Sounders FC to Install New FieldTurf at CenturyLink Field

Revolutionary new turf technology adds durability to playing surface.

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC announced today they will install a new FieldTurf Revolution artificial grass surface at CenturyLink Field in early February 2012.

“The FieldTurf product that was installed in 2008 has performed well especially considering the increase in stadium events, specifically soccer matches and concerts,” said Seahawks, Sounders FC and FGI president Peter McLoughlin. “The new field will offer the field maintenance crew an outstanding and extremely durable product to meet the requirements of each event.”

The two organizations have a long history with FieldTurf. In 2000, when the Seahawks played at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium, they became the first NFL team to play their home games on FieldTurf. The partnership continued at CenturyLink Field and at both teams training facilities.

“Our highest priority is player safety, injury prevention and athletic performance,” said Seahawks general manager John Schneider. “The FieldTurf Revolution product is the very best in turf technology and has been designed to outperform and outlast any other alternatives in the marketplace.”

The FieldTurf Revolution system is built with the Revolution fiber and is the result of innovative science, engineering and technology that will provide a playing surface that features a soft and strong monofilament fiber. A proprietary fiber polymer formulation resists splitting and degradation and includes an industry leading ultraviolet inhibitor technology. A state-of-the-art extrusion process provides intricate concave and ridged construction to eliminate breaking points in each fiber blade.

Specially sized cryogenic rubber particles and washed silica sand granules are layered, in a patented installation process, surrounding the Revolution fibers. This provides player safety and outstanding durability and longevity. The FieldTurf system is the only turf product in the world with independent long-term and real-life safety data backing up its claims.

“We are looking forward to the installation of our new field for 2012 and beyond,” said Sounders FC owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer. “FieldTurf has been a great partner for us and they are rightly recognized as the global leader, having the highest amount of FIFA certified pitches in soccer stadiums and training facilities around the world.”

For the tenth consecutive year, FieldTurf emerged as the leader among all artificial turf brands in the 2010 National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Playing Surfaces Opinion Survey. An impressive three out of the league’s top four artificial surfaces were FieldTurf fields.

“We could not be more thrilled that the Seahawks and Sounders FC continue to put their faith in our product and in our company,” said FieldTurf President Eric Daliere. “It is extremely gratifying to everyone in our organization that we continue to be the turf of choice for these two prestigious organizations. The members of each organization along with the players and fans can rest assured they are getting a turf product that has been carefully designed to be the safest and most durable product in the industry.”

CenturyLink Field is one of seven NFL stadiums to utilize FieldTurf, along with Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium, Detroit’s Ford Field, Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, New England’s Gillette Stadium and New Jersey’s Giants Stadium.