ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 21, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in Major League Baseball history, the World Series will be played on FieldTurf, the world-leader in artificial surfacing. Baseball's "Fall Classic" will have its games played on FieldTurf when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Philadelphia Phillies at Tropicana Field in Games 1 & 2 on Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23. Games 6 & 7, if necessary, will be played at The Trop on Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30.
Presently, the Rays are one of three American League clubs who play their home games on FieldTurf, joining the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays. Tampa Bay was the very first MLB franchise to play on FieldTurf when the product was first installed at Tropicana Field prior to the 2000 campaign. In 2007, the latest-and-greatest version of FieldTurf was installed at Tropicana. Of course, FieldTurf has long been the leader in the "next-generation" of artificial turf with a patented surface that replicates individual blades of natural grass, along with an infill system that mimics natural soil.
The World Series games staged at Tropicana Field will signal the first regular season or postseason contest that the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies have played on any type of artificial turf in over two years. A July 2, 2006 11-6 victory at Toronto's Rogers Centre (which has FieldTurf) marked the Phillies' last such game on turf.
This will mark the second time in less than three years that one of the nation's pre-eminent professional sporting events is played on FieldTurf. In addition to the 2008 World Series, Super Bowl XL was contested on FieldTurf at Detroit's Ford Field on February 5, 2006 when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10.
"Having the World Series played on FieldTurf is incredibly exciting for our company," said FieldTurf CEO Joe Fields. "The World Series is an event that is steeped in history and tradition, and it is absolutely thrilling for FieldTurf to be involved in such a worldwide showcase event. We are also excited to have an opportunity to show all who will be watching from both near and afar what an effective, safe and incredible product that FieldTurf has developed for baseball. FieldTurf's football fields may be what most people know us for, but our baseball product, from the infield to the warning track, is absolutely state-of-the-art. The Rays, the Twins and the Blue Jays have all been thrilled with the surface, and we are enthusiastic about FieldTurf's future with the great sport of baseball. And certainly, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to the Rays. They were the very first MLB franchise to select our product for their stadium, and we will be forever grateful."
Upon the installation of the second FieldTurf surface at Tropicana Field, Rays President Matt Silverman said, "We are very pleased to continue our association with FieldTurf and excited about having their latest product installed at Tropicana Field. The new surface allows the ball to play truer and will be an even safer playing surface for the players. Aesthetically, it will heighten the experience for our fans at the park and on television."
The warning track on the new field is comprised of the same FieldTurf fibers as the infield, but with a lava rock infill to give the surface close to the outside perimeter of the field a rigid and firm feel. That allows outfielders to tell that they are on a FieldTurf warning track by a feel and sound that is identical to that of a big-league dirt surface. All of the baseball markings on the field are permanent, with FieldTurf's patented non-marking rubber system also being utilized. Tropicana is the first baseball facility in the world to feature this latest version of FieldTurf.
"Our organization has seen many changes and improvements throughout the years that have led to our first World Series appearance," said Rays Vice President/Facilities and Operations Rick Nafe. "One thing that has remained consistent has been our FieldTurf surface. It has played true and predictable while providing the maximum amount of safety and performance that is needed to succeed at this level. We have had FieldTurf since the year 2000 and I can honestly say from experience that FieldTurf is the ideal surface for baseball."
"The World Series will be a wonderful showcase for FieldTurf and will help demonstrate to baseball fans everywhere what a great surface it is to play on," said Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, whose Ripken Experience complex in Myrtle Beach, SC sports six FieldTurf fields. "From youth leagues to baseball's highest level, FieldTurf provides a durable grass-like surface that plays just like real grass, takes true hops and is easy on the body. I am proud to be associated with FieldTurf and I am excited that this innovative product will be used on a worldwide stage."
In 2005, a study was undertaken at Penn State as part of the University's Turfgrass Research Project, to evaluate baseball field surface quality. Characteristics of skinned surfaces, as well as natural and infilled synthetic turf surfaces were catalogued at all levels of play ranging from little league, through the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Infilled synthetic turf surfaces were found to exhibit a strikingly consistent bounce across the playing surface. Regardless of whether the ball struck in front of home plate, on the third base line or down the left field power alley, the ball response was the same.
FieldTurf is currently in use in over 300 baseball stadiums, fields and complexes. In addition to the three MLB clubs and Japan's famed Tokyo Dome that utilize FieldTurf, more than 20 NCAA teams also play and practice on the surface.
FieldTurf Tarkett, a Division of the Tarkett Group ($3 billion revenue in 2007), is the largest entity in the sports surfacing industry and offers unparalleled leasing capabilities, engineering, manufacturing resources, and environmental standards. In addition to its world-renowned FieldTurf and Prestige brands of artificial turf, FieldTurf Tarkett provides an equally impressive range of sports flooring products that includes synthetic and hardwood basketball, volleyball and gymnasium flooring, squash and racquetball courts, floor protection and covering systems, and weight room flooring. Also in the range of FieldTurf Tarkett products are high performance indoor and outdoor running tracks including the Beynon track surfaces, playground surfacing, commercial and residential landscaping, and a complete range of tennis and golf surfaces. All of FieldTurf Tarkett's surfaces are developed, produced and installed with a concentration on sustainability and a commitment to protecting the environment. The company calls it 'Environmental Intelligence' and lives by this principle in every way. For more information, visit www.fieldturftarkett.com.