AstroTurf

AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. The original AstroTurf product was a short-pile synthetic turf.^[1] Since the early 2000s decade, AstroTurf has marketed taller systems that utilize infill materials to better replicate natural grass.^[2] The prime reason to incorporate AstroTurf on game fields is to avoid the cost of laying and maintaining natural turf and to maximize hours of usage. Today AstroTurf is a member of the SportGroup, a family of sports surfacing companies.^[3]

History

AstroTurf installation at Boston College's Alumni Stadium

The original AstroTurf brand product was co-invented in 1965 by Donald L. Elbert, James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright. It was patented in 1965 and originally sold under the name "ChemGrass." It was re-branded as AstroTurf by a company employee named John A. Wortmann after its first well-publicized use at the Houston Astrodome stadium in 1966.^[4]

Early iterations of the short pile turf swept the major stadia, but the product did need improvement. Concerns over directionality and traction led Monsanto's R&D department to implement a texturized nylon system. By imparting a crimped texture to the nylon after it was extruded, the product became highly uniform.

In 1987, Monsanto consolidated its AstroTurf management, marketing, and technical activities in Dalton, Georgia, as AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1988, Balsam AG purchased all the capital stock of AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1994, Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. (SRI) acquired the AstroTurf brand. In 1996, SRI was acquired by American Sports Products Group Inc. (ASPG).

While AstroTurf was the industry leader throughout the late 20th century, other companies emerged in the early 2000s. FieldTurf, AstroTurf's chief competitor since the early 2000s, marketed a product of tall pile polyethylene turf with infill. This third generation turf, as it became known, changed the landscape of the marketplace. Although SRI successfully marketed AstroPlay, a third generation turf product, increased competition gave way to lawsuits. In 2000, SRI was awarded $1.5 million in a lawsuit after FieldTurf was deemed to have lied to the public by making false statements regarding its own product and making false claims about AstroTurf and AstroPlay products.^[5]

Despite their legal victory, increased competition took its toll. In 2004, SRI declared bankruptcy.^[6] Out of the bankruptcy proceedings, Textile Management Associates, Inc. (TMA) of Dalton, Georgia, acquired the AstroTurf brand and other assets. TMA began marketing the AstroTurf brand under the company AstroTurf, LLC. In 2006, General Sports Venue (GSV) became TMA's marketing partner for the AstroTurf brand for the American market. AstroTurf, LLC handled the marketing of AstroTurf in the rest of the world.^[7]

In 2009, TMA acquired GSV in order to enter the marketplace as a direct seller. AstroTurf, LLC focused its efforts on research and development, which has promoted rapid growth. AstroTurf introduced new product features and installation methods, including AstroFlect (a heat reduction technology)^[8] and field prefabrication (indoor, climate-controlled inlaying).^[9] AstroTurf also introduced a product called "RootZone" consisting of crimped fibers designed to encapsulate infill.^[10] This product has been adopted by many professional organizations and colleges in the United States.^[11]

In 2016, SportGroup Holding announced that it would purchase AstroTurf, along with its associated manufacturing facilities. The AstroTurf brand now operates in North America as AstroTurf Corporation.^[12]

Product and installation timeline

1960s

1964

• The Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, installs ChemGrass.^[13][14]

1966

• First major installation of AstroTurf (ChemGrass) at the Houston Astrodome indoor stadium for the Houston Astros. The infield portion was in place before opening day in April; the outfield was installed in early summer.

1967

• AstroTurf is first installed in an outdoor stadium—Memorial Stadium at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.^[15]

1968

• AstroTurf manufacturing facility opens in Dalton, Georgia.^[16]

1969

• The backyard of The Brady Bunch house between the service porch and garage and under Tiger's kennel is covered with AstroTurf. According to script development notes, the installation firm hired by Mike to lay the turf was owned by his college roommate who had just started a landscaping business after returning from a combat tour in Vietnam with the 18th Engineer Brigade. However, in keeping with strict studio instructions no direct mention of the war in Vietnam ever appears in the script. The scene in which the installation takes place was ultimately cut and so never appears in the series.^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]}

1970s

1970

• The 1970 World Series is the first with games on AstroTurf (previously installed at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium), as the Reds play the Baltimore Orioles.^[23]

1973

• The Buffalo Bills' home field of Ralph Wilson Stadium opens in Orchard Park, New York.

1974

• The Miami Dolphins face the Minnesota Vikings on AstroTurf in Super Bowl VIII – Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas.^[24]

1975

• The first international field hockey game is played on AstroTurf at Molson Stadium, Montreal.^[25]

1980s

1980

• The Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals play the entire 1980 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.

1984

• AstroTurf installs the first North American vertical drainage systems in Ewing, New Jersey at Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey).^[26]

1989

• The first E-Layer system (Elastomeric) is installed at William and Mary, as well as University of California, Berkeley.^[27]

1990s

1993

• The 1993 World Series was the fourth (and last) World Series to be played entirely on artificial turf, following those in 1980, 1985, and 1987, and the last to have any games played on turf until 2008. As of 2017, only two MLB teams still play on artificial turf, and both are in the American League East and play on AstroTurf: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays.

1999

• Real Madrid C.F. (Spain) becomes the first European football club to purchase an AstroTurf system for their practice fields.^[28]

2000s

2004

• AstroPlay installed at University of South Carolina Indoor Football Practice Facility

2005

• Florida State University installs AstroTurf's XPE product

2006

• Knitted nylon short-pile turf (AstroTurf 12) installed for field hockey at Harvard University

2007

• Three AstroTurf XPE fields installed at Pennsylvania State University

2008

• Old Dominion University installs AstroTurf 3D for football program at Foreman Field and Practice Field

2009

• AstroTurf 3D installed at University of Oregon Rec Fields and Russell Training Center of the St. Louis Rams
• AstroTurf introduces new baseball product that replicates grass and clay. Baseball system is installed at Wichita State University

2010s

2010

• AstroTurf selected as The Official Synthetic Turf of Major League Baseball and baseball systems are chosen by Toronto Blue Jays and University of Kansas
• Edward Jones Dome installs AstroTurf's Magic Carpet System, a fully retractable field, for the St. Louis Rams.
• AstroTurf 3D systems installed for football teams at University of Cincinnati, Orlando Citrus Bowl, Stanford University, University of Tennessee
• AstroTurf 3D systems installed for soccer and lacrosse use at Stanford University and James Madison University

2011

• AstroTurf 3DXtreme introduced, which blends monofilament and slit film fibers for combined grass-like aesthetics and high durability. Installed at Home Depot Center for NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, played in early 2012
• AstroTurf 3D system replaces FieldTurf installation at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium for Kansas State University's football team
• AstroTurf baseball product chosen by Kansas State University, Long Island University, Ohio State University, Tampa Bay Rays, Virginia Tech
• AstroTurf XPE installed for Penn State's lacrosse field

2012

• Boston College, Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Utah State University select AstroTurf 3D for football teams
• Indiana University and Vanderbilt University install AstroTurf baseball products
• Cornell University installs AstroTurf infield product for softball
• Intramural programs around the country install AstroTurf infilled surfaces, including James Madison University, Liberty University, Ohio State University, University of Tennessee, and Utah State

2013

• Liberty University, Oklahoma State install AstroTurf for football
• Alamodome, Dallas Baptist University, University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University select AstroTurf baseball products
• Four out of 16 host sites for 2013 NCAA Baseball Tournament feature AstroTurf baseball surfaces
• AstroTurf GT+ soccer field is FIFA certified at Marshall University
• Four 3DH fields at Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Virginia are FIFA certified
• Field Hockey pitches surge — short pile AstroTurf 12 installed at University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, USA Field Hockey Training Facility at Virginia Beach, Stanford University, University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Boston University, Ohio University, Bowdoin College, Spooky Nook Sports Complex, Yale University

2014

• Oklahoma State, Alamodome, UMass Amherst, Rice University install AstroTurf 3D football fields in stadiums
• Ball State, Iowa, Northwestern, Portland, Richmond, Seattle U all select AstroTurf Diamond Series for baseball stadiums
• Boston College installs AstroTurf for soccer field
• Appalachian State, Boston College, UC Davis, Davidson College, Penn State, and University of Toronto choose AstroTurf field hockey surfaces

2015

• AstroTurf introduces Golden Series turf systems, featuring a dense carpet structure over a pad and an infill which absorbs water to cool the field.
• University of Delaware, Liberty University, University of South Carolina all install one or more AstroTurf football fields
• Abilene Christian University, Dallas Baptist, Sam Houston State, West Virginia University install AstroTurf baseball fields in stadiums
• Central Michigan University, University of South Dakota, Loyola Marymount install AstroTurf soccer pitches
• Northwestern, UC Berkeley, Longwood, and UMass Amherst install AstroTurf field hockey systems
• Abilene Christian selects AstroTurf for new softball field

2016

• June 28, 2016 AstroTurf announces it would be bought by SportGroup, a German-based sports surfacing company. The acquisition would form the largest sports surfacing company in the world.
• University of San Francisco, University of Oklahoma, Western Kentucky University, Sam Houston State, Central Missouri, and George Fox University install AstroTurf baseball fields
• University of West Florida, Sam Houston State, Midwestern State select AstroTurf football fields
• University of Oregon installs softball field from AstroTurf
• Northeastern University, Tufts, Temple, Ursinus, Wake Forest, Old Dominion University install AstroTurf field hockey pitches
• University of San Francisco, Lynchburg College, Midwestern State install AstroTurf for soccer fields
• Bristol Motor Speedway installs AstroTurf for a game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Tennessee Volunteers

References

External links

• Official website