Great recent article written by Patrick M. O’Connell of the Chicago Tribune about Soldier Field getting its sod from Tuckahoe Farms in New Jersey. The surface on the lakefront had taken its share of criticism over the years before the change was made.
“Six years ago, after the Bears lost to the Houston Texans during a rain-drenched Sunday in November, kicker Robbie Gould said the turf conditions at Soldier Field were the worst of his career. The crescendo of complaints in 2014 led to a change. Soldier Field management switched sod providers, turning to a New Jersey turf farm that specializes in providing grass for professional sports teams.
“Overnight, there were fewer complaints,” said Soldier Field general manager Tim LeFevour.
Soldier Field wanted to support Illinois sod farmers, LeFevour said, but the turf’s higher clay content led to incidents of slippage for players, especially in wet weather. The new sod, grown at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Hammonton, NJ, has less clay and more sand.”
Read it all here
