About Hellas

COWBOYS STADIUM LOOKING MORE LIKE IT’S READY FOR FOOTBALL

July 9, 2009

By ANDREA AHLES
aahles@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON, TX - The floor of Cowboys Stadium became a field of green on Thursday.

Workers began installing the artificial turf at the Arlington stadium before its first sporting event: two international soccer matches on July 19. The turf system, created by Austin-based Sportfield, is made of synthetic yarn and recycled rubber. The field put in this week is blank.

"We will actually paint the lines on the field after we get everything laid," stadium manager Jack Hill said. "This will allow us to change the field design, depending on rugby or soccer or whatever the event is. We have the ability now to change the lines." The turf system also allows the stadium to have two football fields, one for Cowboys games and one for college and high school matches.

By the numbers 24 hours is how long it takes to convert the field into a floor ready for concerts. 1 1/2 inches is the height of the turf.

100,000 square feet, or over 2 acres, cover the floor of the stadium. 5-yard sections are used to lay out the field.
1 square foot of field weighs about 3 1/2 pounds.