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'FieldTurf Tarkett', a division of Tarkett Inc., is a Montreal-based company that installs artificial turf playing surfaces identified by the FieldTurf trademark.

Contents

The Product

Business

Installations

Criticism

See also

References

External links

The Product

FieldTurf is an artificial turf composed of monofilament polyethylene blend fibers tufted into a polypropylene backing with a mixture of silica sand and cryogenic rubber infill. FieldTurf was patented in 1982.

Business

FieldTurf claims Southwest Recreational Industries (SRI), the former manufacturer of AstroTurf, allegedly duplicated the FieldTurf product and attempted to sue SRI for patent infringement. FieldTurf lost the suit for lack of evidence,^[1] and in late 2003 was ordered to reimburse Southwest Recreational Industries for approximately $4.3 million in legal expenses.^[2]
Following the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s affirmation of SRI Sports’ November, 2000 verdict against FieldTurf, FieldTurf paid SRI Sports $1,195,000 in September, 2002. The November, 2000 verdict arose from a jury’s finding that FieldTurf was guilty of false advertising and breach of contract. In conjunction with the November, 2000 trial, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas found that FieldTurf and its CEO John Gilman acted in bad faith and engaged in conduct that was intended to prevent a fair trial and constituted obstruction of justice in a Federal Court proceeding.^[1]

Installations

In 1999, one of the first FieldTurf installations in the USA occurred at the Metropolitan Oval, a soccer complex in New York City.
In 1999, Nebraska installed FieldTurf in Memorial Stadium. In 2006, Nebraska installed new FieldTurf that alternates between two shades of green every five yards.
Nevada installed FieldTurf at its Mackay Stadium in 2000. The playing surface had been natural grass for 34 seasons.
In 2000, FieldTurf was installed in the Washington's Husky Stadium, replacing the fifth astroturf surface, the original installed in 1968.
Husky Stadium was going to be used as the Seattle Seahawks home field for two years, following the implosion of the Kingdome in March 2000. This would be the first FieldTurf in the NFL. FieldTurf was also installed at Qwest Field (originally Seahawks Stadium) in 2002.[1] The original plans called for a natural grass field at the new stadium, but due to the favorable reactions from players while playing at Husky Stadium, the Seahawks had FieldTurf installed instead.
Washington State installed FieldTurf at its Martin Stadium in 2000. The playing surface had been sand-filled Omni-Turf for 10 seasons, preceded by astroturf, first installed in 1972.
The Oregon installed NexTurf in Autzen Stadium in 2001 but the surface did not perform as expected and during remodeling in 2002 it was removed and replaced with FieldTurf.
Colorado State installed FieldTurf at its Hughes Stadium in 2006. The playing surface had been natural grass for 38 seasons.
Several UK teams have installed it as a training pitch, but as of October 2006, only one club (Hamilton Academical F.C.) uses FieldTurf (installed in 2004) for their first-team matches. In 2005, Saprissa Stadium in San José, Costa Rica became the first stadium to host a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on FieldTurf.
On October 17, 2007, the England national team will play their first ever competitive match on this surface, in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Moscow, Russia.
The New England Patriots installed FieldTurf midway into the 2006 NFL season.^[4] The installation was made during a week where the team was on the road.
As of 2007, seven of the eight Canadian Football League teams have installed either FieldTurf or a similar surface, as well as approximately half of National Football League venues as well as several Major League Baseball stadiums (List of FieldTurf installations).
Super Bowl XL, featuring the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the first time that the Super Bowl has been played on FieldTurf. The Ford Field installation differs slightly from the standard installation as the recycled rubber used is made from Firestone tires.^[5]
Ohio State University replaced the prescription grass surface at its Ohio Stadium with FieldTurf in time for the 2007 football season.
East Brunswick High School replaced their natural grass field with Fieldturf in time for the 2007 season as well.

Criticism

In September 2006, several top Canadian soccer players appealed to the Canadian Soccer Association to install a natural grass surface at BMO Field in Toronto.^[6] The Association has however decided to install Fieldturf despite the players' request.
In addition, following David Beckham's move to MLS in 2007, in which he arrived carrying an ankle injury,^[7] he voiced his opinion that the league should convert to grass for all pitches, suggesting that the FieldTurf pitch at Toronto had been a factor in his non-appearance there for LA Galaxy.

See also

★ Artificial grass

★ Astroturf

★ List of FieldTurf installations

★ Beckham addressing FieldTurf comments at post-match press conference on 8/9/07

References

1.
2. SRI Sports to be reimbursed for legal expenses
3.
4. Pats to install FieldTurf for Bears game
5. Ford Field, Detroit Lions
6. Don't use artificial grass in Toronto FC stadium: players

7. Beckham hopes to play against DC

External links

★ Official FieldTurf web site