The decision making process is key to this investment and how installing the right artificial turf will make a major difference to your communities, clubs, sports governing bodies activities on and off the field and whether as a training field or main stadia. Then December 8th and 9th, 2010 in Amsterdam is a date for your diary.
Nigel Fletcher one of the organisers of The TURF and GRASS EXPO 2010 and Managing Director of Sports Development Marketing looks at the benefits of artificial turf and the challenges ahead. Nigel until very recently led many of FIFA’s artificial turf programmes between 2005-2010.
Nigel Fletcher gives his brief views on why artificial turf will make a major difference to the development of Football:
The Football Benefits of Artificial Turf – From a Player and Coaching perspective
Better playing conditions all year round: With artificial turf you can play the game all year round. The players and coaching staff do not have any surprises regarding the playing surface. The excellent all year round conditions means players can perform to their ability and can express their technical skills. The predictability of the surface lends itself to a technical development that can only enhance the players development. Leading Football Clubs in the world have installed artificial turf whether it be Ajax Amsterdam, Manchester United , Chelsea, Real Madrid. Yes whilst these surfaces are not installed in the Stadium, questions have to be asked from a player and technical perspective, if they are good enough for training and academy players then they certainly have a role in the future development of Football. This is because artificial turf surfaces complements the learning and skill acquisition of players whether youth or first team. The surface is predictable making decisions easier and quicker.
Financials and Stadia: More and more professional clubs are looking at the “artificial turf option”. One club who has taken on the option is BSC Young Boys who play at the Stade de Suisse in the national capital city in Bern. The strategy and motives for installing an artificial turf were:
More Football in the stadium. More Flexibility. Financial Revenue.
In order to achieve their aims, the key problem was the limitations of their grass pitch, and the reasons for the change to an artificial turf pitch were:
Natural grass can only host a limited number of events
Durability is heavily dependent on weather
Using the stadium for more events would lead to more risks.
Multiple use, image, sport and costs were all motivating factors for installing artificial turf:
Multiple use – Installing artificial turf allowed much more frequent use of the stadium infrastructure. Thus sports, business events and concerts could all take place, and even more important – on a frequent basis, thus generating more spectators due to the increased frequency of events such as concerts and business seminars. The strategic goal of “non traditional football fans” coming into the football stadium, was the hope that they may come back and see BSC Young Boys. A good long term strategy of increasing the fan base.
Image – Due to the durability of the playing surface the look and feel are excellent all year round. And an evergreen surface all year round has enhanced the image for spectators in the stadium. The Stade de Suisse were very much groundbreakers in seeing the benefits and development for business and football as a whole.
Sport – Due to the durability of the surface, the first team can play on the pitch as well as youth teams. This creates a club atmosphere and utilises the football turf surface to its best advantage. Importantly from a playing perspective the players have the ability to maximise their performance without having to worry about the quality of the surface.
Costs – Thanks to the installation of the surface, costs are saved due to less investment, less maintenance and more revenue, especially when concerts in recent years hosting Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams have taken place.
The TURF and GRASS EXPO 2010
The TURF and GRASS Expo 2010 will be the world’s most exclusive sports exhibition and conference, focusing on artificial turf and natural grass. It will take place on December 8th and 9th 2010, at one of the most prestigious conference and exhibition venues in the world. The RAI in Amsterdam.
Over 3000 individuals are anticipated from federations, clubs (professionals and amateurs), communities, government organizations, architects and others – who will merge with the manufacturers and suppliers of artificial turf and natural grass, and the various other related products/equipment.
When a club at any level, its board, a government agency or other community authority make decisions such as switching to artificial turf, there are many sporting, business, financial and other strategic aspects. All the above issues will be presented and discussed in the conference to help them make that decision. Then, in the exhibition one can decide where to buy. The conference and exhibition is intended for all stakeholders – so whether you are the stadium director, municipality, financial director, technical director, CEO, etc., all the information, advice and best practice case-studies will be there.
www.turfandgrassexpo.com
December 8th and 9th, 2010
RAI CONVENTION CENTRE, AMSTERDAM. The NETHERLANDS
SPECIAL OFFER FOR PLAYGROUND AND LANDSCAPE SUBSCRIBERS
As part of the Media Partnership with The TURF and GRASS EXPO and Playground and Landscape and due to generosity of FIELDTURF, an event partner of The TURF and GRASS EXPO 2010, the first 20 subscribers can attend the conference for 285 EUR. Price includes lunches, drinks, evening reception and more. Normal price is 575 EUR. YOU MUST QUOTE “FIELDTURF” on the booking form.
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