European artificial turf becomes popular with American sports clubs
05 February 2007
Top clubs Green Bay Packers and Colorado Rapids play on DESSO turf
The NFL's Green Bay Packers have recently signed a contract with DESSO for the installation of a DD GrassMaster pitch in their stadium. The patented system from DESSO DLW Sports Systems is a combination of natural and artificial turf. "For the stadium, we needed the best possible field, and this system has already proven itself on our training field," explains Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Green Bay Packers.
Moreover, as a nation, Americans are getting more interested in football. The much talked about transfer of David Beckham to LA Galaxy was one way to draw attention to the sport. The US now also boasts the biggest football complex in the world. In April, the Colorado Rapids, key players in the Major Soccer League (the professional football league in the US), will start using a brand new sports complex. The Dick's Sporting Goods Park has one stadium, 24 football pitches, and covers some 1.5 million m2. DESSO has installed all the artificial turf pitches at the complex.
In Europe as well, DESSO's artificial turf is becoming more and more popular. In 2006, more than 3 million m2 of artificial turf was supplied, the equivalent of about 500 football pitches. More and more local authorities and sports clubs chose artificial turf pitches for their sports facilities in order to cope with intensive use and to reduce maintenance costs. To meet the increasing demand, DESSO has invested heavily in additional production capacity for its artificial turf manufacturing plant in Belgium.
