All Weather Usage
Natural grass fields will turn to mud in a moderate to heavy rain or snow. Not only is it a messy situation for those playing at the time. Playing in wet weather can completely tear up a field, potentially requiring the entire field to be replanted and out of commission for a while. For an artificial turf field, however, rain or shine, players will leave a perfect field behind every time, reducing field maintenance costs and downtime.
Durable, No Down Time
Artificial turf athletic fields are versatile and can endure multiple consecutive games and practices. After heavy-use, natural grass turf needs a period of recovery before it can be played on again. If you are organizing several consecutive sporting events in a busy venue, the necessary field recovery time can limit or interfere with your packed calendar, and greatly effect the field’s potential income. For multi-purpose sports fields, or even single-sport fields with frequent events and games, artificial turf is the best solution. It requires no recovery time and is ready to go as soon as the previous team clears the field.
Reduced Cost and Maintenance, Improved Performance
Maintenance costs, especially over the long term, are much higher for natural grass fields than for synthetic grass surfaces. Natural grass requires regular watering, fertilizing, mowing, seeding and pest control, which can cost thousands of dollars in materials and labor.
What’s more, after installation, artificial turf is ready for use on day one. Preparation for natural turf takes much longer and requires significant attention and care as the seasons change. As time passes, certain areas will wear down more than others, leaving the look of the field patchy and inconsistent. And some of those bare spots can even effect ball roll or bounce, player movement, etc. It must be regularly mowed, fertilized, watered, weeded, etc. It’s often necessary to use pesticides, which can spread into surrounding areas and leach into nearby water sources. Fertilizer can have similarly harmful effects on nearby areas in addition to consuming a considerable amount of time and money. The frequent watering can drive water expenditures through the roof. It can be an environmental nightmare. None of these problems associated with growing and maintaining grass are present in an artificial turf field.
Impact on Game Play
Artificial turf fields allow groundskeepers more control over field consistency. Every fiber of an artificial turf field is manufactured to be a replica of the one next to it, so no areas are uneven or differently textured to alter the speed of a ball or the ability of a player to find footing. Natural grass creates more friction than artificial turf, a factor that accelerates rates at which objects move across its surface. Because synthetic grass is woven into secure backing, players may also achieve more secure footing despite the reduced friction, allowing more precise turning and stopping.
Reduced Injury Impact
Celebrity Greens synthetic turf uses polyethylene fibers that produce significantly less friction between the playing surface and players’ skin compared to both natural grass and older versions of synthetic turf, reducing the likelihood of abrasions or friction-based injuries. Additionally, the consistency of the surface, the elimination of rocks and other debris, as well as the elimination of dirt patches, make for more predictable ball roll and fewer injuries to players.