whether the turf was a factor in his tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
"I think [the turf at M&T Bank Stadium is] one of the best. I've never had a problem with it," Washington said. "Your footing is good at our stadium, but sometimes it's too good. Sometimes it won't give. But I think it's definitely one of the best. I've never had a problem other than this injury. So I can continue playing on it, but any NFL player is all for natural grass.“
May 06, 2010|By Jamison Hensley | The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Ravens
Artificial Fields Over Time
Pittsburgh Steelers
“Poster Child” Game for Artificial Turf Supporters
The Concussion Issue
The Dilemma
Multiple Events Revenue Owners and Profits Poor Stadium Design The Concussion Issue And…
The Challenge
How can we influence the NFL?
How can we influence sports turf to “raise the bar” on a broad level?
How can we influence our local markets?
The Kroc Center
We are not going to get an endorsement by the NFL or the NFLPA.
The NFL does influence collegiate, high school, and municipal field choices.
All of the studies and research cannot reflect the reality of how the players feel about the surface they play on – THEY OVERWHELMINGLY PREFER NATURAL GRASS.
We all have an obligation to help improve natural turf playing conditions in our circle of influence.
Summary
2008 Survey
2010 Survey