How Many NFL Stadiums Have Astroturf?

Ever wonder how many NFL stadiums have astroturf? The answer may surprise you.

The History of Astroturf in the NFL

The first NFL game played on Astroturf was on September 20, 1970, between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Oilers. Since then, many more NFL stadiums have switched to Astroturf. There are currently a total of 13 NFL stadiums with Astroturf. In this article, we will take a look at the history of Astroturf in the NFL.

The First Astroturf Field

In 1966, the Houston Astrodome became the first domed stadium in the NFL, and the first to have artificial turf. The owner of the Astros, Judge Roy Hofheinz, wanted a playing surface that would look like grass but would be more durable and require less maintenance than natural grass. He turned to Monsanto Company, which had developed a synthetic turf called “ChemGrass.” The Astrodome’s ChemGrass was made up of an acrylic-based carpet on top of a drainage system and a “shock-absorbing” layer of crumb rubber.

The Rise of Astroturf

Astroturf was invented in the 1960s by a team of scientists working for Monsanto, and it hit the market in the 1970s. The first customer was the Houston Astrodome, which installed Astroturf in 1974. The product quickly took off, and by the mid-1980s, Astroturf was being used in about half of all NFL stadiums.

There are a number of advantages to using Astroturf over natural grass. For one, Astroturf is much more durable than grass, so it can be used more frequently and with less maintenance. Additionally, Astroturf is not affected by weather conditions like rain or snow, so games can be played even in poor conditions. Finally, Astroturf provides a consistent playing surface for all teams, regardless of whether they are playing at home or away.

Despite its many advantages, there are also some downsides to using Astroturf. One is that it can be quite hard on players’ bodies, particularly their joints. Additionally, because it is man-made, Astroturf does not have the same visual appeal as natural grass. As a result, many fans prefer to watch games played on natural grass fields.

Despite these drawbacks, Astroturf remains popular in the NFL. In fact, as of 2019, about half of all NFL stadiums still have Astroturf fields.

How Many NFL Stadiums Currently Have Astroturf?

As of the 2019-2020 NFL season, there are only two stadiums in the league that have astroturf surfaces – Soldier Field in Chicago and Ford Field in Detroit. This is a significant decrease from years past, when astroturf was much more prevalent in the league. There are a variety of reasons for this change, which we’ll get into below.

The stadiums that have Astroturf

Eight NFL stadiums currently have Astroturf surfaces, according to a tally by the website Football Stadium Digest. That’s down from a peak of 11 in 2007, but still more than a third of the league.

The stadiums that have Astroturf are: Arizona Cardinals’ University of Phoenix Stadium, Atlanta Falcons’ Georgia Dome, Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium, Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium, Cincinnati Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium, Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium, New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium and Philadelphia Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field.

The stadiums that don’t have Astroturf

There are currently 13 NFL stadiums that don’t have Astroturf. They are:

The Pros and Cons of Astroturf

Astroturf is a synthetic turf that is used in many NFL stadiums. It is cheaper to install and maintain than natural grass, and it can withstand heavy usage. However, it can be very hot to play on in the summer, and it can be hard on players’ joints.

The Pros of Astroturf

The main advantage of Astroturf is that it is much more durable than natural grass and can withstand the heavy use of football games. It also requires much less maintenance than natural grass, which is a significant cost savings for NFL stadiums. In addition, Astroturf can be installed in any climate, which means that NFL teams can have a home-field advantage regardless of where they play.

The Cons of Astroturf

While there are many benefits to using astroturf, there are also some significant drawbacks. One of the most frequently cited problems with astroturf is that it can be much harder on the joints than natural grass. This is because astroturf does not have the same level of “give” as grass, so it can put added stress on joints when players are running and making cuts. This can lead to an increased risk of injuries such as ACL tears and other ligament damage.

Another concern with astroturf is that it can be very hot to play on, especially in warm weather conditions. This can be a major issue for players who are already at risk for heat-related injuries such as heat stroke. Additionally, the hard surface of astroturf can also lead to more skin abrasions and other turf burns.

Finally, some people believe that astroturf gives players an unfair advantage because it is easier to run on and make quick cuts. While this may be true to some extent, it is important to remember that every field is different and each player will have to adjust their game accordingly.

The Future of Astroturf in the NFL

The National Football League has seen a recent increase in the number of teams playing on artificial turf, also known as Astroturf. This increase can be attributed to the many advantages that Astroturf provides over natural grass. Some of these advantages include increased durability, reduced maintenance costs, and improved player safety. In this article, we will take a look at how many NFL stadiums have Astroturf and whether or not this trend is likely to continue in the future.

The stadiums that are switching to Astroturf

Eight NFL teams have artificial turf in their stadiums, and that number could soon be nine. The Arizona Cardinals are considering a switch to artificial turf at State Farm Stadium, and the team is expected to make a decision this offseason.

If the Cardinals do switch to artificial turf, they would join the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts as teams that play on synthetic surfaces.

The decision to switch to artificial turf is usually driven by a desire to increase the versatility of the stadium. Many teams that have switched to artificial turf have done so in order to be able to host other events, such as concerts and conventions.

The Dallas Cowboys are one team that has considered switching to artificial turf in recent years, but the team has decided against it. Owner Jerry Jones has said that he wants to keep the “good dirt” at AT&T Stadium.

The stadiums that are considering switching to Astroturf

While there’s no doubting that natural grass is the preferred playing surface for football, there are a number of factors that have led several NFL teams to consider switching to Astroturf in recent years. The most important factor is player safety; with so many big bodies colliding at high speeds, artificial turf can help reduce the risk of serious injuries.

Another factor is the increased durability of Astroturf; with natural grass, heavy use can quickly turn a pristine field into a muddy mess, but artificial turf can stand up to much more abuse. This is especially important for teams that share their stadium with other groups (like college teams or soccer clubs) or that host other events (like concerts or conventions) that could damage the field.

Finally, Astroturf is simply easier to maintain than natural grass; it doesn’t need to be watered or mowed, and it can be used in all weather conditions. This is a huge advantage for teams that play in cold-weather cities, where maintaining a natural grass field can be a challenge.

The following NFL teams have considered switching to Astroturf in recent years:
-The Buffalo Bills
-The Detroit Lions
-The Green Bay Packers
-The New England Patriots