The Evolution of FieldTurf

From the early days to today – see how far FieldTurf artificial turf has come for clients like you.

Why was FieldTurf Created?

John Gilman

The invention of FieldTurf changed the face of the artificial grass industry – and the sports played on it – forever.

Company founders Jean Prevost and John Gilman, both former professional athletes, created FieldTurf to end the debilitating, career-ending injuries suffered by athletes of all ages. In the 30 years before FieldTurf, new medical terms related to the old-style turf systems like "turf toe," "turf burn," and "ACL injuries" had become commonplace.

FieldTurf artificial grass and synthetic turf systems were designed to replicate natural grass and prevent injury, focusing mainly on player safety. All the materials used in FieldTurf have always been safe. Safe for humans and safe for the environment.

FieldTurf artificial grass and synthetic turf systems, like most winning combinations in sport, are fundamentally different from all others. FieldTurf replicates a natural grass surface, but offers the durability and cost benefits of synthetic fields. FieldTurf does not rely on an underlying shock pad for resilience and player comfort. Like its natural grass cousin, FieldTurf’s grass fibers are surrounded and stabilized by FieldTurf’s patented “infill” - a mixture of smooth, rounded silica sand and cryogenic rubber granules.

Entry into Sports

Based on a growing need to replicate real grass throughout the world of sports, the FieldTurf brand emerged with an engineered product geared toward high performance and safety in soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball, rugby and field hockey. Municipalities, private facilities, and government departments joined sports teams all over the world in the FieldTurf movement.

Since the mid-1990s, thousands of organizations all over the world have made FieldTurf the most trusted brand of synthetic grass and artificial turf because of the company’s leadership in the industry through valuable patents. FieldTurf products have been specially engineered and tested for each sport and have become the No. 1 turf of choice in all of these sports. 

FieldTurf’s patented sand and rubber infill system is the biggest technological innovation in sports surfacing over the last 25 years. ESPN ranks FieldTurf among the very best sports innovations of all-time.  

The Big Break

FieldTurf’s big break into the artificial turf sports surfacing industry began when adoption among indoor soccer facilities, schools, municipalities, and sports teams became more and more apparent.

In September 1998, Tom Osborne, legendary Nebraska football coach, was introduced to the FieldTurf product. In December, Osborne traveled to high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland to check it out. Once (then company CEO) John Gilman told him that the "grass" the kids were practicing on was in fact FieldTurf, he suggested that the university consider FieldTurf for its stadium. Based on positive reactions from the players, the school decided to improve its stadium field a year early, and the Huskers took to FieldTurf for the 1999 season (an injury-free, 12-1 return to form).

In 1999, with Nebraska playing on the FieldTurf product, FieldTurf was able to ensure that high schools, municipalities, college teams, and pro teams would be exposed to the many benefits of playing on the world's most trusted brand of artificial turf.

Since then, the company has continued its commitment to extensive research and development for innovative improvements across sports, golf, landscaping, playground, pet and airport applications.

 

University of Nebraska: The first of many high-profile stadium fields

FieldTurf Greenscapes

The many environmental, cost, and durability benefits of FieldTurf led the company to develop specially formulated products targeted to home owners, commercial enterprises, pet facilities, golf courses, playgrounds, and airports. The environmental and cost savings on water usage, maintenance, carbon emissions, and chemicals, has made FieldTurf the smart choice for all landscaping applications across the globe. 

Each application has its own proven products that are engineered to accommodate the very specific needs of each sector. FieldTurf has built its reputation by providing the safest and most technologically advanced surfacing products in the industry.

Some of FieldTurf’s noteworthy customers outside of team sports include the Nike World Headquarters, Hilton Hotel golf courses, San Diego SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo and Humane Society, Legoland, Google and YouTube headquarters, Golf Digest Headquarters, and Air FieldTurf installations at Boston Logan, Hong Kong, and Charles De Gaulle International Airports.

All FieldTurf customers enjoy the benefits of superior durability and drainage. The positive environmental impact of FieldTurf provides the added benefit of U.S. Green Building Council LEED credits.

 

FieldTurf gives you the aesthetic value of a perfectly maintained grass lawn without the environmental drawbacks

 

Leading the Industry

Today, we offer industry-leading engineering and manufacturing resources, unparalleled leasing and financing capabilities and groundbreaking environmental standards. FieldTurf is the global market leader in synthetic sports fields and landscape applications with thousands of installations in each sector of the business.

As of 2009, hundreds of major NCAA universities have FieldTurf in their stadiums, with many more utilizing it at their practice sites. A selection of universities that have FieldTurf installed on campus include Syracuse, Rutgers, Boston College, Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, Kansas State, Louisville, Texas Tech, Missouri and Harvard. In addition, 21 of the National Football League's 32 teams have FieldTurf at their stadiums and/or practice complexes. Also, Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets play and/or practice on FieldTurf.

FieldTurf has already accomplished many feats in the industry since its inception, most notably reaching the historic 3000 sports field installation mark worldwide and setting new industry standards for superior quality control and customer service. In addition, FieldTurf has been commended throughout the world for paying special attention to safety, testing, biomechanics, durability, aesthetics, and the environment.

 

University of Texas: Installed 2009

Tarkett Sports

In 2004, Tarkett became the parent company for FieldTurf in a landmark industry move that has since created the world’s largest entity in the sports and landscape surfacing industries – Tarkett Sports. Tarkett’s expertise in the flooring industry along with FieldTurf’s leadership of the synthetic grass industry, gives customers a veritable one-stop-shop for high quality sports surfaces.

Included within the Tarkett Sports portfolio is an impressive range of performance sports flooring products. This product range features: synthetic and hardwood basketball; volleyball and gymnasium flooring; squash and racquetball courts; floor protection and covering systems; weight room flooring; and high performance indoor and outdoor running tracks, including Beynon track surfaces. All Tarkett Sports surfaces are developed, produced and installed with a concentration on sustainability and a commitment to protecting the environment, providing additional LEED contribution opportunities for customers. The company calls this focus on sustainability and the environment 'Environmental Intelligence' and all company personnel strive to exemplify this philosophy in all aspects of the business.

In 2008, renowned investment firm KKR (Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts) purchased 50% of Tarkett in yet another ground-breaking moment for the worldwide leader in sports surfacing. KKR is known from all circles of the world as a company that is among the world’s elite in strengthening businesses and creating value.