Natural Grass vs Artificial/Field Turf

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Honestly our fans do have a weird obsession with natural grass. Especially if it rains again this week for ULM, they probably won't be able to rebuild the field at all again this year. That means it's basically 2 straight years of a totally crap surface. I don't care either way but the challenges and our inability to meet them has been well documented now.

Yeah, we were talking about this yesterday. Really hoping for good conditions this week because if it;s soft on Saturday the field is going to be in tough shape the rest of the season. The staff doe an amazing job but there's on;y so much you can do...

 

[aeroclone]

Iowa State has what is considered to be one of the best natural grass surfaces in the country and I agree that it's time to move on to a synthetic surface. There's a reason why we are one of the few northern schools still playing on grass. Who's left? NW, Mich St, Penn St, and Notre Dame?

Notre Dame switched to artificial in 2014. I believe the other 3 are still natural.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

The Vikings just replaced theirs too for whatever reason. How an indoor field is ruined in 2 years is beyond my understanding.

Its all the covering and uncovering and loading in and out of big events. When the Rams were still in StL, they were tearing out the turf at the end of the season and reinstalling in August because it was cheaper than trying to do the upkeep with all the other events killing it.

Iowa State wouldn't have that problem. Most FieldTurf lasts 8-10 years when its just used as an athletic surface.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

The Vikings just replaced theirs too for whatever reason. How an indoor field is ruined in 2 years is beyond my understanding.

That's because of the number of extra events they host. i was in there last year when they were getting ready for the X Games and they lay down panels on top of the surface for protection. Over time I'm sure the weight takes it's toll.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Notre Dame switched to artificial in 2014. I believe the other 3 are still natural.

That's right!

 

[boone7247]

Why don't we go to the hybrid system that is starting to be used for soccer overseas? They are combination synthetic and real turf. Soccer teams prefer real grass, but the major leagues overseas run August-May, so they have survive the winter. So they lay strips of synthetic grass, and then the natural grass grows in between, so the majority of the field is natural, but there is a synthetic weave to add additional support.

 

[CyBobby]

Football should be played on Grass. Plus, I can't stand the black dust from turf.

I agree and Vote for a Natural Grass Field...and their is growing proof that those dang pellets on a artificial turf field are Cancerous.......

 

[awd4cy]

I’d be fine with artificial turf.

 

[rpcyclone2013]

I made the comment to the people that I sit around that I think we'll have artificial turf next year. It's unfortunate because the grass looks so good. If only we had the money the Packers have... https://www.packers.com/news/new-turf-ready-to-welcome-packers-into-2018-season

 

[madguy30]

This is worse than blaming the refs.

Iowa's RBs got extra yardage due to poor tackling and angles.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

This is worse than blaming the refs.

Iowa's RBs got extra yardage due to poor tackling and angles.

My opinions about the playing service have nothing to do with Saturday... It's not hard to see that the benefits far outweigh the negatives at this point.

 

[isufbcurt]

I actually preferred playing on the field turf.

 

[madguy30]

My opinions about the playing service have nothing to do with Saturday... It's not hard to see that the benefits far outweigh the negatives at this point.

Yeah, I'm not against field turf, but the OP is reaching for reasons besides that ISU has a ways to go.

 

[Trice]

They went back after just 5 years.
https://slapthesign.com/2019/04/01/notre-dame-stadium-switching-back-to-grass-for-2019-season/

Read the last line of that story:
In case you have not checked your calendar today, Happy April Fool’s Day, y’all.

Notre Dame still uses turf, though they did temporarily cover it with a natural surface for some soccer game earlier this summer.

 

[VeloClone]

Read the last line of that story:
In case you have not checked your calendar today, Happy April Fool’s Day, y’all.

Notre Dame still uses turf, though they did temporarily cover it with a natural surface for some soccer game earlier this summer.

They got me. I am generally pretty careful about news stories on April 1, but I saw this much later when I was looking for the year that ND went artificial. I didn't read all of the blather in the story.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

The grass at JTS is awesome, but I'd be just fine with the artificial stuff. I'm starting to think Campbell is going to advocate for the same starting next season.

Yes, this season---grass looked awesome during media day. Will be a travesty later in the season

Not sure how you can discount Brock slipping after the hiked ball in a crucial part of the 4th quarter.. or Iowa getting 1st downs late running--when our defense had their RB's caught for no-gain, until our defenders slipped.

Not sure how this field is 'awesome' in November/Dec. All you have to do is re-watch the Drake game. (see that amazing grass field below)

With two wet games in a row in September (an an idiotic bye-week Sept 6 while it was 80 degrees and sunny) , adds to this disaster

Kene Nwangwu vs DRAKE?. He had 2-3 returns he could of taken to the house for a TD. Yet he slipped on our amazing turf after his first cut upfield.

 

[iowastatefan1929]

yes lets replace the natural grass so we can have our dry sunny fall weather back.
cause you know thats whats gonna happen once we replace the grass.
i never remember it being this humid this far into september.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

yes lets replace the natural grass so we can have our dry sunny fall weather back.
cause you know thats whats gonna happen once we replace the grass.
i never remember it being this humid this far into september.

I take it you weren't at the OU game last year...

 

[iowastatefan1929]

I take it you weren't at the OU game last year...

sorry no. was it really humid? i am kind of lumping the last 2 years together. last year was extremely odd weather. i thought this year would be different a few weeks ago but it continues to be weird.

 

[iowastatefan1929]

the only thing that makes living in the state hospitable was the beautiful fall weather we got every year. if i wasnt so entrenched it would be tough to stay.