Detroit Lions Invest In New Field Turf At Ford Field
DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have announced that the FieldTurf surface at Ford Field is being upgraded with a new FieldTurf Classic HD surface. The new surface will replace the original FieldTurf which was installed in 2002, the inaugural season at Ford Field.
The installation, which begins today, is scheduled to be completed by late February.
"Over the past 11 seasons, FieldTurf has provided us with a reliable and player-friendly surface to prepare and play," said Detroit Lions Team President Tom Lewand. "We're very excited to have FieldTurf upgrade their original surface at Ford Field and look forward to having one of the best and most durable NFL playing fields for years to come."
"FieldTurf is thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the Detroit Lions," said FieldTurf President Eric Daliere. "We are delighted by the tremendous confidence the entire organization has shown in our company and we are pleased that the Lions are as excited as we are to have FieldTurf Classic HD installed at Ford Field."
The Lions are one of seven NFL teams to play their home games on FieldTurf, a group that includes the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks. More NFL teams play on FieldTurf than any other synthetic surface. In total, 22 of the NFL's 32 teams have chosen FieldTurf for their stadiums and/or practices facilities.
FieldTurf emerged as the leader among all artificial turf brands for the 10th consecutive year in the 2010 National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Playing Surfaces Opinion Survey – a survey conducted by the NFLPA ranking the league's 31 stadium fields. Three out of the league's top four artificial surfaces were FieldTurf fields.
In addition to NFL fields, more than 100 major NCAA universities have FieldTurf in their stadiums, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers, Missouri, Washington, Louisville, West Virginia and Fresno State.
FieldTurf is the result of years of research - evident in the patented FieldTurf infill mix of silica sand and cryogenic rubber and patented layering process that delivers a system which emulates natural grass. Additional benefits are found in improved player safety and reduced maintenance costs.
