New Tennessee Titans turf...with new technology

[ladypanther]

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.

[Tbe]

I’m pretty sure that’s what we have on the practice fields. I know it’s a hybrid turf of some kind.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Tbe

[Gerry Green]

Just now, Tbe said:

I’m pretty sure that’s what we have on the practice fields. I know it’s a hybrid turd of some kind.

 

I mean, who wouldn't want to play on that new Hybrid Turd field? lol Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Harbingers]

So is it organic material? Or were the cork trees organically grown!

[ladypanther]

4 minutes ago, Harbingers said:

So is it organic material? Or were the cork trees organically grown!

You can research that.

[pantherclaw]

Seems like a no Brainerd for player safety. 

[Jay Roosevelt]

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

[Soul Rebel]

1 hour 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 was thinking the same thing watching the game. Announcers spoke highly of it and the zoomed in camera work made it look like real grass.

Our turf looks like the worst possible version of artificial grass. It reminds me of Lumen Field and seeing places like LA and now Tennessee makes me wonder why our loaded owner that won't go to grass, won't pony up for the "best of the best".

 

[Jackie Lee]

2nd guy meant Nashville

 

[onmyown]

51 minutes ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

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

Seriously. 

‘Titans amped up their research with data to determine the best, and safest, plan moving forward.’

What? No they didn’t. No research needed. It’s just grass.

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.

Great. Now let’s compare to grass. Ah, don’t want to do that do we?

You notice just how much the article refers to ‘mimicking grass’? Why is that? Just get grass.

I’m sorry but this is a big pet peeve of mine. No one replaces real grass for turf because turf is better lol.

They do it for money. It’s all for the sake of money. That’s it. To fill a multi billion revenue industries’ pockets with MORE MONEY. Money over safety. I wish they would just say that. Can’t be as mad if they’re at least honest.

But we always get BS articles like this telling us something that comes close to grass is somehow the best…without explaining why, aside from cost, they don’t just do grass.

Some nasty, greedy ass mofos.

[ladypanther]

^Tennessee grass turf  could not be maintained well due to the climate if you read the article:

 

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.

They had more injuries with their grass turf...not less.

[ladypanther]

51 minutes ago, Jackie Lee said:

2nd guy meant Nashville

 

Who knows...maybe they were not using the best cleats for the surface. Don't remember Tenn having much trouble....but then I am not 100% positive.  Nothing that I noticed.

[HardcoreHokie]

I know a couple people mentioned it, but here is the video of the turf monster injury in Tennessee.  

That’s absolutely brutal.

https://youtu.be/7z8xATaL9PE?si=08F4eJ0tEpy9w9O3

[onmyown]

3 hours ago, ladypanther said:

^Tennessee grass turf  could not be maintained well due to the climate if you read the article:

 

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.

They had more injuries with their grass turf...not less.

I read it. The transition zone also includes Charlotte. And other stadiums. Sorry, Not buying it.

It’s very expensive for sure, especially when you need to revamp things for controlled staging areas, or a half dome/retractable glass stadium cover, and even changing the type of grass depending on the season - but it’s not even close to ‘nearly impossible’ for the kind of money the league makes. Not even close. It’s just costly.

Article after article it is obviously just pushing an agenda since players are speaking out.

But the costs don’t outweigh profits simple as that. It should read:

‘determine the best, and safest, plan moving forward when considering costs to maintain a consistent grass field.’

Sounds like enough money was not put into maintain the grass. Surely no one is surprised by that.

Edited September 5, 2023 by onmyown