Latest news with #AstroTurf

The 42
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
D-Day for Stephen Kenny and St Pat's in €700,000 game
STEPHEN KENNY says St Patrick's Athletic are expecting a tougher game than last week as they prepare for Thursday's second leg encounter in Lithuania against Hegelmann (kick-off: 5pm Irish time). The Premier Division outfit, who will be without injured duo Romal Palmer and Sean Hoare for the game, secured a 1-0 first leg victory in Richmond Park. While pleased with the overall performance in Dublin, Kenny admitted his side's finishing was 'lacking,' and the Saints will hope that issue doesn't come back to haunt them in the return leg. In the first game, Aidan Keena came off the bench to score an 81st-minute winner from the penalty spot. But Kenny was unwilling to provide any hints as to whether the Mullingar-born striker had done enough to earn a starting place on this occasion, with stiff competition provided up front by Tottenham-bound teenager Mason Melia. As for their opponents, the Pat's boss believes Hegelmann will attempt a different approach compared to their cautious display in Dublin. 'We probably didn't see the full extent of them last week. At home, I expect they'll have a higher level of performance. We'll have to more than match that and make sure that we come out on the right side of this tie. Advertisement 'We feel they have more in their locker than they showed last week, and they'll be more committed from an attacking point of view. 'Sometimes there can be a disparity; teams are more comfortable in their environment, so there can be a difference in performance between home and away. For some teams, you come over and their levels are up. They look like different players. That can happen often. Regardless of that, it's up to us to raise our levels.' Hegelmann are currently third in the Lithuanian top flight after 19 games and play their home matches on an AstroTurf pitch. 'I haven't seen it yet, but we're not fixating on that,' Kenny said. 'We've trained on AstroTurf in our last two training sessions, so we know what to expect.' Despite holding the advantage, Kenny said his team would adopt an attacking mindset for the away trip. Goals and positive results have been hard to come by of late for the Irish side. They had gone into the home leg having scored just twice in their last seven Premier Division matches and failing to win their previous six. The former Ireland manager insists progress has been made in that frustrating period. 'I think we still have it all to prove. But we have faith in the players. They've shown good application, good attitude and a desire to put our finishing boots on. We have adapted tactically in the last couple of weeks and created more chances. And I feel the goals will definitely come. 'I think our last three home performances, even though we got beaten by Derry, we played to a very high level in that game, and it was a good performance against Bohemians. And we were excellent last week. We had really good play throughout. I liked the shape of the team, I liked the passing options, we'd had a lot of players committed in the attacking third. So we have adapted somewhat to how we were playing during the season, and we've seen benefits of it, but we just missed some fantastic chances, there is no doubt about that.' The winner of the tie will be guaranteed a minimum €700,000 and, in the next round, will face either Estonian side Nõmme Kalju FC or Albanian outfit FK Partizani, with the former hosting a 1-1 first-leg draw. While acknowledging the financial aspect of the game is important, Kenny says it's not something the squad ever discuss. 'The other side of it is, we probably have no right to be in Europe, at one stage last year we were third from bottom, we wouldn't have got anything, so the players have worked extremely hard to get up from third bottom to finish third and qualify for Europe, which was a great achievement. Now we have the opportunity to go into round two, we need to look at it positively, be positive in our approach, rather than worry about the consequences of not doing it, as we may not have been in Europe at all.' The conditions may not be ideal, with Kenny citing talk of potential thunderstorms during the game, while the match is set to be played in front of a small home crowd and a sizeable contingent of travelling support. 'I am not sure what to expect in that regard,' the Dubliner added. 'Our motivation is high; we must always have those levels of concentration. Sometimes, in an eerie atmosphere, there can be lapses, as opposed to a high-octane, adrenaline-filled occasion. 'The travelling supporters were a big help in Vaduz [for the Uefa Conference League tie] last year, in particular, in what was a tough away game. So a similar support can help again — if it is a tight ground, we will hear them.'


Buzz Feed
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Surprising Basic Facts You Never Learned In School
Let's be honest — we've all had those moments where something super obvious finally clicks, and we're left wondering how we never noticed it before. Well, Reddit user u/itsochepel asked people to share their own surprising "aha moments" — and the responses didn't disappoint. Here are some of the best ones. "Birds don't live in nests. Nests are just where they keep their eggs. Birds just sleep in trees." "Percentages are reversible. 25% of 10 is also 10% of 25, the former is just easier to calculate." "Charcoal is wood, not rocks." "'Honk if you're horny' is because you honk a horn. So you're horn-y. It's not just 'beep if you want sex.'" "Pipe cleaners aren't just for arts and crafts. They're also for cleaning pipes." "PetSmart is both Pet Smart and Pet's Mart. It's a play on words!" "Soft drinks are called soft drinks because they don't contain alcohol. Hard drinks do." Men's Wearhouse is a pun. "Eminem calls himself Eminem because his name is Marshall Mathers. He was also required to spell it out prior to a record deal so he didn't get sued by M&M's." "Boxer shorts are the style of shorts that boxers wear." "They call it footage because film is measured in feet." "Some stripper poles rotate and are not fixed. I always just assumed the dancers spun around the fixed pole through incredible body strength." "Donkey Kong is not in fact a donkey." "W = double U." "The Beatles are a pun." "That Alucard from Castlevania just means Dracula backward." "The phrase 'bottom of the hour' means 30 minutes past the hour because the hand is at the bottom of the clock." "It's called AstroTurf because it was used in the Houston Astrodome." And finally: "That Bluey's parents' jobs are at the airport (drug sniffing) and an archaeologist (digging up bones)...BECAUSE THEY'RE DOGS." So, were any of these surprising to you or do you have more that you recently discovered to add? Let us know in the comments!


Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh government plans to develop modern education hub in Bilaspur, issues official statement
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government plans to develop an education city with facilities such as a library, auditorium, playgrounds and hostels for students in Bilaspur, officials said on Saturday. The facility will come up at a cost of Rs 100 crore on 13 acres of land in the city, they said. According to an official statement, the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has given top priority to quality education and the all-round development of students. "Nalanda Parisar (library) will be established in the Educational City, where 500 students will be able to sit together. Besides this, three multi-storey buildings with 48 hall setups (a setup will have a hall, two rooms and a toilet) will be constructed. There will be a facility for 4,800 students to attend coaching classes simultaneously," the chief minister stated in the release. He said a 700-seater modern auditorium will also be constructed, while a hostel will also be built to house 1,000 students from outside the district. The government also plans to build AstroTurf playgrounds and gardens on the premises, which will also have multi-level parking for vehicles, Sai said. The Bilaspur Municipal Corporation has prepared a work plan for the project, and the work would begin soon, he added. Notably, after the formation of Chhattisgarh state in 2000, Bilaspur has made remarkable progress in the field of education. It has one central university, two state universities, eight colleges, and more than 100 coaching institutes for competitive exams catering to more than 50,000 students, the statement said. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AstroTurf® Selected as Surface Provider for MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway
DALTON, Ga., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AstroTurf®, the Official Synthetic Turf Partner of Major League Baseball®, has been chosen to provide the playing surface for the MLB Speedway Classic presented by a historic matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds set inside the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. In an extraordinary feat of engineering and coordination, the infield of one of NASCAR's most legendary venues will be transformed into a professional-grade MLB baseball field in just ten days, an ambitious undertaking made possible by AstroTurf's Diamond Series system and decades of expertise in premium sports surfacing. "We're honored to be the turf provider for such an extraordinary event," said Philip Snider, Chief Operating Officer of AstroTurf Corporation. "Converting a high-speed racing venue into a baseball stadium in just over a week is no small task, but our experienced construction team is built for this kind of challenge. This is more than a game, it is a celebration of innovation, tradition, and the limitless spirit of sport." The AstroTurf® Diamond Series, designed specifically for baseball, will deliver a surface that mirrors the performance characteristics of natural grass while withstanding the demands of a temporary, high-profile installation. Engineered for consistent ball bounce, optimal traction, and true playability, the Diamond Series is trusted by elite programs at every level. As a proud partner of the MLB Speedway Classic and the Official Synthetic Turf Partner of Major League Baseball, AstroTurf continues to lead the industry in transforming bold ideas into unforgettable experiences. About AstroTurf®AstroTurf® is a pioneer in synthetic turf innovation and the Official Synthetic Turf of Major League Baseball. With more than 60 years of legacy, AstroTurf provides high-performance playing surfaces for every level of competition. The AstroTurf Diamond Series, specifically engineered for baseball, offers sport-specific performance with unmatched durability and safety. Trusted by professional teams, NCAA programs, and high-profile events, AstroTurf remains at the forefront of athletic field innovation. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit Media Contact:Gary JonesDirector of Marketing, AstroTurf 706-581-1253 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AstroTurf Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Jarkhar Academy clinches double title at 15th Olympian Prithipal Singh Hockey Festival
Jarkhar Hockey Academy on Monday clinched the championship titles in both the senior and junior categories at the 15th Dabur Olympian Prithipal Singh Hockey Festival. The event, organised by the Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Charitable Trust, Jarkhar village, saw standout performances with star players Pawanpreet Singh Dangora and Manavdeep honoured with the title of 'dabur hero of the match' for their match-winning brilliance. The high-octane final matches were played under floodlights on the blue AstroTurf at Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Complex. In the senior category, Jarkhar Hockey Academy defeated Neeta Club Rampur in a nail-biting contest by 5-3 goals, claiming the Olympian Prithipal Singh Gold Cup Hockey Trophy along with a cash prize of approximately ₹81,000. Earlier, last year's champions, Dr Kuldeep Singh Moga Club, defeated Kila Raipur by 6-3 goals to secure third place. Jarkhar Academy's Gurinder Singh Guri and Rampur's Jagjit Singh were awarded 'dabur hero of the match'. International hockey star Harjot Singh Jyoti was declared the 'best goalkeeper' of the tournament. Rampur's Milkha Singh was named the 'best player of the tournament', and Pawanpreet Singh Dangora again stood out as 'dabur hero of the match'. Kila Raipur's Jagjit Singh Jaggi won the title of 'best player over 40'. All standout players were honoured with high-quality bicycles. In the junior final, Jarkhar Hockey Academy defeated Kila Raipur Hockey Centre in a hard-fought 1-0 match to clinch the junior title for the first time. Earlier, Nankana Sahib Public School Amargarh beat Ek Noor Academy Tehing by 4-3. Jarkhar Academy's goalkeeper, Dilpreet Singh, was named 'dabur hero of the match', while Kila Raipur School's Rajveer Singh was declared 'best player of the tournament'. Gurmanwadeep Singh Chahil was named 'hero of the tournament'. All players were felicitated with bicycles. At the grand final ceremony held on Monday, children from Dragon Academy, Ludhiana, won the audience's hearts with their choreographed dance performances on various songs. Chief guest, MLA Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman from Malerkotla, interacted with various teams, spoke about the achievements of the Punjab government, and appreciated the infrastructure of Jarkhar Stadium and the efforts of the Hockey Academy. Other dignitaries present included Prabhdeep Singh Nathowal (deputy director, public relations), international weightlifter Hardeep Singh Saini, Harbans Singh Saini, former AIG Punjab police Amrik Singh Minhas, Sukhwinder Singh Fauji, tournament manager Jagrup Singh Jarkhar, among others.