By Bennett Silvin – Cronkite NewsGLENDALE – From fresh green grass to brand new turf, playing surfaces have been at the forefront of NFL headlines this season, and with all eyes on the biggest game of the year, State Farm Stadium workers have the task of making the field pleasing to viewers while also keeping the players safe.
Players noticing this difference have validity based on the NFL injury data collected from 2012 to 2018. This data showed that contact injury rates for lower extremities were higher during practices and games played on artificial turf. On Super Bowl Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will break in the brand new field made from grass that was grown locally just outside Phoenix.
“We roll every piece out like a carpet,” said Mangan. “Then make sure everything is smooth and put all the edges together.”Now the field is in the hands of the grounds crew, a mix of local staff and members brought in from around the country. In total there are around 35 people who work seven days a week to have the game and practice fields in the best condition possible.
Eleven days before the 2023 Super Bowl and the paint for the essential grid of the field is ready to go. Having a new field for the Super Bowl also comes with player health and safety concerns no matter the type of grass.