Finley Stadium Astro Turf Helps Attract Top Sporting Events
Eighteen thousand people turned out for the championship game last week.
And, an exhibition match this week featuring the world champion U.S. Women’s National team is already sold out.
A little-known reason for soccer’s success here–is the surface they play on.
Forget about that time a few years ago when Chattanooga was embarrassed about the turf at Finley stadium. That was during a nationally televised football game.
The artificial grass that was laid last May at Finley is a hit with world class soccer players, and a big draw for all sorts of sporting events.
PAULSMITH, MANAGER, FINLEY STADIUM "When you feel and walk on it ..it just looks and acts like real grass. It gives a true role for soccer. It gives a great feel for football and Astro Turf is just a great company to work with."
BRYAN PEEPLES, PRES.,ASTRO TURF "Previously this field encountered some base issues. And we had to come in with a system to bridge that over. To cover up any undulations and any issues with the field. As a result we got a nice table top finish the soccer players really like."
The world Championship Women’s National Soccer team will practice on this field Tuesday, and play Costa Rica Wednesday night. All 22-thousand tickets are already sold. The predicted rainy weather won’t matter.
SEAN MCDANIEL, GEN. MGR., CHATTANOOGA FOOTBALL CLUB "The tickets are purchased, its the World Cup Champions. I think the fact that we have some of the best known athletes, internationally here in Chattanooga …is actually the draw. And whether it rains a little bit or not…won’t affect anything as far as attendance."
Believe it or not, Astro Turf was first installed 50 years ago. And the company is using its premiere product called Astro 3D at Finley. But there’s more to this game than artificial turf. "
BRYAN PEEPLES "The timing couldn’t be better. When you think about the events that unfolded here a few weeks ago …with the servicemen that were killed…I think it helps the community to heal. We’re excited about being part of that healing process."
Environmentalists will want to know—an Astro Turf athletic field saves about 32-million gallons of water that would be needed for a grass field.
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