The World Cup has spotlighted the question of why NFL owners will “install natural grass playing surfaces for soccer players, but not for their own teams,” according to Nicole Yang of the BOSTON GLOBE. Only 15 of 30 NFL stadiums feature natural grass during football season. Of the 11 World Cup hosts, seven, including Boston Stadium, usually feature synthetic turf -- and had to make significant arrangements to meet FIFA’s tournament-quality standards. The NFLPA has repeatedly called out stadiums for changing the playing surface for the World Cup but not for the league. A recent survey conducted by the NFLPA noted that 92% of its players “prefer playing on natural grass as opposed to synthetic turf.” The league has maintained that there is “no statistical difference in injury rate on grass and turf.” The NFL also has “pointed to the climate as a limiting factor.” The league said that the “changing weather over the duration of the season provides a maintenance challenge.” The key is “not just installing natural grass, but maintaining a high-quality surface that can consistently meet the weekly demands of football over the course of at least five months.” The turf vs. grass discussion will “probably intensify” when the CBA expires at the end of the 2030 season (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/26).
PERFORMED WELL: In K.C., Pete Grathoff noted despite a forecast of thunderstorms for Thursday evening’s Netherlands-Tunisia World Cup match at K.C. Stadium, the game was “never delayed.” A heavy rain did fall at times during the Dutch’s 3-1 win over Tunisia in the final Group F matchup for both teams. But the pitch “remained perfect.” Netherlands D Jan Paulk van Hecke “praised how the field held up.” FIFA said earlier this month that it “brought in a ‘proprietary’ Bermuda mix specifically for games” in K.C. after the turf the Chiefs use was removed. Thursday’s match was the first time there could have “been a problem with inclement weather.” But Chiefs Dir/Turf Management Travis Hogan and his team have “worked with FIFA to keep the field in tip-top condition” (K.C. STAR, 6/25).
