Increasingly, many sports venues and communities are opting for the one-time fees associated with installation of artificial turf for Little League fields, football fields, softball diamonds, and soccer fields.
At AZ Turf Depot, our experts can help you and your team evaluate the best turf for each customer. Here are some of the major factors that make using synthetic grass an excellent option for playing fields, from the community level to the pros:
Less expensive maintenance
Artificial turf cuts costs on water, fertilizer, and maintenance. Getting a field ready can be a challenge, especially after adverse weather. Costs add up quickly after winter in climates where a harsh winter has played havoc on the ground. This is not a problem with artificial turf. Maintenance just means cleaning any debris from the turf and ensuring infill is in good shape. Due to fewer expenses, a field of synthetic grass pays for itself in cost savings over a period of about 3-4 years.
Hardier playing surface
There is very little to no downtime between games on fields with artificial turf. Players don’t have to wait for water to dry as they do on natural grass playing fields. Also, because artificial grass is sturdy, more games can be played throughout the week, giving leagues opportunities to expand with more teams. There are no worries about playing in mud and further ruining the fields, either, when artificial turf is in use. In addition, schools with artificial turf on their fields can rent their space for additional revenue without worrying about overuse or high maintenance costs.
Fewer seasonal impacts
Fields made with synthetic turf can be used nearly year-round in most parts of the country. That’s especially true here in Arizona, where our winters are extremely mild. Because artificial turf is so resilient, tournaments and other events rarely have to be postponed due to bad weather or field maintenance.
Save water and help the environment
Many cities and government entities offer tax credits and rebates for replacing natural grass with drought-resistant artificial turf. The rebates and credits help offset costs of installation, and reducing water use is good for the environment, especially in drought-stricken states like California and Arizona.
Consistent playing surface
Fields with synthetic grass have fewer issues with dirt, rocks, hard spots and other inconsistencies in the ground covering. There are no odd bounces that can cause injury to players; instead, there’s consistent playing for all teams.
In Arizona, our professional baseball team, the Diamondbacks, will play on artificial turf at Chase Field in Phoenix when baseball season launches later this year. During spring training starting Feb. 28, 2021, the team will play home games on turf at Talking Stick field.
Tampa Bay and Toronto also have home stadiums that use synthetic grass. In the minor leagues, turf already is more popular in part because it allows cities to more easily use their ball park for other purposes such as community concerts or fairs. In Arizona, with a limited water supply and limited budgets for Little League teams, this is really good news.
At Arizona Turf Depot, we work with individual vendors to determine which of our turf products presents the best solution for a field’s uses. Then, we’ll find the best infill – or infill mix – to create playing fields that are player and maintenance friendly.
Visit or call Arizona Turf Depot at our West Valley showroom, 14131 N. Rio Vista Blvd., Suite 9, Peoria, AZ 85381 (623) 388-3389, or contact us at our recently opened Mesa location, 7645 E. Ray Road, Suite 101, Mesa, AZ 85212, (480) 690-5591. Our experienced team is happy to help you find the right synthetic grass for your needs.
