Please install field turf

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by SteelCityMan786

Don't they hold all the concerts on the Scoreboard End?????

Yeah they do. But since they have seating on the field, they have to cover it up with something hard, which along with 4,000 people walking around and sitting in the seats, does not help the grass surface one bit. Plus, let's not forget the annual Rib Cook-Off they hold there for an entire weekend during the summer, where again the field is covered so that people can walk around on it.

Sorry, but you're going to have to give up the "grass is best" mentality if they are unable to find a suitable grass to withstand all of that punishment. There is a reason why they don't allow anyone near the grass at PNC Park or hold a lot of events on the field there, and it ain't strictly because the Nuttings aren't community-friendly.

[stlrtruck]

Let's not forget they also share the field with the Pitt Panthers! Another game to tear at the field.

I love the grass field but, XT is right, you've got to find something better if you are going to put the field under that much abuse!

[memphissteelergirl]

Originally Posted by stlrtruck

Let's not forget they also share the field with the Pitt Panthers! Another game to tear at the field.

I love the grass field but, XT is right, you've got to find something better if you are going to put the field under that much abuse!

Good point about sharing with Pitt...and correct me if I am wrong but aren't high school playoff games played there also?

Yeah something has to be done about that...not only does it just look bad but it's potentially dangerous for the players.

[stlrtruck]

Originally Posted by memphissteelergirl

Good point about sharing with Pitt...and correct me if I am wrong but aren't high school playoff games played there also?

Yeah something has to be done about that...not only does it just look bad but it's potentially dangerous for the players.

I'm certain you are correct about the high school playoffs too. That's a lot of traffic on a field.

[Atlanta Dan]

I think it unfortunately is "old school" teams not willing to bend to new field technology.

The Bears blew around $75,000 (and are in a dispute with the Chicago Parks Dept. regarding who pays for it) for that lovely two tone resodding job both teams were slipping and sliding on last Sunday in the NFC Championship.

If the Steelers are willing to upgrade the scorebaord they should be willing to upgrade the field.

Maybe Rendell can put together a "Plan B" to pay for a new field since I do think this is a $$$ issue.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

I think it unfortunately is "old school" teams not willing to bend to new field technology.

The Bears blew around $75,000 (and are in a dispute with the Chicago Parks Dept. regarding who pays for it) for that lovely two tone resodding job both teams were slipping and sliding on last Sunday in the NFC Championship.

If the Steelers are willing to upgrade the scorebaord they should be willing to upgrade the field.

Maybe Rendell can put together a "Plan B" to pay for a new field since I do think this is a $$$ issue.

The Steelers would be responsible for any upgrades to the stadium - it's written into the lease. It cost them over a million bucks to put the DD GrassMaster system in, and I guess they want to get every last nickel out of it before they decide to tear it up. Unfortunately, they are putting players at risk by keeping that surface, and not simply their own. You don't think the parents of a high school player would try to sue the Steelers if he gets hurt as a result of the poor field conditions?

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by stlrtruck

I'm certain you are correct about the high school playoffs too. That's a lot of traffic on a field.

Yes, you are correct - the high school championship games are played there and all on the same day in late November, when the field is already in horrible shape from the Steelers and Panthers having played at least 12 combined games there by that point.

[Justin Otstott]

I say tear the crap up and give us turf!!!

[SCSTILLER]

Another correct me if I am wrong post! But isn't the grass planted into a sand base. It looks like that on TV. I am in South Carolina (sand frikin everywhere) and the grass that is grown over sand does not hold up as well as on dirt. In my house I bought I had sand under the grass and it was getting torn up just by the dog running on it. I then put down real dirt and sod and it is so much stronger. I think that if the field is sand based that could be a huge problem. But no matter what, I am a huge fan of grass playing surfaces. It is the way football was meant to be played.

[Atlanta Dan]

I think the problem is when you resod in the Northeast and Midwest after Halloween the grass cannot take root. In addition to the Steelers cow pasture and the Bears mess, Ohio State resodded the field before the Michigan game and both sides were slipping on that turf.

I am old enough to remember in pre-artificial turfs days a lot of teams just ended up playing on dirt or mud by December with no effort to resod the field until the next season.
The return to grass outside the Sun Belt (after the rotten original generation of artificial turfs was abandoned) ignores both the realities of what grows in the winter and that the game is based a lot more on bursts of speed and cutting than it was when teams played on lousy natural fields in the 50s and 60s.

P.S. - I was joking about Rendell figuring out how to pay for the field, even though pro sports teams in Pittsburgh appear to think the answer to every funding issue is to get the taxpayers to foot the bill.