NRG turf

Players/coaches want grass... they stick with grass.

They practice on the artificial turf in the bubble and play on it in half the other stadiums... and the players still prefer "this" version of grass to that.

 

As a fan I also prefer grass just like the players but that doesn't mean the tray system shouldn't be re-visited and improved upon. Also policy could be reviewed as well, especially with scheduling conflicts and field stress. Bottom line, no excuses that the entire organization isn't trying to constantly improve across all levels.

 

I remember hearing that there is nothing they can do about it while this Brett Hartmann suit is going on. If they switch it now, it will be like admitting there was something wrong with it.

 

Who says they didn't... they probably poll the players/coaches every year, and every year grass wins.

 

it will be replaced in the offseason.

no need to make a new thread over it.

 

I doubt it... they could replace it tomorrow if they wanted to.

 

i thought BOB said it would be "evaluated in the offseason". being a new england guy, i took that as "we're changing it".

 

I don't get why it's such a big deal to put down field turf.

The natural grass has to be a total pain in the ass to move in and out compared to either just rolling up the turf or putting down a surface for the rodeo to plop its cow poop and dirt on.

 

they obviously think the tray system is better than an artificial field turf.

 

Or he just said that so they'd stop asking him questions about it. And, I remember reading somewhere that they've looked into it a lot over the last several years, and every time it comes up it gets voted down.

The one major move they did was getting field turf for the "other" games there... but yet they still play that annual SHSU game on the grass because those teams prefer the grass to the turf as well (and that game seems to alway be scheduled the night before a noon Texans game).

 

Should have gone with the Arizona system.

 

And if that really is the case, they will probably spend more time looking into a "better" tray system vs. just going to field turf.

 

Can't... wasn't invented yet.

They may try to look into converting Reliant into something that can accommodate that... but that would also take away prime parking/tailgating/gathering space at one of the end zone areas. Very costly.

 

The Arizona system didn't exist......when Reliant was built. The Stadium has to be designed to rollout the field.

 

What happens when they put down field turf and players still get injured. Because players do get injured on all surfaces. All types of injuries on every surface you can name.

I dont care if they change the turf. Field turf would probably be easier to maintain. The grass at NRG seems a little slippery at times, but I don't think it's causing injuries.

If I were the Texans, I think I would ask the players what type of surface they want to play on, and then I would go with that. The players have experience playing on different surfaces, so whatever they prefer would be fine by me.

 

They do, and they have... hence why the system still exists.

Annual surveys show that all NFL players prefer playing on grass... and if this is the only way they can get grass into NRG, than they're going with that. Additionally, the NRG stadium field has never ranked in the bottom 5 of "worst grass fields" in its existence (the fields in Chicago and Pittsburgh usually are nothing but painted dirt by the winter).

Hell, they played one Super Bowl and will be playing another one on this same system... its "danger" has been far overblown thanks to DJ Swearinger of all people.

 

Test it did - Veltins Arena in Germany was opened in 2001, and has a rollout field. Even better than Arizona, it rolls out underneath the stands, so there's no huge gap like in Phoenix.

 

The tray system isn't a bad system. The execution has been poor. They bought 3 grass fields to improve the grass but they need to step it up. After they bought the field turf it seems the real turf got less attention because of less turnover.

New field every time, every pallet having the level of water, install and roll it out more.

Basically just improve QC. If you have a moist 6 inches of dirt under 2 inches of sod, seams are irrelevant. Roll it out properly.