ALABAMA AND MICHIGAN STATE SET TO SQUARE OFF ON ASTROTURF AT THE CAPITAL ONE BOWL

(ORLANDO, Fl) – During last year’s Capital One Bowl between Penn State and LSU, a field that is utilized to full capacity showed the effects of both wear and weather by virtually disintegrating on national television and turned into a mud pit. Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium has since undergone significant renovations, including the addition of a new AstroTurf® field.

Below are facts about the new surface that Alabama and Michigan State will play on at this year’s Capital One Bowl.

Following are some facts and figures about AstroTurf® and the GameDay Grass™ surface they will be playing on.

Facts About AstroTurf®

• Astroturf® originated synthetic turf in 1965.

• AstroTurf® is the first vertically integrated turf company, supervising the product from raw material selection through installation.

• The rubber infill system uses recycled tires, keeping about 20,000 tires per field from being placed in landfills.

• TurfAide™ is a factory-applied microbial protection for AstroTurf® systems, protecting against MRSA and other bacteria.

• AstroFlect™ reduces surface temperatures of AstroTurf® fields by as much as 20% compared to other synthetic fields.

• AstroTurf® fields save between 500,000 – 1,000,000 gallons of water usage per year.

• AstroTurf® fields can accommodate 3-4 times the amount of play of natural grass fields, with little or no downtime for maintenance.

• AstroTurf® fields reduce maintenance costs, man-hours, and use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals.

• AstroTurf® provides 60 lb. pile-weight fields, the heaviest in the industry.

• An independent study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL charities, determined AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ performs most like natural grass.

• AstroTurf® fields are safe. An NCAA study found injury rates of 4.4% on natural grass and 3.5% on synthetic turf during practice. Rates for games were 11.5% and 11.4%, respectively.

• In 2010, BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, completed an eco-efficiency analysis which compared AstroTurf® and natural grass over 20 years in terms of 11 environmental impact categories and life cycle costs. The study found that AstroTurf® has less of an environmental impact than any natural grass fields. The only natural grass fields which tested better were those that could host over 140 events per year, a virtually unheard of number. Also, costs over 20 years, even factoring in turf replacement, were 15% less with AstroTurf® fields.

• AstroTurf® took a major step for the industry in 2010 by formally partnering with the University of Tennessee to open the $1.5 million dollar Center for Safer Athletic Fields, a research and testing facility.

AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ 3D60X Features:

• The Game Day Grass™ 3D “Extreme” surface is a combination of three styles of fiber; two polyethylene fibers for superior aesthetics and play and a nylon RootZone®.

• The system includes parallel-fibrillated slit-film polyethylene fiber technology, the toughest in the industry, and:

• Horseshoe fiber for grass-like looks and playability. The Horseshoe fiber design, introduced in 2010, is a dual-post, thick monofilament fiber, which is very resilient. The Horseshoe design improves fiber memory and allows for a higher tuft bind, resulting in less fiber slippage. The fibers also absorb less heat from sunlight, lowering surface temperatures.

• Patented nylon RootZone®, providing better shock absorbency while minimizing infill migration. RootZone® is a dense fiber sub-layer that traps the rubber infill granules. This minimizes rubber ‘splash’, providing a more uniform, predictable and safer field of play.

• Coated with an industry-best polyurethane secondary backing system, featuring BioCel™ technology, for superior tuft lock and dimensional strength. BioCel™ utilizes soybean-based polyols, reducing dependence on foreign oils.

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL HITS THE ASTROTURF

Check out North Carolina State facing off against West Virginia on the AstroTurf at the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. 6:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.

Here is a link to an article in today's Orlando paper about the game.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/os-citrus-bowl-second-chance-1228-20101227,0,6970777.story