Welcome to AstroTurf
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.
Welcome to the Second Half of the AstroTurf Century!
Latest News
AstroTurf Corporation Names Chris Stephens Marketing Communications Manager
Dalton, GA – AstroTurf®, the inventor and leading innovator of synthetic turf, announces Chris Stephens as its new Communications Manager. Chris was promoted from his previous role with the CAD department at AstroTurf®. In that capacity, he was responsible for...
AstroTurf®, The Story Behind the Product That Revolutionized Sports Surfaces
Many people know the origin story of AstroTurf®, or at least they think that they do. The popular story is that it was developed specifically for the Houston Astrodome, but its roots go back just a little farther than that.
Moses Brown School
The synthetic grass product that eventually became known as AstroTurf® was originally designed as an urban playing surface meant to replace the concrete and brick that covered the recreation areas in city schoolyards. During the Korean War, the U.S. Army had found urban recruits to be less physically fit than rural recruits. Attributing this to lack of green space in cities, the Ford Foundation funded research for Monsanto to create a synthetic grass replica in 1962. It had to be wear-resistant, cost efficient, comfortably cushioned, and traction tested. Two years later employees of the Chemstrand Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto Industries, developed a synthetic surface called ChemGrass and installed it at the Moses Brown School, a private educational facility in Providence, Rhode Island.
The new product met each of the Ford Foundation’s original criteria except one: It was expensive to produce making it an unviable option for inner-city playgrounds. However, it soon found a new home and a new name.
Workers painting the roof of the Astrodome
In 1965, the Astrodome, the world’s first domed stadium opened in Houston, Texas, featuring a glass-covered roof that allowed real grass to grow inside the dome. However, the athletes that used the facility complained they couldn’t follow the path of the ball because of the glare caused by the glass. Painting the glass killed both the glare and the grass, so the lifeless lawn was replaced in 1966 with the revolutionary ChemGrass, which was quickly dubbed AstroTurf®. The new turf was a resounding success, and it soon became a desired surface for both indoor and outdoor stadiums. Dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the Houston Astrodome was renowned not only for its innovative design and remarkable roof but also for the artificial grass that covered its playing surface and forever changed the face of sports.
AstroTurf® has been the stage for some incredible moments in sports history as it has been the surface for 12 World Series, 11 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, 8 Major League All Star Games, and 32 NFL Pro Bowls, as well as other great games at every level. 
It has been over a half century since AstroTurf® was first installed at the Astrodome and technology has rapidly improved. Current AstroTurf® products come ever closer to replicating, the feel, performance, and safety of the gold standard – natural grass. AstroTurf Corporation harnesses its history of forward-thinking and disciplined R&D to continuously improve its systems and to deliver playing surfaces with the best sport-specific performance, durability, and player protection.
Today, AstroTurf® is owned by Sport Group. Sport Group is a true global sports surfacing giant, with manufacturing facilities around the world. Active in over 70 countries, Sport Group has installed over 30,000 synthetic turf fields and running tracks. Sport Group was created by selective acquisitions of the leading turf, track, indoor and outdoor sports surface manufacturers.
Pinkerton Academy Wins AstroTurf Ultimate Fan Favorite High School Football Field Contest
Derry, NH – What started as a 96-field contest on Twitter has resulted in one grand champion being named in the inaugural AstroTurf Fan Favorite High School Football Field Contest. After six total rounds and thousands of votes being cast by high school fan bases, the contest was whittled down to three outstanding choices: Somerset High School of Kentucky, Marysville High School of Ohio, and Pinkerton Academy of New Hampshire.
Two AstroTurf football fields at a time were posted on Twitter and fans could vote on their favorite field with the one getting the most votes moving on to the next round. The voting remained tight until the very end with only a few dozen votes being the difference from 1st and 3rd place.
“We are thrilled that Memorial Field was selected as the AstroTurf Ultimate Fan Favorite High School Football Field,” said Pinkerton Headmaster Timothy Powers. “Through the hard work of many volunteers, money was raised by donations to build it. We are so proud of what this field represents, and it has been rewarding to see our student-athletes have the opportunity to play on it.”
Pinkerton Academy was founded in 1814 and is the largest independent high school in the United States. With a student body of over 3,300 and more than 500 faculty and staff members, Pinkerton Pride runs deep.
First American in space and one of Pinkerton’s most famous graduates, Alan Shepard, is the reason Pinkerton is the Astros. Pinkerton’s athletic program is a powerhouse in the state of New Hampshire. With 23 unique sports offered over 65 teams, approximately 1,300 student-athletes compete each year.
“Many thanks to the tremendous fan support our community has consistently demonstrated in supporting Pinkerton Academy and its athletic programs. Our continued success throughout the years is a direct reflection of this support,” stated Athletic Director Brian O’Reilly
The field itself is an AstroTurf 3D3 synthetic turf system. The “3D3” designation means the field also has AstroTurf’s RootZone, a sub-layer of crimped fibers that stabilizes the infill and increases shock absorbency. The turf has a 52-ounce face weight, meaning it has very dense stitching. All of these factors combine to make a synthetic turf that is stronger, safer, better, and more resilient. Pinkerton’s field was expertly installed by Certified AstroTurf Distributor, Atlantic Sports Group of Canton, MA. 
O’Reilly added, “Our new AstroTurf fields have had an immediate impact on our athletic programs. The tremendous branding element for our school (end zones and logos that pop with dazzling colors) and quality of turf (multi-use for all of our outdoor sports) have increased our numbers and brought our community closer together.”
Pinkerton Academy’s former athlete standouts include USA Women’s Hockey gold medalist Tricia Dunn and Stanley Cup Champion Zach Sanford.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sport 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.
App State Football Goes With AstroTurf at Kidd Brewer Stadium
Boone, NC – App State Football will begin this year’s season with a brand-new turf created by the original inventor of synthetic turf, AstroTurf®. This is the third recent AstroTurf® installation at Appalachian State University after the school replaced the turf at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex and the Jim and Bettie Smith baseball stadium in 2019, and it’s an exciting upgrade for the Mountaineers and first-year Head Coach Shawn Clark.
“One of the best settings in college football just got even better,” said App State associate A.D. for internal operations John Welch. “We are committed to providing a world-class experience for our student-athletes, which includes the surfaces on which they train and compete for championships. We are excited to partner with AstroTurf on this beautiful new playing field at Kidd Brewer Stadium.”
With the Kidd Brewer Stadium installation, App State will have replaced over 350,000 square feet of old turf with AstroTurf®. In addition to the synthetic turf upgrade, the field is 20 percent larger and includes a new end zone facility.
The new field design includes a sharper end zone aesthetic, with “App State,” the school’s popular name, replacing the “Appalachian” end zone. The “A” symbol at mid-field is a dark black with a contrasting gold outline, the same color combination used to outline the new field. To create much-needed space for a full end zone facility, the track was removed and will be relocated to another campus location.
The new AstroTurf® consists of Trionic fibers, an advanced fiber blend purpose-built to deliver a better experience for players. The fibers are made from polyethylene (PE) molecules fused with nylon to achieve an unprecedented durability level while retaining the non-abrasive texture modern PE fibers are known for.
App State chose the AstroTurf® 3D3 infilled turf system, which offers grass-like traction and superior stability. As the former field was nearing the end of its serviceability, this is an important improvement for the players, who have a promising year ahead. The 2020 roster includes more than 20 seniors.
App State Football competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Sun Belt Conference. The program has an incredible legacy, winning three straight FCS national championships in 2005 to 2007, making the Mountaineers the first Division I School in the modern era to win three consecutive undisputed national titles. Since transitioning to the FBS level, the Mountaineers have played in, and won, five consecutive bowl games and captured each of the last four Sun Belt league titles.
App State Football has set its first scheduled game for September 12 at Kidd Brewer Stadium against Charlotte, which will be the team’s first chance to experience its new home turf.
About AstroTurf® For athletes, coaches, 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.
