FIFA will sell the grass that will be used for Sunday’s World Cup final at N.Y. N.J. Stadium at $450 per piece, according to the AP. FIFA’s store said that “each segment of turf is 17.5 by 17.5 by 17.5,” although it “doesn’t specify whether that figure is inches, centimeters or millimeters.” The organization is making the turf available to “send only to addresses in the United States and Europe.” Players and coaches have “criticized the quality of the field” at N.Y. N.J. Stadium, which usually uses an artificial surface for NFL games of the Giants and Jets (AP, 7/10).
GOLDEN TICKET: THE ATHLETIC’s Brooks Peck noted pieces of the pitch are “encased in resin to preserve the grass.” The acrylic casing will be “inscribed with the 2026 World Cup logo, venue, date and the match’s final score.” It is “accompanied by a USB bearing an ‘authenticity film.’” The collectibles are manufactured by UK-based Keep Stub, which offers three additional versions on its website, priced at $900, $1,200 and $3,000. Each of the four tiers is “limited to 2,026 pieces,” meaning that if they all sell out, they will generate more than $11.2M in revenue (THE ATHLETIC, 7/10).
NOT FOR SALE: In Vancouver, J.J. Adams reported “there won’t be an opportunity for the public” to purchase a piece of the grass at B.C. Place. There will be “no auction, no souvenir slices sold, not even for charity.” PavCo, the corporation that operates B.C. Place, said, “We are investing in a sustainable composting and recycling process, allowing 99 per cent of the organic material from the hybrid grass pitch to be returned to B.C. soil.” The company added, “While we explored the possibility of a donation, the transportation requirements and long-term maintenance needs proved too complex and costly for a community organization to take on. This approach ensures the material is reused responsibly and supports a sustainable outcome” (Vancouver PROVINCE, 7/11).
