FAMOUS INSTALLATION: MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM

Before FieldTurf Australia was formed in 2018 after the acquisition of Grassman Pty Ltd by Tarkett Sports, the FieldTurf brand was well recognised worldwide. Just over two decades of industry experience and innovation provided a multitude of installations across many continents, most notably, North America and Europe. One of these installations is our feature for this month, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is host to the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United (MLS). FieldTurf has been the surface of choice for the stadium since 2017, while also being the preferred supplier of artificial grass for the previous stadium, Georgia Dome.

The parent company for both organisations is AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE), who have stated they will require a new turf instalment every two-three years due to the heavy and multi-purpose use of the facilities. This constant change evolves with FieldTurf’s dedication to sustainable and economical practices. For example, the most recent installation at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium replaced components of the old field without them having to go to landfill. Instead, they were transformed into pallets of composite wood to be used for decking, sliding, and advanced chemical recycling.

FieldTurf’s CORE was the fibre of choice for the Mercedes-Benz Installation. With over 20 years of innovation and expertise, CORE brought the first multi-layer dual-polymer. This serves as a biodegradable system that is durable and resilient. Great for the environment, and great for the players, it’s a win-win solution. Not only was there excitement around the theory of CORE, it’s practical application is backed by the highest ever performance score handed out by Labsosport, an Index Score of 90. This testing was conducted by Penn State University’s Research Centre.

This famous installation represents the ‘change the game’ slogan that can be viewed throughout all FieldTurf media. As seen by the recycled material of the old material, the actions taken meet the words spoken. For FieldTurf, it comes down to offering a program that has the lowest impact on people and our planet.