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Since 1965, the AstroTurf brand has been driven by forward thinking ingenuity. Today AstroTurf continuously improves its system design to deliver playing surfaces with the most realistic, sport-specific performance, longest lasting durability, and sound player protection.
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Welcome to the Second Half of the AstroTurf Century!
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The AstroTurf Nerd – Fiber vs. Infill
Introducing the AstroTurf Nerd, Todd DeWolfe DeWolfe began in the synthetic turf industry in 1999. He’s been involved in nearly 300 turf projects. He’s in charge of research and product development for AstroTurf. He’s inspired to improve the surface that unites towns...
Five Minutes With Jim Savoca
Jim, tell us about your current position with AstroTurf.
Hello, I’m Jim Savoca. I am the national sales manager for AstroTurf. I’ve been in the business for 41 years, and with AstroTurf for probably north of 30 of those.
That’s awesome. Tell us about what the turf industry was like when you first started.
When I first started in the industry, the market was probably 30 fields for all of North America. They were the old school AstroTurf. They would cost literally a million dollars, a million and a half dollars, because you had to put down an asphalt subbase. Then you had to put down the pad, then put down the turf with glue layers in between them. It was a very difficult sell that would be take three years or more to get it done because you had to overcome all the early issues, and they weren’t really your friendly kind of surfaces. But it was our technology at the time.
When did the turf industry really start to change?
That early period led us through about the first 15 years of my career. Then came the advent of the infilled fields, where the fibers were longer, and they were filled up with material. Rubber and sand typically. Now much more player friendly, much more cost effective, the entire project went from a million and a half down to less than a million dollars typically. Sometimes as little as $750,000. They no longer used the asphalt base, but instead a stone base that drained vertically. So, a total flip on technology. They were cheaper, they were better – they looked more like grass, and they were much more friendly to the athlete.
Tell us about that legendary coach that you played football for in college.
I played football at Ohio State and played for Woody Hayes there. The story that I have brought along with me in this industry is that Woody Hayes and I both played our last game together. The game against Clemson in the Gator Bowl, when he punched that fellow, well I was the messenger guard standing next to him. That was his last game, and it was my last game because I was a senior. 
After Ohio State, what came next?
I graduated from college and it was a very difficult time. It was the late 1970s. There was high inflation, high unemployment, all sorts of stuff going on. I just sent out resumes to every company I knew. One of those companies was Monsanto, who is the inventor of AstroTurf. They were taking their salesforce from five nationwide to 10. So, I was part of that class. Monsanto was probably the 40th biggest company in the world at the time. Working for a chemical company, with thorough and in-depth training -It was one of the greatest platforms from which to launch a career.
What stands out now to you, all these years later?
I always say when I talk to my bosses, the only way out of here is feet first. I enjoy it, I love every day of this job. I enjoy the competitiveness and I love the people. The legacy, when you come down to it, when you get through all this turf stuff, the great stadiums, and facilities, it’s a place for kids to play. Whether it’s the big kids in the NFL, or kids that come to this kind of facility (Melissa Intermediate School District) where everybody in the community uses it, it’s a place to play, and we want to make it as uniform, predictable, safe, durable, and make it as good of an investment as possible. My legacy is that, and the guys I have worked with and trained. Hopefully they think that I was a good guy, both on and off the field.
Give us your AstroTurf pitch.
The big thing is with AstroTurf, we are unique, not in that we are the only guys that make the products, but our products are a cut above. And a lot of it has to do with a component called the RootZone, which we invented, and we have stuck with. This is the portion of our product that gives all the ability for the infill to stay where it is supposed to be.
RootZone gives it the long-term consistency, and durability that we want. Which, again, if you don’t get the good investment part of this program, then it doesn’t matter. Because no matter what you buy for the first two or three years it’s great. Everybody’s happy, ribbon cutting, everything you do, it’s all great.
The thing we always preach is that the kids that are in kindergarten now will be playing on that same high school field eight to ten years from now. They will be ninth or tenth graders and there will be the same field. Outside, under all of the elements, rain, snow, sleet, heat, unlimited use, unprotected. It is a hard design criterion, so that is why I take a lot of pride in our ability to provide great products that can stand up to that.
Washington Huskies Ready to Go All Out with New AstroTurf Installation at Husky Stadium
Seattle, Washington – After a shortened four-game run in 2020, the Huskies are ready to reveal what they are capable of with a full 12-game season and a brand-new AstroTurf® home field. The University of Washington chose to install the most popular turf system developed by the leaders in high-performance synthetic sports surfaces, helping to kick off what is expected to be an incredible season for the veteran-heavy team.
The AstroTurf® 3D3 RootZone system is recognized as the top choice for player safety, stability, and durability. It takes the standard infilled turf system to a whole new level by adding a specially engineered RootZone layer. Multi-ply primary backing boosts dimensional strength, and a polyurethane secondary backing system offers world-class support for athletes.
The Huskies will also benefit from Trionic fibers, AstroTurf’s patented fiber-blend, which is revolutionizing the synthetic turf industry. The University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Field, coined as “The Greatest Setting” in college football because of its breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, Lake Washington, and downtown Seattle, will get the advanced Trionic Blend 60, which is the same AstroTurf product that the school installed on the Huskies’ practice field in 2019.
The new AstroTurf surface will sit on a Brock PowerBase PRO™ shock pad that is precisely tuned and designed to reduce the likelihood of impact injuries in bigger athletes like those found in the NCAA and NFL. The system gives you a surface that is faster to play on and safer to land on. 
The relationship between the University of Washington and AstroTurf® is a long one. The school was one of the first universities to install AstroTurf back in 1968 when synthetic turf made its first appearance on the college sports market. Since then, Washington Athletics has installed the AstroTurf® 3D3 RootZone system on the Huskies’ practice field and now, in 2021, on the field at Husky Stadium. Before that, the most recent upgrade was a $280 million-dollar remodel in 2013, which brought the capacity at the football stadium up to 70,138 seats.
“We are excited to continue our relationship with AstroTurf with the installation of a new field at Husky Stadium,” said Dan Erickson, the Associate Athletic Director, Events & Facilities at the University of Washington. “Our student athletes and staff are thrilled with the performance, durability and aesthetics of our practice field. The new field will be a tremendous enhancement to The Greatest Setting in College Football.”
Like AstroTurf, Coast to Coast Turf is familiar with the University of Washington campus and is excited to be back for the installation of Husky Stadium. Coast to Coast Turf previously installed the practice field in 2019.
“We are looking forward to being back at the University of Washington for another installation of the AstroTurf’s 3D3 RootZone system,” said Steve Webb, president of Coast to Coast Turf. “One of the top teams in the Pac-12 and the Greatest Setting in College Football deserves a premiere field and we’re ready to deliver on that. We’ve had a great relationship with the University of Washington and we’re looking forward to continuing that through the installation at Husky Stadium.”
A tough team to beat in the Pac-12 Conference, the Huskies boast eight Rose Bowl titles, two national titles, and the NCAA record for the longest winning streak in college football history. They are also known as one of the best defensive teams in the conference and are entering 2021 as a formidable force with an impressive starting lineup. When ranked against all 130 Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, the Huskies’ all-time record ranks 20th by win percentage and 19th for total victories.
The players are already in training and more ready than ever for a high-energy start to the season. The Huskies had to cancel spring practice last year because of the pandemic and were only able to play four games for safety reasons.
Washington’s first game of the fall football season will take place at Husky Stadium on September 4th against the Montana Grizzlies. Tickets are on sale now, giving Husky fans the opportunity to return to the stadium to watch their team play live.
The new AstroTurf® field will be installed by Coast to Coast Turf, the company’s certified distributor in the Pacific Northwestern.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, highly innovative, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.
The College of New Jersey Ups Their Field Hockey Game with New AstroTurf
Ewing, NJ – The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams are now playing on one of the most advanced field hockey surfaces in the world. Manufactured by AstroTurf®, the leading innovator in synthetic turf products, Poligras Platinum is a high-tech, tufted system designed to provide optimum ball surface interaction and deliver a consistent playing experience for today’s athletes. After training and competing on the field at Lions Stadium, which is the home field for the school’s soccer and football teams, the Lacrosse and Field Hockey programs are looking forward to taking their game up a notch with their own dedicated playing surface.
This new field is particularly exciting for the Women’s Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse teams, both of which have captured more than 10 NCAA Division III championship titles. The College of New Jersey Women’s Lacrosse team has earned 12 championship titles, the most recent in 2006. The Women’s Field Hockey team has captured 11, with the most recent championship title won in 2014.
“We are thrilled with how the new turf at our Field Hockey & Lacrosse facility turned out’” said Executive Director of Athletics Amanda DeMartino. “Aside from being beautiful, it provides not only the proper but also a state-of-the-art playing surface that we were aiming for. We are so excited for our student-athletes to be able to utilize this surface and are extremely proud of how the project turned out.”
With a state-of-the-art field at the TCNJ Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, these teams will be the ones to watch in the 2021-2022 NCAA Division III playing season. The phenomenal Sharon Pfluger directs both the field hockey and lacrosse programs. She ranks among the all-time leaders in wins nationwide for both sports and has been coaching The College of New Jersey Lions for more than 35 seasons.
The Poligras Platinum system that the athletes will be playing on was used at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016, and it’s one of AstroTurf®’s most widely-used products worldwide. Consisting of tufted polyethylene fibers, the field features a multidirectional closed surface that demonstrates unbeatable ball rolling behavior. It also comes with a high stitch density, which creates a much more compact appearance than other modern field hockey systems.
“We are already receiving great feedback on the performance of the field and how much athletes are enjoying the new facility,” said Melissa Twist, AstroTurf’s National Manager of Field Hockey Fields. “TCNJ has always had an exceptional field hockey program. This field is well deserved by the program’s winning history, and I’m excited to see the impact it has.” 
The procurement of the new field was made possible by AstroTurf®’s association with Sourcewell, a self-sustaining government agency enabled by state statute to serve its public-sector members. AstroTurf® completed an end-to-end upgrade for TCNJ, installing a ball stopper and netting system with 40-foot high poles, as well as a new wireless Daktronics scoreboard using Playing Surface as their subcontractor.
The new field was installed over a base layer and a 26-millimeter elastic layer (E-layer), done by ATT Sports. AstroTurf removed the old surface layer and then installed the Poligras Platinum field hockey system.
AstroTurf® has a long history of innovation and leadership in the world of field hockey. Back in 1975, it was AstroTurf ® that helped change the sport when the first International Field Hockey game was played on the company’s synthetic playing field in Montreal.
At the same time, field hockey has shaped AstroTurf®’s history. Always focused on offering athletes the best possible playing surface, it was the company’s quest to develop specialized knitting equipment and innovative manufacturing processes that have kept AstroTurf at the forefront of the industry and established its reputation as a leading provider of field hockey’s most elite surfaces.
AstroTurf® is recognized as the Official Artificial Surface Provider of both USA Field Hockey and the National Field Hockey Association and a preferred supplier for FIH. With the new field hockey field at The College of New Jersey, the company is also proud to be a part of the journey of such an incredible group of college athletes.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.
