NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
This is the third story in Sportico’s Turf Wars series, examining the business decisions behind choosing natural grass or artificial turf for an NFL stadium.
The year 2024 brings a new dynamic to the “natural grass versus synthetic turf” debate in NFL stadiums: The possibility of a state banning turf in NFL stadiums and thus taking the choice of playing surface away from NFL teams.
More from Sportico.com
The overarching debate is not new. Playing on artificial turf—generally, but not always, associated with higher injury rates and additional wear and tear on players—has led to multiple medical studies concerning injury probabilities for NFL players and other athletes when playing on the different field surfaces. The debate also tends to rise in prominence when an NFL star suffers an injury possibly because of the surface, like when Jets QB Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon last year while playing on FieldTurf CORE used at MetLife Stadium.
The NFLPA has described synthetic turf as an unsafe working condition, a position the union says is supported by studies finding turf is associated with higher injury rates. Earlier this year, NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell relayed survey data finding that 92% of NFL players want to play on grass. NFL players have said that playing on turf leads to more soreness and stiffness, including to hamstrings.
But what has traditionally been a health and safety debate, often between the NFL and its players’ association, is gradually morphing into a legal one.
Take for example the Ohio legislature, which is considering House Bill (H.B.) 605. If it becomes law, H.B. 605 would require that the playing surface of all professional sporting stadiums in Ohio be composed of not less than 90% natural grass. Although the bill wouldn’t impact the Cleveland Browns, who play on a grass field in Cleveland Browns Stadium, it would compel major changes for the Cincinnati Bengals, who play on a synthetic turf field at Paycor…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/turf-wars-nfl-playing-surface-095500325.html
Author : Sportico
Publish date : 2024-09-05 09:55:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
