It seems that synthetic grass is increasingly being installed in sports stadiums worldwide. This has led to a debate in sporting circles around the efficacy of this medium and its appropriacy for use in sporting venues. The debate centres around a number of factors including maintenance costs, durability, personal safety and environmental issues.
Synthetic grass requires very little maintenance in comparison to natural grasses. Natural grass requires watering mowing fertilising and pest control. Synthetic grass doesn’t need any of these things. In addition, artificial grass remains green and lush looking all year round whatever the weather conditions. Consequently, sports stadiums retain their pristine appearance and offer an optimal playing surface without being prone to the seasonal wear and tear which affects natural playing surfaces.
Synthetic grass is also highly durable and can deal easily with the demands set by high-traffic areas in sports stadiums with natural grass such as goal mouths on a soccer field. So there will be no need to reseed the surface and a reduced likelihood of the need for repair. In fact, synthetic grass is designed to withstand heavy usage and intense sporting activity whilst showing little or no sign of damage. So naturally there will be less interruption to sporting schedules as a result of the need for maintenance on an artificial surface. Furthermore, synthetic grass can be used immediately after being installed and also after heavy rain or snow showers.
However, there are still some concerns about player safety while using synthetic grass surfaces. The results of studies are inconclusive and indicate a higher incidence of specific injuries such as joint damage and impact-related issues. But developments in synthetic grass are ongoing and are starting to produce softer and more shock-absorbent artificial playing surfaces which mimic the cushioning offered by natural grass. Research continues to investigate these and other safety concerns.
Nowadays environmental issues also need to be considered. Although synthetic grass does not need to be watered fertilised or treated for pests, there are environmental issues around its production and disposal once it is no longer needed. Non-renewable resources are used in its manufacture and the turf itself is not biodegradable. However certain manufacturers are starting to produce recyclable synthetic grass and some initiatives have surfaced to support these efforts.
Cost is another factor which merits consideration. Although synthetic grass can be expensive to install long-term maintenance costs are minimal. On the other hand, while natural playing surfaces are cheaper to install their overall maintenance costs can be high. So a delicate balance has to be struck by stadium administrators who need to be aware of a wide range of costing factors.
So to summarise although synthetic grass offers the advantages of lower maintenance costs higher durability and lack of downtime, concerns relating to the safety of sports people environmental issues and initial installation costs are still to be considered. However, research and advances in design are starting to address these problems such that synthetic grass is indeed a viable alternative to natural grasses for many stadium administrators.
