DD Grassmaster named professional football and soccer field of the year
At the 2006 Sports Turf Managers Association Conference in
The DD GrassMaster system is a "hybrid" system, combining a natural turf surface with the reinforcement provided by over 20 million synthetic fibres. The synthetic fibres are injected by a computer-controlled machine every three-fourths of an inch in a sand base. They extend over eight inches into the field and an inch above it. As the roots of the grass grow, they intertwine with the synthetic fibres, anchoring the grass roots to provide a stable and durable grass surface. With 20 million artificial fibres injected into the field, each field can handle up to three to four times the normal usage of a standard grass field. The improved drainage and stronger root zone also helps the surface meet the demanding usage and challenging growing conditions found in modern stadia. This patented system was developed by Belgium-based Desso DLW Sports Systems in the 1980s and has been installed in stadiums since 1992.