The playing surface at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is a frequent topic of discussion. The distinction between natural grass and synthetic turf carries significant implications for player safety, maintenance costs, and field performance. Given the stadium’s location in a climate that experiences extreme seasonal changes, the choice of surface is complex. The surface must consistently withstand the intense physical demands of professional football.
Is the Playing Surface Natural or Synthetic
The playing surface at Arrowhead Stadium is natural grass. This is the preference for many professional athletes due to its greater impact absorption and less friction compared to artificial materials. The stadium transitioned from its original AstroTurf field to a natural grass surface in 1994, aligning with a broader trend in professional sports. While synthetic fields offer durability, natural grass requires constant, specialized care to maintain its structural integrity and drainage capacity, especially in the Midwest’s transition climate zone, which faces summer heat and winter freezes. The choice reflects a commitment to providing a consistent, high-quality playing environment throughout the entire NFL season.
Selection of the Specific Grass Variety
The natural turf currently utilized is a specific cultivar of warm-season grass known as NorthBridge Bermudagrass. This variety was selected in 2013 because of its genetically enhanced traits that allow it to survive colder temperatures than typical Bermudagrass. Bermudagrass is favored in high-traffic sports applications for its aggressive rooting structure, which helps anchor the plant and resist tearing. NorthBridge was chosen specifically for its superior cold tolerance and rapid recovery rate, allowing it to bounce back quickly from heavy use and the stress of the Kansas City climate. The turf’s dense, horizontal growth pattern, called stolons, helps create a tightly knit playing surface that resists divots.
Specialized Field Management and Maintenance
Maintaining this natural field in a cold-weather environment requires a significant investment in subsurface technology and advanced horticultural practices. The field is equipped with a $2.2 million hydronic heating system installed beneath the playing surface. This system uses three three-million BTU boilers to circulate heated water through thousands of feet of pipe nine inches below the sand base.
This heating infrastructure serves two primary functions. It prevents the ground from freezing during winter games, keeping the soil temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and it extends the growing season for the Bermudagrass in the cooler months. The grounds crew regularly replaces sections of the field using thick-cut sod, known as “Game On Grass,” which is grown off-site and can be laid and played on almost immediately. A specialized machine called a fraze mower is used to precisely remove the worn-out turf before the new sod is installed, ensuring a level and safe surface.