Stadium Renovations, Uniform Changes

[Rocket89]

The team spends the vast majority of its time on a new indoor field. Figuring out natural grass in there will be the biggest challenge.

ND will probably go back to grass inside the stadium within 5 to 10 years.

 

[BeauBenken]

Every story about this references a statement made by the NFLPA last April showing there were higher rates on turf annually for the previous 6 years. I have looked but cannot find a peer-reviewed study proving their claims. There are no NFLPA data regarding any other factors or even methodology that determined turf was at fault.

There was a study sponsored by the NFL showing the opposite, but I haven't dug into it yet, but I'm not expecting much.

Not saying the NFLPA are right or wrong. I just hate how media and fans lap this shit up with no criticality at all.

Someone should look into NFL injury rates on Sundays. I bet those are sky-high.

What would the players or the NFLPA have to gain by getting grass back in the stadiums other than player safety?

Meanwhile the NFL and owners have money to save by keeping the turf.

 

[ulukinatme]

The team spends the vast majority of its time on a new indoor field. Figuring out natural grass in there will be the biggest challenge.

ND will probably go back to grass inside the stadium within 5 to 10 years.

Based on what evidence?

 

[Lberry]

What would the players or the NFLPA have to gain by getting grass back in the stadiums other than player safety?

Meanwhile the NFL and owners have money to save by keeping the turf.

The NFL PA reps are voted on. It looks cool to make noise, no matter how legitimate.

 

[Rocket89]

Based on what evidence?

Health and safety, public perception, and it's what the vast majority of players prefer to play on.

I have a hard time seeing all of this being ignored in the coming years. ND can figure it out.

 

[Huntr]

What would the players or the NFLPA have to gain by getting grass back in the stadiums other than player safety?

Meanwhile the NFL and owners have money to save by keeping the turf.

What if there were more important factors than just turf v grass that the NFLPA has now spent 6 years ignoring?

 

[Giddyup]

What if there were more important factors than just turf v grass that the NFLPA has now spent 6 years ignoring?

NFLPA is worthless. Leaders of it probably bought off

 

[ulukinatme]

Health and safety, public perception, and it's what the vast majority of players prefer to play on.

I have a hard time seeing all of this being ignored in the coming years. ND can figure it out.

It would be a first. I haven't seen any teams switch back to grass, not any north of the Mason Dixon line anyway. The only teams I know that switched back are Arkansas and Ole Miss, both southern teams that aren't as affected as northern teams when it comes to weather on surfaces.

 

[mango4]

It would be a first. I haven't seen any teams switch back to grass, not any north of the Mason Dixon line anyway. The only teams I know that switched back are Arkansas and Ole Miss, both southern teams that aren't as affected as northern teams when it comes to weather on surfaces.

I believe the Texas AD has also said they plan on going back to grass but, again, a southern team.

 

[Rocket89]

It would be a first. I haven't seen any teams switch back to grass, not any north of the Mason Dixon line anyway. The only teams I know that switched back are Arkansas and Ole Miss, both southern teams that aren't as affected as northern teams when it comes to weather on surfaces.

I think there will be a slow trickle down effect in the coming years. The Bills are switching back to grass in 2026 when their new stadium opens, for example.

We might not see every program switch, but I'd bet most of the big and wealthy programs will switch to grass at some point.

 

[Irish#1]

I wish they had grass, kept it well, and then let it grow out a few weeks before USC, or OSU, showed up.

I’ve never understood this line of thinking. Both teams have to play on the field, so it’s going to “slow down” ND players too.

Agree NDB

1976 ND vs. Pitt. I get to my seat and see the grass is noticeably longer and tell the wife it's to slow down Tony Dorsett. Second play from scrimmage, Dorsett goes off tackle for about a 70YD TD. lol

 

[Irish#1]

For NFL teams, those stadiums get rented out for a lot of events besides football. Much easier to prep with artificial turf and less $$$ involved.

Purdue has Prescription Turf they invented decades ago that has some type of irrigation and drainage system that allows the grass to hold up quite well. It's actually Bermuda grass that is more prevalent in the south.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Agree NDB

1976 ND vs. Pitt. I get to my seat and see the grass is noticeably longer and tell the wife it's to slow down Tony Dorsett. Second play from scrimmage, Dorsett goes off tackle for about a 70YD TD. lol

I don't know, I would rather race Husain Bolt in a wheat field than on a track.

 

[FOTY977]

I don't know, I would rather race Husain Bolt in a wheat field than on a track.

I’d be fine with racing Husain Bolt anywhere, any time

 

[Giddyup]

Pretty bold. Do we even know who Husain Bolt is yet?

 

[GowerND11]

It would be a first. I haven't seen any teams switch back to grass, not any north of the Mason Dixon line anyway. The only teams I know that switched back are Arkansas and Ole Miss, both southern teams that aren't as affected as northern teams when it comes to weather on surfaces.

Michigan State reverted.

Iowa has flipped back and forth

Michigan has flipped back and forth

Pitt (unfair I guess since they demo'ed their stadium and share with Steelers)

Temple (again, unfair with stadium share)

Iowa State

Colorado

Ohio State has flipped back and forth

Northwestern

Kent State has flipped back and forth

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Soldier Field and Notre Dame Stadium are right off of Lake Michigan. Soldier Field has grass and it's horrible. ND was horrible when it had grass. Ryan Field at Northwestern is also right off of the Lake and is generally not great. They had green concrete turf from 1973-1996.

Lambeau in Green Bay is also right off of the Lake and has had grass with synthetic fibers since 2018; and it seems to be a high performance field. Their field holds up far better than Soldier Field does. It is essentially the exact same thing the English football clubs have in the English Premier League.

The Bears are leaving Soldier Field in all likelihood and will have something indoors ala the Lions and Colts. I highly doubt ND is ever going indoors, so if they are going to stay outdoors, I'd stick with the turf.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Every time Aaron Rodgers gets injured, they have to change the way the game is played.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think there will be a slow trickle down effect in the coming years. The Bills are switching back to grass in 2026 when their new stadium opens, for example.

We might not see every program switch, but I'd bet most of the big and wealthy programs will switch to grass at some point.

That's a little different though. It's a new stadium with a canopy shielding 65% of the stadium from elements. Plus they've got some kind of "coil" system that will be build underground to help keep the surface warm.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I grew up playing football and lacrosse equally on both - natural grass and synthetic turf.

I'm sure the synthetic turf has improved greatly in 20+ years, but I always hated it. It had a "bouncy" feel that was unnatural and I always found that the synthetic turf caused you to constantly slip or lose footing when you planted your foot to make a hard cut. You'd also get something equivalent to a carpet burn. It just didn't feel natural - shocking.

Also, this really wouldn't be an issue for the northern schools, but whether it was a game or 7 vs 7, I remember playing on a few surfaces in Houston that were dangerously hot. It was already pushing triple digits - the synthetic surface seemed to add another 20 degrees. I also hated how the crumbled, recycled tire rubber would stick all over you as well.

 

[ulukinatme]

Michigan State reverted.

Iowa has flipped back and forth

Michigan has flipped back and forth

Pitt (unfair I guess since they demo'ed their stadium and share with Steelers)

Temple (again, unfair with stadium share)

Iowa State

Colorado

Ohio State has flipped back and forth

Northwestern

Kent State has flipped back and forth

Good info, I couldn't find anything at first other than Arkansas and Ole Miss.

 

[NDohio]

For NFL teams, those stadiums get rented out for a lot of events besides football. Much easier to prep with artificial turf and less $$$ involved.

Purdue has Prescription Turf they invented decades ago that has some type of irrigation and drainage system that allows the grass to hold up quite well. It's actually Bermuda grass that is more prevalent in the south.

Having grown up playing soccer in OH and then moving to the south while my daughter played soccer I was very envious of her getting to play on Bermuda grass. Such a great surface to play sports on.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

For NFL teams, those stadiums get rented out for a lot of events besides football. Much easier to prep with artificial turf and less $$$ involved.

Purdue has Prescription Turf they invented decades ago that has some type of irrigation and drainage system that allows the grass to hold up quite well. It's actually Bermuda grass that is more prevalent in the south.

It helps that Purdue has a substantial Turf Management department of folks to draw on, that’s for sure.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Often times the issue isn't merely the weather, but the alignment of the stadium and how much sun gets on the playing surface.

The Patriots changed to Field Turf a few years after moving into Gillette Stadium because there simply wasn't enough sun hitting the surface October through January to keep the field in an acceptable condition. Don't know what that impact might have on ND, but it'd need to be a consideration.

 

[Giddyup]

Grass movement is picking up steam in US

 

[Giddyup]

 

[Rocket89]

That's a little different though. It's a new stadium with a canopy shielding 65% of the stadium from elements. Plus they've got some kind of "coil" system that will be build underground to help keep the surface warm.

Notre Dame is due for a nice dig underneath the stadium!

Any project would take a huge investment, of course. And they shouldn't just roll out some sod and call it a day if they were to switch back. But like I said, it's kind of irrelevant unless they figure out the AIC situation because that's where most of the hours come for the players.

 

[IrishSpartan]

I don’t think ND has an agricultural department? Could be wrong but the schools that do have grass almost always have a very good agriculture program

 

[arndtjc]

I wish they had grass, kept it well, and then let it grow out a few weeks before USC, or OSU, showed up.

This was a great strategy when our talent and speed level didn’t match up with programs like that. Those days are behind us

Edit: @NDohio beat me to it

 

[SoIll]

MSN

No way this 10 year deal goes the distance.. Over under 4 years?