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The Pitch

03/03/2011 7:55 AM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

This is the second post from guest blogger Bradley Stonecypher

I have read quite about about the debate of turf versus grass. There are some purists out there that are disappointed about the decision of turf for PGE Park. After watching Arsenal playing at Leyton Orient a couple of weeks ago, then watching the RSL vs. Columbus match the other night, I must say I am leaning more towards turf than grass. I think I would rather see a game on turf than on dust and dirt. I know Oregon is famous for its grass...ok, get your mind out of the gutter...I mean green grass. But I also know that the maintenance cost of grass is rather expensive, and that expense would come out of my pocket with increased prices at the gate and probably at the concession stand as well. I am blessed to be able to afford my seats, but I also understand that the Timbers want to make this affordable for folks and I think turf allows a little bit more affordability.

Watching Arsenal destroy Leyton Orient at Emirates Stadium today, I wondered about what the cost of maintaining that pitch is. I am sure it is in the millions a year. That pitch is immaculate. I would rather have that money to spend on players.

When you look at PGE Park, it gets very limited sunshine, not to mention I think there would be serious drainage issues as well. It makes business sense to be with turf. I would like to get your opinion on the matter, pro or con, but let's keep it civil. If you are for one or the other, please tell us why.


Comments

  • 07/12/2016 7:18 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Scott V Swearingen says:
    Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 11:37 am

    I really don’t care.

    Here is my question to you though. If the Timbers are printing money, and the amount we can spend on players is limited somewhat by the cap (DP’s can be outside). I would want the team to reinvest the money in some community facilities that get the excess use from all Non-PSU users out of the stadium.

    This may free us up for grass in the future if we continue to be successful for the city and Merrit’s bottom line.
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  • 07/12/2016 7:19 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Ultimately it’s not so much the drainage or sunlight issues that prevent us from having grass, but the amount of hours it gets used per year. Not only are the Timbers and PSU playing on it, but PGE gets used for many other things. I also believe (but please someone correct me on this if I’m wrong) that because the stadium is city owned, it *has* to made made available for a set number of days/hours per year for Community use.

    But as Scott says, if circumstances change and we’re printing money, it will put us in a much stronger position with both PSU and the City to renegotiate these things.
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  • 07/12/2016 7:19 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Lucas Grzybowski says:
    Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 11:59 am

    I don’t think anyone would argue that, all things being equal, artificial turf is better than natural turf. I just hope the new stuff is as cutting edge as promised, and that if we continue to have an artificial playing surface, MP continues to keep it cutting edge as new technologies emerge.

    Speaking of PSU, I was sadly unable to make it to any of their games in Hillsboro last season, and I’m psyched to see them in the new Park.
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  • 07/12/2016 7:19 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Andrew Brawley says:
    Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Close-up shot of the turf in this video:
    http://vimeo.com/20483681

    Judge away.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/12/2016 7:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Patrick Emerson says:
    Friday, March 4, 2011 at 11:16 am

    I chatted with one of the Timbers FO people at a recent PGE Park tour and he said that the issue is really that with the MAC blocking the sun for the southern half of the pitch a good 6 months of the year or more, grass simply would not grow. So, even if they could get most of the other uses out of PGE Park, they still could not have a grass pitch.

    If true, get used to turf, because it ‘aint going away ever.
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  • 07/12/2016 7:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Mike Drescher says:
    Friday, March 4, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    My concern with artificial turf is the amount of injuries that players accumulate on it. Aesthetically it’s probably about even, but I’ve read interviews with players comparing real grass to the turf that said that players need a longer recovery time after playing on the turf. Anecdotal maybe, but it would suck if we had loads of guys injured all the time.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/12/2016 7:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Bradley Stonecypher says:
    Monday, March 7, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Thank you all for the comments.

    I would concur about the MAC club blocking the sun 6 months out of the year.

    Interesting thoughts about the public use aspect of PGE being a public entity. I can’t imagine a lot of folks being able to pay the “rent” or usage fee to use it.

    I too am excited to see PSU play football there. I am wondering if I can keep my seats and purchase season tickets for them as well. Not sure how all that works.
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  • 07/12/2016 7:20 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Seth Hunt says:
    Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Bradley, you would have to buy Viking season tickets through PSU.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/12/2016 7:21 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Brennan Burns says:
    Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    As to Lucas’s comment: “I don’t think anyone would argue that, all things being equal, artificial turf is better than natural turf.”

    What rock are you living under? Have you ever played on either? Any professional player would prefer a natural grass pitch over an artificial one, hands, er, feet down. The argument that PGE doesn’t get enough sun is flimsy, natural grass doesn’t require constant sun to grow. We live in Portland, remember, all of our grass lacks enough sunlight, obstructions or not.

    Arsenal’s Emirates stadium is actually a great example of what we should go with, a hybrid pitch. It’s part artificial, part natural, which makes the pitch stand up to more use longer and recovers more quickly. Check out this link for more info- http://www.dessosports.com/en/sports/football/football-projects/
    Of course, Arsenal also loses in the eco-friendly department, a model which wouldn’t bode well in P-town. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/11/10/stadium.footprints/
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