Artificial turf was first introduced in the U.S. as a way to make sports fields easier to maintain. Eventually, artificial turf was used for all kinds of sports surfaces: soccer fields, football fields, baseball diamonds, batting cages, and golf putting greens. Today, athletic turf is more popular than ever – particularly in places like Colorado where the changing weather conditions across seasons can make it difficult to maintain and repair fields that rely on natural grass. To better understand why so many people are choosing to install athletic turf on sports fields, it is important to know the history of athletic turf. What are its origins, and how has it evolved over time?
Read this blog to learn more about the history of athletic turf.
The Origins of Athletic Turf in the United States
Artificial turf was first developed in the 1960s, with its primary purpose being for use as a safe and easy-to-maintain surface for athletic fields. Synthetic turf was installed in the Houston Astrodome in 1966 and used by the major league baseball team for all of its home games. The turf soon became known as “AstroTurf,” taking its name from the stadium.
The Astrodome was also the site of the first-ever pro football game to use artificial turf: in 1968, the Houston Oilers played an American Football League (AFL) game on AstroTurf. Just one year later, the first National Football League (NFL) team played a game on artificial turf: the Philadelphia Eagles installed AstroTurf on their home field, Franklin Field.
The Evolution of Athletic Turf in the U.S.
The turf used in the Astrodome was originally called ChemGrass, but it was later rebranded as AstroTurf. Players noted that the ball tended to bounce higher on artificial turf, which meant that they had to position themselves farther back when playing defense.
One of the reasons that artificial turf was initially used in dome stadiums was that it could otherwise be difficult for real grass to get sufficient sunlight or water on enclosed fields. In 1969, the Chicago White Sox installed AstroTurf at Comiskey Park. This was the first time a professional sports team installed synthetic turf in an outdoor stadium.
In the 1970s, several other MLB teams also installed artificial turf: the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium, the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium, and the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. Other types of artificial turf were later used in other sports stadiums, including Miami’s Orange Bowl for the 1971 Super Bowl.
Soon, artificial turf became popular in other contexts, including residential landscapes.
Artificial Turf Is Used on All Types of Sports Fields Today
Although most professional baseball teams eventually made the switch back to natural grass, several MLB stadiums still use artificial turf today. Additionally, nearly half of the football teams in the NFL have stadiums with synthetic grass surfaces.
Athletic turf is also used for other types of sports fields, including:
- Golf: Artificial grass enjoys widespread use on golf courses, including driving ranges and putting greens.
- Tennis: Many indoor tennis courts also use artificial grass.
- European Sports: Artificial turf is a popular surface on fields in international sports leagues, including the Canadian Football League (CFL), European cricket, and English Premiership Rugby. For football games in Canada, artificial turf is used because it holds up better against the harsh weather that hits the country during winter months.
Historically, athletic turf tended to be tougher on players’ bodies because the grass was installed over a concrete base. This could affect the lower portions of the body, including the lower back and legs. For some athletes, artificial turf was known to increase the risk of injury during competition. However, modern athletic turf is much safer for use by athletes because it contains sturdier fibers and stronger materials.
Artificial Grasscapes Is the Top Provider of Athletic Turf for Colorado Sports Fields
Are you thinking about installing athletic turf on a sports field in Colorado? Artificial Grasscapes of Castle Rock can create a specialized artificial turf solution to meet all your needs, whether it’s for a football or soccer field, an indoor gym, or a golf putting green in your backyard.
Call us today at 720-425-6437 or fill out the online contact form below.