AstroTurf

File:Green (astroturf) - Flickr - jakerome.jpg

The original AstroTurf brand product was invented by James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright at Monsanto. The original, experimental installation was inside the Waughhtel-Howe Field House at the Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1964.{{cite web | url=https://www.waterwisegrass.com/first-artificial-grass-field-1964/ | title=Gallery: First Experimental Artificial Grass Field Installed | date=20 June 2016 }} It was patented in 1965 and originally sold under the name "ChemGrass." It was rebranded as AstroTurf by company employee John A. Wortmann after its first well-publicized use at the Houston Astrodome stadium in 1966.{{cite journal|last1=Weeks |first1=Jennifer |title=Turf Wars |journal=Distillations Magazine |date=2015 |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=34–37 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/turf-wars |access-date=22 March 2018 }} Donald L. Elbert patented two methods to improve the product in 1971.Elbert, Donald L. (1968) "Synthetic turf products having variable blade widths" {{US Patent|3573147A}}Elbert, Donald L. and Wright, Robert T. (1969) "Pigmented fiber-forming nylon composition" {{US Patent|3565910A}}

Early iterations of the short-pile turf swept many major stadiums, but the product did need improvement. Concerns over directionality and traction led Monsanto's R&D department to implement a texturized nylon system. By imparting a crimped texture to the nylon after it was extruded, the product became highly uniform.

In 1987, Monsanto consolidated its AstroTurf management, marketing, and technical activities in Dalton, Georgia, as AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1988, Balsam AG purchased all the capital stock of AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1994, Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. (SRI) acquired the AstroTurf brand. In 1996, SRI was acquired by American Sports Products Group Inc.

While AstroTurf was the industry leader throughout the late 20th century, other companies emerged in the early 2000s. FieldTurf, AstroTurf's chief competitor since the early 2000s, marketed a product of tall-pile polyethylene turf with infill, meant to mimic natural grass more than the older products. This third-generation turf, as it became known, changed the landscape of the marketplace. Although SRI successfully marketed AstroPlay, a third-generation turf product, increased competition gave way to lawsuits. In 2000, SRI was awarded $1.5 million in a lawsuit after FieldTurf was deemed to have lied to the public by making false statements regarding its own product and making false claims about AstroTurf and AstroPlay products.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-recreational-industries-inc-reaffirms-jury-decision-that-fieldturf-is-guilty-of-lying-to-the-public-70981167.html|title=Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. Reaffirms Jury Decision|date=8 January 2001|work=prnewswire.com|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810064817/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-recreational-industries-inc-reaffirms-jury-decision-that-fieldturf-is-guilty-of-lying-to-the-public-70981167.html|archive-date=10 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

File:James russell washington state.jpg in Texas, utilizing an older-style AstroTurf surface that has since been replaced]]

Despite their legal victory, increased competition took its toll. In 2004, SRI declared bankruptcy.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/03/01/story8.html|title=SRI's bankruptcy puts customers on new turf|work=Austin Business Journal}} Out of the bankruptcy proceedings, Textile Management Associates, Inc. (TMA) of Dalton, Georgia, acquired the AstroTurf brand and other assets. TMA began marketing the AstroTurf brand under the company AstroTurf, LLC. In 2006, General Sports Venue (GSV) became TMA's marketing partner for the AstroTurf brand for the American market. AstroTurf, LLC handled the marketing of AstroTurf in the rest of the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.astroturf.com/about-us/history-timeline/ |title=History Timeline – AstroTurf |work=astroturf.com |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408052828/http://www.astroturf.com/about-us/history-timeline/ |archive-date=2013-04-08 }}

In 2009, TMA acquired GSV to enter the marketplace as a direct seller. AstroTurf, LLC focused its efforts on research and development, which has promoted rapid growth. AstroTurf introduced new product features and installation methods, including AstroFlect (a heat-reduction technology){{cite web|url=http://www.astroturf.com/astroflect/ |title=AstroFlect |work=astroturf.com |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926030941/http://www.astroturf.com/astroflect/ |archive-date=2013-09-26 }} and field prefabrication (indoor, climate-controlled inlaying).{{cite web|url=http://www.astroturf.com/prefabrication/ |title=Prefabrication |work=astroturf.com |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926031454/http://www.astroturf.com/prefabrication/ |archive-date=2013-09-26 }} AstroTurf also introduced a product called "RootZone" consisting of crimped fibers designed to encapsulate infill.{{cite web|url=http://www.astroturf.com/rootzone/|title=RootZone|work=astroturf.com|date=29 November 2016|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624011406/http://www.astroturf.com/rootzone/|url-status=dead}}

In 2016, SportGroup Holding announced that it would purchase AstroTurf, along with its associated manufacturing facilities. The AstroTurf brand has operated since then in North America as AstroTurf Corporation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.astroturf.com/2016/08/20/sale-closes/|title=SportGroup Holding Purchases AstroTurf, SYNLawn, and Associated Manufacturing Operations {{!}} {{!}} AstroTurf|access-date=2016-07-12|archive-date=2017-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801102559/http://www.astroturf.com/2016/08/20/sale-closes/|url-status=dead}}

In August 2021, AstroTurf became the official supplier of artificial turf to the United Soccer League, who run soccer leagues at the second, third, and fourth tiers of the U.S. men's soccer pyramid and the second tier of the U.S. women's soccer pyramid.{{cite web |author=USLSoccer com Staff |title=United Soccer League Announces Multi-Year Partnership with AstroTurf |url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1181005 |website=United Soccer League |access-date=30 August 2021 |language=en-us |date=30 August 2021}}

File:Astrodome scoreboard 1969.jpg during a June 7, 1969, contest between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals]]

1964

• The Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, installs ChemGrass.{{cite web | url = http://www.astroturf.com/about-us/history-timeline/ | title = History Timeline {{!}} AstroTurf | publisher = astroturf.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140104024728/http://www.astroturf.com/about-us/history-timeline/ | archive-date = January 4, 2014 |url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/highschool/bal-vafront1003,0,1917958.story|title=Topic Galleries|work= Baltimore Sun}}

1966

• First major installation of AstroTurf (ChemGrass) at the Houston Astrodome indoor stadium for the Houston Astros. The infield portion was in place before opening day in April; the outfield was installed in early summer.
• First college football game on artificial turf is played Sept. 23 in the Astrodome, Houston vs. Washington State.

1967

• AstroTurf is first installed in an outdoor stadium—Memorial Stadium at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-astroturf-1991235|title=How did Astroturf Become so Popular?|website=ThoughtCo}}

1968

• AstroTurf manufacturing facility opens in Dalton, Georgia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.astroturfusa.com/AboutAstroTurf.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212045959/http://www.astroturfusa.com/AboutAstroTurf.aspx|url-status=dead|title=About AstroTurf|archive-date=December 12, 2010}}
• First professional football game on artificial turf is played Sept. 9 at the Astrodome between the Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League.

1969

• The backyard of The Brady Bunch house between the service porch and garage and under Tiger's kennel is covered with AstroTurf. According to script development notes, the installation firm hired by Mike Brady to lay the turf was owned by his college roommate, who had just started a landscaping business after returning from a combat tour in the Vietnam War with the 18th Engineer Brigade. In keeping with studio instructions, no direct mention of the war in Vietnam appeared in the script. The scene in which the installation takes place was ultimately cut, so never appeared in the series.{{Cite web|url=https://legallysociable.com/2012/04/29/the-exterior-vs-the-interior-of-the-brady-bunch-house-and-architecture-in-tv-and-movies/|title=The exterior vs. the interior of the Brady Bunch house and architecture in TV and movies|date=April 29, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/chudnutt/2013/03/31/socio-cultural-analysis-the-brady-bunch/|title=Socio-cultural Analysis: The Brady Bunch | Social History of Television: Charlotte Hudnutt|website=blogs.lt.vt.edu}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/20063/very-brady-post-6-secrets-brady-bunch-vault|title=A Very Brady Post: 6 Secrets from The Brady Bunch Vault|date=November 5, 2008|website=www.mentalfloss.com}}
• AstroTurf is installed at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania. The first National Football League game on artificial turf, the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Cleveland Browns, is played Sept. 21.

File:LouBrockstealing.jpg in St. Louis (photo taken in 1975)]]

File:Barry Larkin playing for Cincinnati in Riverfront Stadium in 1990.jpg shortstop Barry Larkin playing on AstroTurf at Riverfront Stadium, October 1990]]

File:Manningcoltspackers2004.jpg lining up for a play (on AstroTurf) against the Green Bay Packers in 2004 at the RCA Dome]]

1970

• The 1970 World Series is the first with games on AstroTurf (previously installed at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium), as the Reds play the Baltimore Orioles.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1970ws.shtml|title=1970 World Series by Baseball Almanac}}

1971

• The CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats install AstroTurf at their home stadium, Ivor Wynne Stadium, in preparation for hosting the Grey Cup game the following year.

1972

• The Kansas City Chiefs home field of Arrowhead Stadium and the Kansas City Royals home field of Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium) open in Kansas City, Missouri, with AstroTurf playing surfaces.

1973

• The Buffalo Bills' home field of Rich Stadium (later Ralph Wilson Stadium, and then Highmark Stadium) opens in Orchard Park, New York, with an AstroTurf playing surface.

1974

• The Miami Dolphins face the Minnesota Vikings on AstroTurf (the first Super Bowl played on the surface, but not the first to be played on artificial turf; that was Super Bowl V (in 1971) with Poly-Turf) in Super Bowl VIII – Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas.{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/turftalk |title=Turf Talk with Archie Pt.1|work=FOX Sports |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225015733/http://msn.foxsports.com/turftalk |archive-date=2007-02-25 }}

1975

• The first international field hockey game is played on AstroTurf at Molson Stadium, Montreal.{{cite web|url=http://football.ballparks.com/CFL/Montreal/veryoldindex.htm|title=Percival Molson Memorial Stadium}}

1980

• The Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals play the entire 1980 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.

1984

• AstroTurf installs the first North American vertical drainage systems in Ewing, New Jersey, at Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey).{{Cite web|url=https://tcnjathletics.com/sports/2003/4/23/stadium.aspx|title=Lions' Stadium|website=The College of New Jersey Athletics}}

1985

• The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals play the entire 1985 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.

1987

• The St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins play the entire 1987 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.

1989

• The first E-Layer system (Elastomeric) is installed at the College of William & Mary, as well as the University of California, Berkeley.{{Cite web |url=http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/RELEASE/2005/pr061805.htm |title=Marshall Press Release |access-date=2007-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031170426/http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/RELEASE/2005/pr061805.htm |archive-date=2007-10-31 |url-status=dead }}

1993

• The 1993 World Series, between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays, was the fourth World Series to be played entirely on artificial turf, following those in {{World Series Year|1980}}, {{World Series Year|1985}}, and {{World Series Year|1987}}.

1999

• Real Madrid C.F. (Spain) becomes the first European football club to purchase an AstroTurf system for their practice fields.[http://www.southwestrec.com/international/news/photos2.htm News & Events – SRI Sports – International – Field, Track, Indoor, Tennis Systems & Services] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225100854/http://www.southwestrec.com/international/news/photos2.htm |date=February 25, 2007 }}

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==External links==

• {{Official website}}

{{Houston Astros}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AstroTurf}}

Category:Products introduced in 1964

Category:Artificial turf

Category:Houston Astros