The argument over grass vs. artificial turf for soccer and football fields was joined recently by a third option, hybrid that’s growing in popularity. Hybrid is natural turf reinforced with synthetic fibers and it may be the future. The Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, for example, have hybrid, featuring Kentucky bluegrass weaved in with synthetic fibers at Lambeau Field since 2018.
The usual arguments are there’s less torque when you’re on grass no matter what cleats your’re wearing and less chance of injury. The upside of turf is players feel more nimble and they feel faster, Dr. Brian Cox, orthopedic surgeon and team doctor for the NBA Chicago Bulls, told the Associated Press.
For big stadiums, there are financial considerations that favor artificial turf which offers more flexibility for events like concerts and motorsports. That’s why the Carolina Panthers switched from grass at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Weather and maintenance also are part of the equation.
Grass and hybrid could get a big boost by the men’s 2026 World Cup in the US/Mexico/ Canada. The rules for the WC haven’t been announced but grass was preferred by all recent world cups. Seven of 11 U.S. game sites are NFL stadiums with artificial turf. Overall, 18 NFL clubs have artificial turf and 15 grass or hybrid, the athletic.com reported.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in an ESPN interview this fall the stadiums will be putting in hybrid surfaces for the tournament.