FC Cincinnati’s pitch is one step closer to match ready with the completion of sod installation at West End Stadium. FC Cincinnati partnered with locally based, internationally known sports field experts, The Motz Group, to design and build the 115 x 75-yard playing surface at West End Stadium.
West End Stadium is the first venue in Major League Soccer to leverage this combination of game-changing turfgrass technology. Motz installed their proprietary AirPATTM complete rootzone management system. The AirPAT system is a moisture management solution that wraps the entire field with a watertight liner and uses a unique vacuum drainage system to create a perfect growing climate for the rootzone. The surface features EclipseTM, a championship-quality hybrid system of natural ryegrass and synthetic turf surface. A total of 84,600 feet of Eclipse sod was installed, taking 10-person crew 14 weeks from site preparation to sod installation. In addition, SGL Systems was selected to install seven commercial grow lights, each covering over 500 square yards of surface, which will augment natural sunlight to maintain ideal growing conditions for the field leading into the upcoming 2021 MLS season.
“Our goal with this playing surface was to provide a championship-quality pitch that exceeds MLS standards and best practices for player safety, playability, and aesthetics. The combination of turfgrass technology and products that we’ve compiled here will allow us to do exactly that,” said Dan Lolli, Vice President, Facilities and Stadium General Manager.
West End Stadium opens Spring 2021.
