Work was completed this week on installation of a new artificial-turf playing surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The stadium's previous turf, FieldTurf's "Revolution 360" system, was replaced with a newer FieldTurf system called "CORE." FieldTurf describes CORE as "the first multi-layer dual-polymer fiber" turf and touts it as "designed to deliver a more realistic, textured, grass-like shape with optimal durability and resiliency."
The installation took nine days and was completed Tuesday night. Atlanta United trained on the new surface Wednesday.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium officials said in February that the stadium's turf would be replaced before the Falcons season and during Atlanta United's season. The current month-long stretch between Atlanta United home games provided an opening to do the work.
Stadium officials told the Georgia World Congress Center Authority board, which has an oversight role over the stadium, that the turf replacement would cost about $700,000. It's the most expensive item on a list of capital improvements totaling $1.97 million planned this year for the stadium, which opened in 2017 and hosted Super Bowl LIII in February. Capital improvements are funded in part by a portion of the Atlanta hotel-motel tax dedicated to the stadium.
Stadium general manager Scott Jenkins said the turf likely will be replaced approximately every two years because of heavy use and frequent repainting/rebranding of the field for various events.
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, which opened in 2016 and hosted Super Bowl LII, also has announced that its artificial turf will be replaced this year.
> ICYMI: How Atlanta is preparing for next year’s Final Four at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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TODAY’S LEADOFF LINKS
> You can find all of the AJC's comprehensive coverage of the Masters here.
> The Hawks completed their season Wednesday night, losing to Indiana 135-134 at State Farm Arena on three Pacers free throws with 3/10ths of a second remaining. The Hawks finished with a 29-53 record. See story here.
> The College Park Skyhawks — the Hawks' G League affiliate that will begin play for the 2019-20 season — hired Dan Dial as team president. He had been president of the River City Rascals, a Missouri baseball team in the independent Frontier League. Details are here.
> Once again, the Braves' Dansby Swanson seems the real deal, Mark Bradley writes. Read his column here.
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