RAMS BEAT SEAHAWKS ON NEW ASTROTURF® FIELD

(ST. LOUIS, Missouri) - The St. Louis Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-3 on the brand new AstroTurf® field at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

The Rams are 2-1 at home and 2-2 on the season, winning back-to-back games for the first time since 2008.

The Rams’ new field is AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ 3D60H, the most advanced synthetic turf system on the market today. The surface most closely resembles and plays like natural grass, and is the most durable field available.

The Edward Jones Dome also features the new Magic Carpet™ II system. The field features 73,000 square feet of AstroTurf®, weighing 100,000 pounds. Many times, staff at the Edward Jones Dome has to convert the facility a football setup to host events such as concerts.

The Magic Carpet II system features a hydraulic winch system in the pit of the floor. Blowers blow air between the floor and the AstroTurf®, reducing friction when rolling up the one-piece field. The field can be stored or rolled out in about an hour.

The Rams did a little Magic Carpet work of their own on Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford was 23-41 with 289 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, to lead the Rams offense.

The big story, though, was the accomplishment of seven-year Rams running back Steven Jackson.

Jackson, who was questionable for the game, had 70 yards on 22 carries. In his effort, he overtook Marshall Faulk as the Rams’ number two all-time rusher.

Jackson reached 6,991 yards, leaving him just behind Hall-of-Famer Eric Dickerson, who had 7,245 yards from 1983-87.

The St. Louis defense provided much-needed help, shutting down the Seahawks. The defense had four sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.

The Rams are on the road next week as they face the Lions in Detroit.

About AstroTurf®
For many athletes and sport enthusiasts, the AstroTurf® brand has redefined the way the game is played. The company offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies, leveraging the industry’s only vertically integrated manufacturing system. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf®-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority and safety. Recent innovations from AstroTurf® include GameDay Grass™ 3D with RootZone®, a polyethylene/nylon hybrid system which most closely replicates natural grass; TurfAide™, a non-chemical antimicrobial shield protecting against MRSA and other infectious bacteria; and astroflect™ Technology which significantly reduces turf surface temperatures. To learn more, visit www.astroturfusa.com.

New turf field gives Rams more practice options

By Bill Coats
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The money that the St. Louis Rams spent in the offseason to put AstroTurf on one of their three practice fields began to pay dividends Saturday. After steady rains struck Rams Park following the morning practice, the grass fields were too soggy for use. So coach Steve Spagnuolo simply used the turf field for the entire afternoon workout, which ran about 1 hour 45 minutes.

As one team official put it, “If we would’ve had to go inside (to the indoor facility) with 80 players, it would’ve been hot and really uncomfortable.”

The players were in shorts and shells after going through an intense, hard-hitting morning practice in full pads.

New look Rams ready to hit the field

There is no time of the year I look forward to more than when the NFL off-season officially ends as teams report for training camp. Thousands of NFL players descend on practice facilities and small town colleges and universities for two-a-days, cafeteria food, film study and team bonding.

This season, the St. Louis Rams will bring their training camp back home to Earth City, Missouri to the Russell Athletic Training Center. The 2009 season also marks the return of AstroTurf to the NFL and St. Louis Rams.

Just in time for the start of training camp on Thursday, July 30, the Rams will christen their new GameDay Grass synthetic practice field from AstroTurf at the Russell Athletic Training Center. The nearly 70,000 square foot field is located directly behind the Training Center adjacent to the two natural grass practice fields and is the only outdoor synthetic turf field at the Russell Athletic Training Center.

ATTB will provide the latest photos and videos from Rams Training camp when it kicks off later this week.

St. Louis Rams Select State-of-the-Art System from AstroTurf(R) for Practice Field

First NFL team to install an advanced synthetic turf system from AstroTurf®

AstroTurf brings its latest innovation directly to the National Football League. The announcement came today that the St. Louis Rams have selected AstroTurf® for a new synthetic practice field at Rams Park. The joint construction effort between GSV, AstroTurf and Munie Greencare Professionals will begin immediately and the field will be ready in time for the start of training camp in late July.

"After looking at all the different synthetic turf providers available, we felt AstroTurf was the best choice for us," said Kevin Demoff, St. Louis Rams Executive VP of Football Operations/Chief Operating Officer. "AstroTurf’s commitment to player performance and safety was a major factor in our decision. We can’t wait to get going on our new field."

The latest infilled systems from AstroTurf were designed and refined to meet the rigorous demands and performance characteristics required by the NFL. "This is a huge honor to have our state-of-the-art AstroTurf system validated by the Rams and the National Football League," said GSV Chairman Michael Dennis. "To have the greatest athletes in the world train on our system is a testament to years of testing, research and development that have gone into restoring AstroTurf as a leader in the industry. We are grateful to have been selected and proud to debut this fabulous technology with the Rams and the NFL."

The St. Louis Rams enter the 2009 season with a renewed sense of optimism under the leadership of new head coach Steve Spagnuolo, the former New York Giants Defensive Coordinator. "The Rams new AstroTurf practice field will be one of the finest in the NFL," said Bryan Peeples, President of AstroTurf. "Everyone at GSV and AstroTurf are honored to have been selected and look forward to being a part of the St. Louis Rams for many years to come."