Qwest Field is getting new Field Turf this spring... The stadium authority and First & Goal have been in discussions for months about replacing the playing surface, which has faded and become impacted, raising concerns that it could lead to more on-field injuries. But the scheduled was bumped to take advantage of a window between now and April to complete the six-week job of pulling out the old surface, pouring a new rubber foundation and installing the new synthetic playing surface. Seahawks officials say the hope to have the job done in time for the Dalai Lama's event at Qwest Field, scheduled for April 12. FieldTurf won out over Polytan GmbH, a German maker of synthetic playing surfaces
Phenomenal news! This will be the newest version of the surface which will likely be the best artificial surface ever seen. This surface is probably going to be more than optimal for even WCQ matches. Color me stoked.
"But since then, FieldTurf has become widely used across the country, including several other NFL venues, and the playing field was not a hindrance to Seattle landing a MSL team. And it also is in use at stadiums with MSL teams." Well that's a bit embarrassing... but at least we're getting new turf. This is no doubt a great win for Seattle MLS, and hopefully technology has advanced turf even closer to grass-like conditions. Also I hope it cleans up well. Gridiron lines are really the only concern I have about Qwest at this point in time. It seems like they've solved all other problems thus far. I have to imagine if they're selling out the lower bowl consistently, then they'll take the time to chemically remove and replace gridiron lines between MLS and NFL games.
It's going to be interesting to see how far the FT has progressed since NE installed their current field in 2006. I've heard someone from the NFL say that soccer players like the blades cut higher than NFL players. Sounds like the ball may slow down a bit more. Either way...you're right...it's all about the NFL lines being removed on Tue and put back on Sat night. Somehow I don't see that happening on weekends that the Seahawks have a home game.
If I had any comedic skills, I'd find the right joke for this. I mean we're scurrying to get the new turf installed for the Dalai Lama? Hehehe, I get that there's a window of little activity at the stadium between now and then, and that's the reason, but man its too bad there's a writers strike, because that strikes me as a golden opportunity to craft a really good joke.
Minty, yellow, as has been brought up, ad nauseum, in this forum, it is easier to remove lines from FT than it is from grass, and First & Goal is obligated, by the WSPSA, to make the change from MLS, to NFL, and back again. They use a paint, and solvent, that was specially developed by FT to make changing much easier. I have been told that home matches will be on thursdays, saturdays, and sundays. I would assume that on weeks where the Seahawks AND ? are both playing at home, MLS matches will be on thursday. That gives the groundskeepers at least one day, in between, to make the changes, which is the amount of time F&G has said they would need.
Sounds good. It's a tad annoying to see those yard markers on the field, but I'm sure it makes the linesman's job a little easier at calling offsides.
I think you may be wrong in your assumption that matches would be on Thursday if the Seahawks were home the same weekend as Seattle MLS. For the most part, matches will be on Saturdays. If the Seahawks play the next day, there may be football lines on the field for those games if there is no time to make the change. Thursday games are usually scheduled for the ESPN broadcast. Beyond that, weekday games are only scheduled when absolutely necessary as they almost always correlate to a drop in attendance from a weekend game. What could lead to more weekday games will be the time UW temporarily plays its home games at Quest. This would obviously lead to more conflicts. Regardless, football lines won't be a problem from the start of the season until August. Even in August, September and October as you pointed out, if they can be gone, they will be. I can't imagine them being a problem much more than 5-6 times a year.
My statements about playing on thursdays, if the 'hawks are at home the same weekend, was NOT an "opinion", it is what I was told by a member of the FO. And GS, it was not GB who told me this.
RE: UW Huskies...their stadium plans are stalled until further notice, so they don't factor in at Qwest just yet.
I stand corrected. That is surprising, but I guess with an extraordinarily solid season ticket base it may be less of a risk to play games on weeknights. That is good to know. It is too bad for UW. Husky Stadium could surely use the upgrades.
"American Soccer" GolTv's American Soccer show was reporting about Qwest field getting its new turf. What was amusing about the report was they close the report with "looks like Sounders Seattle FC will have new turf when they open their 2009 season." I can only imagine what people from other cities think when they hear that.
Re: "American Soccer" You should have heard what they said when we were awarded the club last November. Every last one of the anchors was against it because of Qwest Field.
Re: "American Soccer" I just found it funny that the host referred to our MLS team as Sounders Seattle FC.... Do you think people will shy away from joining the team because of the turf????
I am not sure, but I think the disgruntled MLS fans who did not like Seattle's selection were more upset that QWest is a football stadium, than they are that QWest has FieldTurf. *shrug* Seattle got the franchise, and it was an outstanding move by MLS given how many season ticket deposits have already been sold. I wager some of those disgruntled commentators now realize that as well. I've run around on FieldTurf, played touch football on FieldTurf, and it's a great surface to run on. I understand a socer ball rolls a little fast, but nothing like the ridiculous roll of AstroTurf.