Is Synthetic Turf an Advantage?

The Oregon Ducks, ranked no. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series, are among twelve of the top 25 BCS teams that play on synthetic turf fields. Teams playing their home games on synthetic turf fields have a slightly higher winning percentage than non-synthetic turf teams.

Following the conclusion of college football’s conference championships, twelve of the Top 25 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) teams have scored a winning season with the help of a synthetic turf field at home.  These teams have a combined win-loss record of 133-29, representing a total 86 percent winning percentage versus 82 percent for those Top 25 teams without synthetic turf.

"Over the past decade, we have seen a steady increase in the amount of winning teams that play and practice regularly on synthetic turf," noted Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "These fields have created more opportunities for America's amateur athletes to play and practice football without worrying about weather disruptions or over-used playing surfaces."

More than 6,000 synthetic turf playing fields are currently in use throughout the United States.  Each year, its usage conserves billions of gallons of water, millions of pounds of pesticides and fertilizers and recycles 25 million used tires that would otherwise end up in landfills. About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf, and it was approved by FIFA for the 2010 World Cup soccer competition. The highest ranked college football team in the country with a synthetic turf home field is the University of Oregon (ranked #2 on the BCS list), whose Autzen Stadium seats 54,000.

About the Synthetic Turf Council
Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications.  The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf.  Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies.  For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.