Richard Posted April 6, 2007 Share Posted April 6, 2007 The stage is set by Ben Knight Sportsnet April 6, 2007 The media were summoned to a cold and damp BMO Field on Wednesday, for one last chance to mingle with Toronto FC before the new MLS season kicks off this weekend. Toronto was a day away from flying out to California, to play their first ever league match against Chivas USA... ...Even on a gloomy, sunless day, with 20,000 red seats rising up in every direction, the deep, damp green of this brand-new, state-of-the-art playing surface is a sight to see. And it's not remotely like any artificial turf I have seen before. The forest-green blades have a texture astonishingly similar to grass. Real grass is thicker and a little firmer, perhaps, but this surface is every bit as yielding and soft. No turf burns on this stuff. The blades are set in a black plastic foundation which is spongy enough to absorb rain water, letting it drain right through the turf. But running on it feels really good. Not too spongy, not too hard: very much like - well - grass. I expect true, realistic bounces, and that weighted balls down the wing will run straight and true. This should be an excellent surface for passing the ball. Craig Forrest is delighted with it. The former goalie for West Ham, Ipswich Town and Canada (and current Sportsnet soccer analyst) played on the controversial, experimental plastic pitches at Luton Town, Queen's Park Rangers and Oldham Athletic in the eighties, and says those surfaces were hard as concrete. "This would be great to dive on," he grins - and you know he wants to. Since the field is designed to absorb water and drain itself, there is no crown. The entire surface is as flat as a giant pool table. That, too, will boost passing. There should be no problem playing attractive soccer in Canada's new national soccer stadium. http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/columnist.jsp?content=20070406_105943_5980 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbailey62 Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Richard The stage is set by Ben Knight Sportsnet April 6, 2007 The media were summoned to a cold and damp BMO Field on Wednesday, for one last chance to mingle with Toronto FC before the new MLS season kicks off this weekend. Toronto was a day away from flying out to California, to play their first ever league match against Chivas USA... ...Even on a gloomy, sunless day, with 20,000 red seats rising up in every direction, the deep, damp green of this brand-new, state-of-the-art playing surface is a sight to see. And it's not remotely like any artificial turf I have seen before. The forest-green blades have a texture astonishingly similar to grass. Real grass is thicker and a little firmer, perhaps, but this surface is every bit as yielding and soft. No turf burns on this stuff. The blades are set in a black plastic foundation which is spongy enough to absorb rain water, letting it drain right through the turf. But running on it feels really good. Not too spongy, not too hard: very much like - well - grass. I expect true, realistic bounces, and that weighted balls down the wing will run straight and true. This should be an excellent surface for passing the ball. Craig Forrest is delighted with it. The former goalie for West Ham, Ipswich Town and Canada (and current Sportsnet soccer analyst) played on the controversial, experimental plastic pitches at Luton Town, Queen's Park Rangers and Oldham Athletic in the eighties, and says those surfaces were hard as concrete. "This would be great to dive on," he grins - and you know he wants to. Since the field is designed to absorb water and drain itself, there is no crown. The entire surface is as flat as a giant pool table. That, too, will boost passing. There should be no problem playing attractive soccer in Canada's new national soccer stadium. http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/columnist.jsp?content=20070406_105943_5980 Ben is coming to the Madison tonight so play nice! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbailey62 Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Richard The stage is set by Ben Knight Sportsnet April 6, 2007 The media were summoned to a cold and damp BMO Field on Wednesday, for one last chance to mingle with Toronto FC before the new MLS season kicks off this weekend. Toronto was a day away from flying out to California, to play their first ever league match against Chivas USA... ...Even on a gloomy, sunless day, with 20,000 red seats rising up in every direction, the deep, damp green of this brand-new, state-of-the-art playing surface is a sight to see. And it's not remotely like any artificial turf I have seen before. The forest-green blades have a texture astonishingly similar to grass. Real grass is thicker and a little firmer, perhaps, but this surface is every bit as yielding and soft. No turf burns on this stuff. The blades are set in a black plastic foundation which is spongy enough to absorb rain water, letting it drain right through the turf. But running on it feels really good. Not too spongy, not too hard: very much like - well - grass. I expect true, realistic bounces, and that weighted balls down the wing will run straight and true. This should be an excellent surface for passing the ball. Craig Forrest is delighted with it. The former goalie for West Ham, Ipswich Town and Canada (and current Sportsnet soccer analyst) played on the controversial, experimental plastic pitches at Luton Town, Queen's Park Rangers and Oldham Athletic in the eighties, and says those surfaces were hard as concrete. "This would be great to dive on," he grins - and you know he wants to. Since the field is designed to absorb water and drain itself, there is no crown. The entire surface is as flat as a giant pool table. That, too, will boost passing. There should be no problem playing attractive soccer in Canada's new national soccer stadium. http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/columnist.jsp?content=20070406_105943_5980 Ben is coming to the Madison tonight so play nice! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 quote:Originally posted by dbailey62 Ben is coming to the Madison tonight so play nice! db He's watched a Canada match or two with us, so no worries there [] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 quote:Originally posted by dbailey62 Ben is coming to the Madison tonight so play nice! db He's watched a Canada match or two with us, so no worries there [] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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