2 days ago
New York Giants' Jermaine Eluemunor takes notice of grass turf at MetLife Stadium
New York Giants' Jermaine Eluemunor takes notice of grass turf at MetLife Stadium
What would MetLife Stadium look like if the playing surface consisted of natural grass instead of the artificial turf they've had since 2010?
Thanks to the rules of FIFA, which will play nine games of their Club World Cup 2025 at MetLife, we've gotten a preview. FIFA prefers, but does not require, all matches to be played on natural grass. Artificial turf can be used in certain cases but it must meet strict guidelines.
MetLife Stadium currently utilizes a synthetic turf called FieldTurf Core HD, which was installed before the 2023 NFL season. The previous surface, UBU Speed S5-M, was troublesome to many players who claimed the surface was responsible for a spate of leg injuries.
MetLife is a heavily used venue, where both local area NFL teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets, play their home games. The venue also hosts numerous other events, including concerts.
Natural grass would likely not survive, hence the choice to utilize the artificial surface.
Still, that did not prevent the NFLPA and Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor from taking notice.
Players across the league regularly gripe about the playing surface at MetLife Stadium, expressing their preference for natural grass but stability concerns remain.
"I want to get to the point where the experts can tell us that late in the season we can have a safe, playable grass field, and when we get to that point, then maybe we'll make the switch," Giants co-owner John Mara said last year.
"With the amount of events in our building, particularly during the football season, having two teams there, and how many times last year we had back-to-back games where it rained during the first game, I can't imagine what a grass field would've looked like on a second day."
The number of events and four seasons in the Northeast continue to pose a problem.
