Grass field at Bobby Dodd

[doobie]

At LSU v. OU and enjoying the pomp and circumstance. My overwhelming feeling at this game is we really lost something when we decided to make BDS turf. Luxury suites would be great but if I could change anything about gameday the first thing I’d fix is there would be a grass field.

 

[cpf2001]

In 2003 or so we had press releases about state of the art drainage on a new grass field and such.

It was a huge shame to go away from that again so soon after.

 

[stinger78]

Credit TStan for that.

 

[ThatGuy]

Credit TStan for that.

As much as I disliked many (most) of his decisions, and as much as I hated that decision at the time, I do think it was the right decision under the circumstances.

We were hemorrhaging money as an athletic program, and needed to find ways to shore up the coffers and pay down the debt (not to mention the 20-year buyouts for past coaches). The plan to have more concerts and events at Bobby Dodd was a great one, and required us to do away with the grass. Problem being, Covid got in the way. And nothing has been the same in the events world since.

It was even more bitter, as our grounds crew was constantly winning awards for the work they did maintaining the grass in the stadium. The stuff was beautiful, and I think all of us hated to see it go.

Anyway, if we're not going to use it for events, I would love to do away with the turf. But I think we still have more pressing expenses at the moments, and should keep the turf until the end of its useful life - then strongly consider making the move back to grass if we haven't been able to finally generate some revenue from events/concerts/etc at Bobby Dodd in the meantime.

 

[LongforDodd]

…and should keep the turf until the end of its useful life - then strongly consider making the move back to grass if we haven't been able to finally generate some revenue from events/concerts/etc at Bobby Dodd in the meantime.

This.

 

[majorQ9]

Ironically, Bobby Dodd was hosting more events per year with grass than they have since the move to turf (Atlanta United, Rolling Stones, etc)

 

[JacketOff]

Ironically, Bobby Dodd was hosting more events per year with grass than they have since the move to turf (Atlanta United, Rolling Stones, etc)

Have there been any major non-GT events at BDS since they turfed it? I can’t think of anything happening. They were supposed to get BTS, which was one of the biggest draws in the world at the time in 2020. Odd they went from hosting that to literally nothing. What is the point of keeping the turf in that case?

 

[stinger78]

Have there been any major non-GT events at BDS since they turfed it? I can’t think of anything happening. They were supposed to get BTS, which was one of the biggest draws in the world at the time in 2020. Odd they went from hosting that to literally nothing. What is the point of keeping the turf in that case?

I dunno. Saves on the water bill?

 

[a5ehren]

Have there been any major non-GT events at BDS since they turfed it? I can’t think of anything happening. They were supposed to get BTS, which was one of the biggest draws in the world at the time in 2020. Odd they went from hosting that to literally nothing. What is the point of keeping the turf in that case?

The cost to switch back would be a waste until we get to the point where the turf has to get renewed anyway. We're broke, so that matters.

 

[JacketOff]

The cost to switch back would be a waste until we get to the point where the turf has to get renewed anyway. We're broke, so that matters.

Turf lifespan is roughly 8-10 years. I’m sure high schools and public rec fields can go a lot longer between updates, but you really don’t want high value athletes playing on turf much older than that. We installed turf in 2020, and BDS is supposed to be fully renovated by 2027 football season. Reinstalling grass should be part of the project, the turf will be at replacement age by then.

 

[gte447f]

Is the wave of popularity of artificial turf waning? I’ve heard the arguments for cheaper maintenance, etc., but I think it really became popular as sort of a luxury status symbol more than for any practical or performance reasons. However, lately popular sentiment seems to be shifting back to natural grass as a superior playing surface. I’ve never liked turf because I don’t like fake crap, but I never knew much about it until my son started playing soccer. Now I realize it’s an inferior playing surface. If you’re interested, do some research into temperature difference between artificial turf and natural grass. It’s staggering.

I don’t know if he actually had anything to do with it, but I like blaming the fake field on clown Collins since it happened while he was here doing nothing.

 

[Ramble1885]

The history of our stadium is so unique and the playing surface is no exception.

Grass was there from 1905 (we played at the site before the stadium was even built) through 1970.

In 1971 astroturf (back then state of the art, nowadays glorified carpet) was put in. Here's some cool pics of the installation process. https://www.flickr.com/photos/deloye/albums/72157635208333275/page4

In 1987 the astroturf was replaced (this was the field that had "JACKETS" in white with bright gold endzones) with FieldTurf, but again basically carpet.

In 1995, grass returned, in 2002 the field was shifted very slightly. This was what I grew up on. Our grounds crew in the 00's-2010's was amazing. I remember going to my first ever GT football game at 3-4 years old and seeing that field after walking out the portal to the seats for the first time. I was a toddler, so everything looked so big. I was amazed. The grass was so nicely cut and trimmed.

Our current turf isn't bad. At least it's not the carpet crap that my dad had to deal with in his day. But I'm all for a return to grass IF it's in our budget.

 

[yeti92]

The history of our stadium is so unique and the playing surface is no exception.

Grass was there from 1905 (we played at the site before the stadium was even built) through 1970.

In 1971 astroturf (back then state of the art, nowadays glorified carpet) was put in. Here's some cool pics of the installation process. https://www.flickr.com/photos/deloye/albums/72157635208333275/page4

In 1987 the astroturf was replaced (this was the field that had "JACKETS" in white with bright gold endzones) with FieldTurf, but again basically carpet.

In 1995, grass returned, in 2002 the field was shifted very slightly. This was what I grew up on. Our grounds crew in the 00's-2010's was amazing. I remember going to my first ever GT football game at 3-4 years old and seeing that field after walking out the portal to the seats for the first time. I was a toddler, so everything looked so big. I was amazed. The grass was so nicely cut and trimmed.

Our current turf isn't bad. At least it's not the carpet crap that my dad had to deal with in his day. But I'm all for a return to grass IF it's in our budget.

The best part about all those pictures is the uniforms

 

[Oakland]

It really looks like it needs to be replaced before next season. I think the extra heat during the last two years has taken its toll. It appears to me in some areas to have a shine and an uneven color. I'd like to know what the players think about the surface.

 

[GTLorenzo]

The history of our stadium is so unique and the playing surface is no exception.

Grass was there from 1905 (we played at the site before the stadium was even built) through 1970.

In 1971 astroturf (back then state of the art, nowadays glorified carpet) was put in. Here's some cool pics of the installation process. https://www.flickr.com/photos/deloye/albums/72157635208333275/page4

In 1987 the astroturf was replaced (this was the field that had "JACKETS" in white with bright gold endzones) with FieldTurf, but again basically carpet.

In 1995, grass returned, in 2002 the field was shifted very slightly. This was what I grew up on. Our grounds crew in the 00's-2010's was amazing. I remember going to my first ever GT football game at 3-4 years old and seeing that field after walking out the portal to the seats for the first time. I was a toddler, so everything looked so big. I was amazed. The grass was so nicely cut and trimmed.

Our current turf isn't bad. At least it's not the carpet crap that my dad had to deal with in his day. But I'm all for a return to grass IF it's in our budget.

The pictures in that link are amazing. 1960s- 1980s.

 

[Secret_AznMan]

As much as I disliked many (most) of his decisions, and as much as I hated that decision at the time, I do think it was the right decision under the circumstances.

We were hemorrhaging money as an athletic program, and needed to find ways to shore up the coffers and pay down the debt (not to mention the 20-year buyouts for past coaches). The plan to have more concerts and events at Bobby Dodd was a great one, and required us to do away with the grass. Problem being, Covid got in the way. And nothing has been the same in the events world since.

It was even more bitter, as our grounds crew was constantly winning awards for the work they did maintaining the grass in the stadium. The stuff was beautiful, and I think all of us hated to see it go.

Anyway, if we're not going to use it for events, I would love to do away with the turf. But I think we still have more pressing expenses at the moments, and should keep the turf until the end of its useful life - then strongly consider making the move back to grass if we haven't been able to finally generate some revenue from events/concerts/etc at Bobby Dodd in the meantime.

Any stadium tour that can play BDS can also play Truist or MBS instead

 

[LongforDodd]

Is the wave of popularity of artificial turf waning? I’ve heard the arguments for cheaper maintenance, etc., but I think it really became popular as sort of a luxury status symbol more than for any practical or performance reasons. However, lately popular sentiment seems to be shifting back to natural grass as a superior playing surface. I’ve never liked turf because I don’t like fake crap, but I never knew much about it until my son started playing soccer. Now I realize it’s an inferior playing surface. If you’re interested, do some research into temperature difference between artificial turf and natural grass. It’s staggering.

I don’t know if he actually had anything to do with it, but I like blaming the fake field on clown Collins since it happened while he was here doing nothing.

In the ATL area artificial is taking off big time for the high schools. In 2012 our kid's high school put it in. The AD told me it cost 600k. Should get 10 years out of it. It was costing the school $60k to maintain grass. Practically break even. But it allows more games and practices to held in other sports on campus while saving time and money in traveling to someone else's fields for these games/practices.

 

[Ash]

Any stadium tour that can play BDS can also play Truist or MBS instead

A shame that's the case. I saw the Rolling Stones at Bobby Dodd and MBS. BDS is far superior for a concert. MBS sounds like you are in a sewer pipe with all of the reverb off the metal roof.

 

[UgaBlows]

It really looks like it needs to be replaced before next season. I think the extra heat during the last two years has taken its toll. It appears to me in some areas to have a shine and an uneven color. I'd like to know what the players think about the surface.

On tv it looks wore out and crappy, money-wise i’m sure we have higher priorities