FedEx Field

[Chris Luva Luva]

The field can be re-sod multiple times, it means nothing if the roots don't take. This field was terrible this year and I wonder why other than the BS excuses given about college games and concerts. Hell you mean to tell me they can't lay tarps for concerts if it causes that much damage??

How long does it take for roots to hold though? More than a few weeks?

My quick search came away with this...

It depends on the grass and the time of year the grass is seeded as the heat is the primary dictator of how fast the grass with start growing and establish. On average the seed will start growing in about 7-10 days and fully establish is about 4-6 weeks.

So basically, Snyder needs to stay the hell off of it during the week. Depending on the season, it's not going to recover but so much. Unless they build a bubble over the field to create condition conducive to growing.

Perfect scenario - keep natural grass. ask snyder to lose money. ask snyder to lose more money by spending money on growing the field in the colder months.

crappy scenario - field turf or whatever its called. increased risk of injury to a QB who's already injury stricken. however, snyder can still make his money on the side without destroying the field.

[DarthMonk]

I want this:

http://www.dessosports.com/sports/ameri ... roncos-usa

Desso GrassMaster best professional sports field in America

Award presented by professionals

The STMA, the Sports Turf Managers Association, presents an annual award for the best sports fields in the USA. This award is especially prized because the professionals, namely the stadium managers, judge each other’s fields. The Desso GrassMaster of the Denver Broncos has won this prestigious award and was pronounced the best professional field in America.

Two prestigious awards

The turf of Mile High Stadium, home to NFL-club Denver Broncos won both in the category "best field for professional American football" and "best field for professional football". This is the first time since the award began that the same field is selected in 2 different categories.

A field that can handle all kinds of events

Ross Kurcab has over 20 years of experience as turf manager at the Broncos and has won many awards for his work in Denver. "I am constantly astounded by the way our Desso GrassMaster-field performs. And already for many years. Winning these two prestigious awards only confirms what I already knew. This field is perfectly able to handle the incredibly busy schedule of 2 to 3 sports clubs, concerts and all kinds of events. In addition it also performs fantastically at the end of the year for NFL football. It is truly a grass miracle!"

The Desso GrassMaster-field is used for American football but also for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, conventions and concerts.

Other award-winning clubs with Desso GrassMaster

Other NFL-top clubs like Green Bay Packers also play on this hybrid natural grass system. The Lambeau Field of the Packers has also been granted the STMA award for "best field for professional American football".
What is DESSO GrassMaster® hybrid grass?

A DESSO GrassMaster ® hybrid grass pitch is a 100% natural sport grass pitch reinforced by millions of Desso artificial turf fibres.
with a patented technique, specialised installers inject 20 million Desso artificial turf fibres in a natural grass mat
the natural grass roots intertwine with the 20 cm deep injected artificial turf fibres
result: a high-tech, stable pitch that can take 3 times as much playing than a normal, natural grass pitch

[SkinsJock]

I'm NOT a grass or turf person but I do know that the turf/grass growing business is a very large business

This business has developed different types of grasses for the different sports markets like school and college fields in all climates and also golf

I do not think it's that difficult to put down a grass field that can withstand the normal uses a stadium goes through

that being said - I assume, from what some are saying, that FedEx field is "used hard and put away wet" or NOT really well maintained at all


HOPEFULLY Snyder does the right thing here - as he's gotten a little older he has learned - we shall see

it would be a shame to own a thoroughbred and not 'use him' on a good track

[SouthLondonRedskin]

Just to chip in, the big soccer clubs over here tend to relay their grass surface every 18 months or so (artificial turf isn't allowed in most European leagues, the cold parts of Scandanavia being an exception).

Although adverse weather can play a part and sometimes it happens within a year. Clubs prefer to do it in the offseason to give the surface a chance to take root, but when things get really bad it has been known for teams (Man United and Chelsea come to mind) to relay during the season with the new surface having as little as two weeks to bed in.

The cost to the club is around $300,000.

The large stands surrounding the pitch are a problem as they restrict the amount of light that gets to the playing surface during the day, and that delays the bedding in and recovery process of a pitch after a game has been played.

In Germany, a team called Schalke who play in Gelsinkirken actually have a stand that moves out of the way to allow the 'floating' pitch to leave the arena, so between matches it moves to the outside car park area to get maximum exposure to sunlight. Incredible, check it out.

In summary, with the length of the offseason in the NFL there is absolutely no problem whatsoever for a new grass surface to be laid at FedEx and have months to bed in, meaning it will be in pristine condition for the next home game. And if weather isn't wild it should easliy be in great condition for the 8, 9 or 10 games we'll host there next season.

[Countertrey]

The field can be re-sod multiple times, it means nothing if the roots don't take. This field was terrible this year and I wonder why other than the BS excuses given about college games and concerts. Hell you mean to tell me they can't lay tarps for concerts if it causes that much damage??

How long does it take for roots to hold though? More than a few weeks?

Is this a question for Alex Haley (he asks, tongue firmly planted in cheek, while clearly demonstrating his advancing age)?

[Countertrey]

BTW, the team does regularly re-sod, with turf from the Summit Hill Turf farm, on the banks of the Potomac, just west of Potomac MD. Unfortunately, all grass becomes dormant, to some extent, once the temp starts dropping below 40. It does not take well. Un-rooted turf, over wet mud, just becomes a giant, green banana peel when under foot.

[jmooney]

I want this:

http://www.dessosports.com/sports/ameri ... roncos-usa

Desso GrassMaster best professional sports field in America

Award presented by professionals

The STMA, the Sports Turf Managers Association, presents an annual award for the best sports fields in the USA. This award is especially prized because the professionals, namely the stadium managers, judge each other’s fields. The Desso GrassMaster of the Denver Broncos has won this prestigious award and was pronounced the best professional field in America.

Two prestigious awards

The turf of Mile High Stadium, home to NFL-club Denver Broncos won both in the category "best field for professional American football" and "best field for professional football". This is the first time since the award began that the same field is selected in 2 different categories.

A field that can handle all kinds of events

Ross Kurcab has over 20 years of experience as turf manager at the Broncos and has won many awards for his work in Denver. "I am constantly astounded by the way our Desso GrassMaster-field performs. And already for many years. Winning these two prestigious awards only confirms what I already knew. This field is perfectly able to handle the incredibly busy schedule of 2 to 3 sports clubs, concerts and all kinds of events. In addition it also performs fantastically at the end of the year for NFL football. It is truly a grass miracle!"

The Desso GrassMaster-field is used for American football but also for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, conventions and concerts.

Other award-winning clubs with Desso GrassMaster

Other NFL-top clubs like Green Bay Packers also play on this hybrid natural grass system. The Lambeau Field of the Packers has also been granted the STMA award for "best field for professional American football".
What is DESSO GrassMaster® hybrid grass?

A DESSO GrassMaster ® hybrid grass pitch is a 100% natural sport grass pitch reinforced by millions of Desso artificial turf fibres.
with a patented technique, specialised installers inject 20 million Desso artificial turf fibres in a natural grass mat
the natural grass roots intertwine with the 20 cm deep injected artificial turf fibres
result: a high-tech, stable pitch that can take 3 times as much playing than a normal, natural grass pitch

I like the looks of this too. I think Fed-Ex sees a few more games per year than Denver, Im not sure how much of a difference those couple of games make. I wonder how much you have to mow this?

[SkinsJock]

SOME owners of facilities that involve grass or turf and from which they are paid substantial amounts of money - the Masters in Augusta, GA, Lambeau Field in WI, etc. etc. spend a lot of money to ensure the product looks great and that it provides a fair place to "play"

I do not think that Dan Syder's people that look after FedEx are given a budget that ensures that FedEx is in pristine condition AT ALL TIMES


THAT field was NOT ready to play a game on and I'm sure the NFL has indicated that to this STUPID & GREEDY owner

[Chris Luva Luva]

SOME owners of facilities that involve grass or turf and from which they are paid substantial amounts of money - the Masters in Augusta, GA, Lambeau Field in WI, etc. etc. spend a lot of money to ensure the product looks great and that it provides a fair place to "play"

I do not think that Dan Syder's people that look after FedEx are given a budget that ensures that FedEx is in pristine condition AT ALL TIMES


THAT field was NOT ready to play a game on and I'm sure the NFL has indicated that to this STUPID & GREEDY owner

How many of those places see as much traffic as FedEx field? The problem isn't who is taking care of it as much as how much abuse the field is taking.

The root issue is, Dan wants to make money. College and concerts earn him money. If that's removed the state of the field improves tremendously. Then we can start talking about who's taking care of it.

[SkinsJock]

I understand that Chris - I just think that Snyder or someone is responsible to ensure that the field is ready to play on when the Redskins are scheduled to use the field - NO MATTER HOW MUCH USE IT GETS

the field that was used for the last game was NOT even close to being ready OR suitable

I sincerely hope someone penalizes Snyder or whomever is responsible BIG TIME for having the field NOT even close to being ready to use

[ACW]

Today's Tank McNamara

[Chris Luva Luva]

I understand that Chris - I just think that Snyder or someone is responsible to ensure that the field is ready to play on when the Redskins are scheduled to use the field - NO MATTER HOW MUCH USE IT GETS

IMO that's only realistic if they have an artificial turf. There's no known sorcery that can allow natural grass to be trampled on day in and day out and be pristine on Sunday... He will either have to invest in something artificial or lose money in wh*ring out his stadium...

[SkinsJock]

I understand that Chris - I just think that Snyder or someone is responsible to ensure that the field is ready to play on when the Redskins are scheduled to use the field - NO MATTER HOW MUCH USE IT GETS

IMO that's only realistic if they have an artificial turf. There's no known sorcery that can allow natural grass to be trampled on day in and day out and be pristine on Sunday... He will either have to invest in something artificial or lose money in wh*ring out his stadium...

fair enough - I am just VERY disappointed with how that field looked on TV - it was not a pretty sight ...

We'll most likely have to wait and see if that has any effect on the preparation and upkeep of the field next season

[SkinsJock]

Not long ago, this franchise liked to have a grass surface for different reasons ...
with the advent of a much quicker offense (running and passing), we may need to look into the best surface for that