CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northwestern University's FieldTurf soccer pitch, installed on Lakeside Field, has received FIFA 2-Star recommended status. Home to the Northwestern Wildcats, Lakeside Field is the ideal venue for soccer with a field that is designed specifically to mirror the playing characteristics of professional football. FieldTurf will guarantee an excellent playing surface in all conditions making Northwestern's new soccer facility one of the premier collegiate soccer environments in the nation. The FIFA 2-Star designation re-affirms the quality of their FieldTurf field.
The FIFA Recommended 2-Star designation is the highest synthetic turf rating from FIFA and is issued after a battery of tests are performed by a FIFA approved testing agent. Lakeside Field, on the campus of Northwestern University, becomes FieldTurf's 6th FIFA 2-Star Recommended field in North America. FIFA final round competitions and top UEFA competitions have the FIFA Recommended 2-Star in their respective competition regulations.
"This FIFA 2-Star designation is great for our program," stated Northwestern University head men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan. "We are the first collegiate program in the U.S. to gain FIFA 2-Star certification on our game field and that is something to be proud of. The quality of soccer we played this season was very reflective of our FieldTurf surface as we had our best regular-season ever. FieldTurf has also provided us with an outstanding level of customer service."
"FieldTurf has long been at the forefront of developing the world's finest artificial turf for soccer," said FieldTurf Tarkett CEO David Moszkowski. "We are delighted but not surprised that Northwestern's FieldTurf pitch has passed FIFA's rigorous testing procedures. This field will be a source of pride for Northwestern athletes, coaches, and fans for years to come."
Northwestern's FieldTurf soccer pitch is not the only FieldTurf field on campus. In 2005, Northwestern selected FieldTurf for installation on its primary football practice field. That surface continues to receive rave reviews from Wildcat players and coaches much like their FIFA 2-Star pitch.
Seven North American professional soccer teams play their home games on FieldTurf. The New York Red Bulls (MLS), New England Revolution (MLS), Toronto FC (MLS), Real Salt Lake (MLS), Seattle Sounders (USL), Rochester Rhinos (USL), and Atlanta Silverbacks (USL) have all opted to play their home matches on the industry's best soccer-specific turf system. From June 30th - July 22nd, 2007 the world's elite young soccer talents competed in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. 24 teams from around the world made history as they participated in the first FIFA World Cup ever to be played on artificial turf. Almost half of the 52 matches including the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals were featured on FieldTurf.
FieldTurf was the very first artificial surface to attain FIFA Recommended status due to its superior grass-like performance, which soccer players prefer. FieldTurf was the 1st artificial pitch to host a UEFA Cup Qualifying Round (Torpedo, Moscow) and the 1st to host a FIFA Soccer Tournament (Jeux de la Francophonie). FieldTurf has passed the international governing body's most stringent testing and has more FIFA Recommended pitches than anyone else. For more information on FieldTurf, please visit www.fieldturf.com.