Demonstrated by the growth of synthetic turf in elite football, alongside numerous studies, high quality artificial turf provides performance and safety advantages for both training and tournaments.
For years, synthetic turf has had a place in both male and female elite football. Last year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup, 2007’s U-20 Men’s World Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and other top clubs across Europe have progressed to synthetic turf as the surface’s popularity continues to grow. Today’s synthetic turf, used by the NFL, FIFA, World Rugby, the International Hockey Federation, and other international sports groups, combines the playing characteristics, look and feel of natural turf, with the advantages of increased frequency of usage, extra revenue generation, less maintenance and water usage, better climatic resistance and fewer canceled games.
As the established surface for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, synthetic turf provides a consistent and equal playing surface across all tournament venues, while offering performance and safety characteristics benchmarked to the best natural grass.
While previous generations of artificial turf felt abrasive and hard, the synthetic turf industry has heavily invested in research, technology and testing to improve performance and safety features. Extensive research has benchmarked natural grass for qualities such as traction, slip resistance, ball behavior, surface abrasion and foot stability. By choosing high quality synthetic yarns and turf systems from a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, customers are reassured that the product is engineered, installed and tested to match, if not beat, these benchmarks.
Act Global recognizes the need for a safe, durable, and high-performing playing surface for all men’s and women’s sporting events – which is why we prioritize quality in every single detail involved in doing so. From raw materials, to quality control, to installation partners, we ensure best-in-class performance is consistently delivered to end users. Synthetic turf fibres from Bonar Yarns feature the highest-grade polymers, which undergo stringent quality checks before, during and after the production process. World-class synthetic turf manufacturing from Act Global and professional installation ensures the pitch is executed to the highest international standards of play.
For the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup an independent consultant has tested all six host stadiums to ensure the playing surfaces meet stringent performance criteria. Each pitch is FIFA Certified, meaning it is benchmarked against natural grass characteristics in terms of ball bounce, ball roll, skin abrasion and shock absorption.
The Montreal Olympic Stadium Xtreme Turf pitch, installed by Carpell Surfaces, passed stringent field testing to be certified to FIFA Two Star elite level.
Synthetic turf provides a reliable, all-weather surface that is fit for training, games, elite sporting competitions, tournaments, community events and much more. With an emphasis on synthetic turf quality and performance, players, coaches and fans can focus on the game at hand, not the surface.
Let the World Cup games continue!
** The Montreal Olympic Stadium will showcase Act Global’s highly durable Xtreme Turf DX system, which contains an exclusive fibre blend from Bonar Yarns. The artificial turf has been expertly installed by Carpell Surfaces over a Schmitz Foam ProPlay shock pad and finished with eco-friendly infill.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
The world’s most successful senior football club named “African Club of the Century” now trains on Act Global artificial turf.
May 28, 2015 – Al-Ahly Sporting Club has won 130 official trophies, more than any other senior team in the world. Following completion of the newly constructed training centre in Cairo, Egypt, the high-profile football club now trains on top quality synthetic turf from Act Global.
“The best football players deserve the best playing surfaces, and we are pleased Al-Ahly SC selected Xtreme Turf,” said Chris Clapham, director and co-owner of Act Global. “The synthetic turf system is developed and tested to deliver performance and safety for both high-intensity training use and professional matches.”
The professional training grounds in Cairo, Egypt feature two 11-a-side fields and multiple five-a-side fields. The 3G Xtreme Turf features a highly durable monofilament fibre from Bonar Yarns, which also lends natural, full coverage appearance. The artificial turf system has been installed and certified in some of the finest sporting stadiums around the world, and proven to meet the highest international standards in terms of performance, safety and resilience. The pitches were expertly installed by local partner Khater Sports, the leader in high quality turf projects in Egypt.
Al-Ahly SC, founded in 1907, was named “African Club of the Century” by The Confederation of African Football and is considered the world’s most successful football club. In winning the 2014 CAF Super Cup, Al-Ahly set a world record of 20 international title wins. Domestically, the club has won the Egyptian Premier League 37 times, the Egypt Cup 35 times and the Egyptian Super Cup eight times.
ABOUT ACT GLOBAL
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf and artificial grass manufacturing. The company’s artificial Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Lawn products replicate natural grass for use in international stadiums, indoor sport centers, synthetic lawns and other synthetic grass uses. Its LiteEarth and AvTurf affiliations add capabilities for landfills and airports. Act Global has four manufacturing locations in USA, Europe and Asia and installations in over 70 countries. Act Global is notable for currently being the first company in the world that is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer and holds an ISO 9001 certification.
ABOUT BONAR YARNS
Bonar Yarns has been synonymous with synthetic turf since 1965, making innovative, ground breaking fibres that have transformed both sport and landscape. The company is one of the oldest independent producers of synthetic yarns, founded on over a century of expertise and experience. Bonar Yarns products are tested and approved by independent FIFA and World Rugby test houses and are used in FIFA 1 and 2 star accredited sports pitches, as well as World Rugby and FIH approved pitches. http://www.bonaryarns.eu/
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
The first official Rock in Rio USA has come to a close. But not before putting on a party in true Vegas fashion.
Photo credit: aLive Coverage
The inaugural Rock in Rio USA festival kicked off this year at the new MGM Resorts Festival Grounds, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the arid climate and foot traffic from nearly 200,000 rock fans, the event site remained green, lush and free of dirt – thanks to more than a half million square feet of Act Global artificial grass.
532,800 square feet of Act Global turf at Rock in Rio USA. Photo Credit: Martin-Harris Construction
The 40-acre City of Rock site showcased musical acts on three stages, a Ferris wheel, themed Rock Streets, a VIP viewing area, wedding chapel, and a 64-foot-high zip line towering above the festival grounds. The impressive two-weekend musical line-up included Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Foster the People, John Legend, No Doubt, Deftones, Gary Clark Jr, Ed Sheeran and more.
Rock in Rio fans lounge on the artificial turf lawn. Photo credit: a Live Coverage
The site was also covered in 532,800 square feet of artificial landscape turf, contracted by Martin-Harris Construction and installed by Park West Sports Systems. The Turfscape product features a blend of lifelike green turf fibers, along with a light brown thatch layer to lend the comfort and appearance of real grass. The synthetic turf provided a soft, clean surface throughout the event grounds for the enjoyment of Rock in Rio fans.
Photo Credit: aLive Coverage
“Artificial turf is an ideal, versatile solution for event spaces and venues, particularly in very hot, rainy or inclement weather,” said John Baize, director and co-owner of Act Global. “Dust, mud, maintenance, and watering are all minimized for the ease of event management and enjoyment of festival guests.”
Photo credit: aLive Coverage
The environmentally-friendly turf required no mowing or watering by Rock in Rio personnel, saving the associated time and costs required to maintain a large festival site. It is highly UV protected and durable to withstand heavy foot traffic as well as intense sunlight.
Feedback regarding the use of synthetic turf has been overwhelmingly positive. Several online commenters remarked positively on the turf: “Thank you! Dusty festivals are a nightmare!” And John Katsilometes for LasVegasSun.com and LasVegasWeekly.com: “Fake turf was a great idea.”
This may be the first event on the new turf, but it won’t be the last. The MGM Resorts Festival Grounds can hold up to 12 events per year, with next up “Party for a Cause” April 1-3, 2016, with Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Kenny Chesney as headliners. Rock in Rio is slated to return in 2017.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
Today’s synthetic turf is designed to simulate the experience of practicing and playing on the best natural grass.
Natural grass simply cannot remain lush and resilient if used more than three to four days a week, in snow or drought, or during months when grass doesn’t grow. This, coupled with an escalating need for durable fields that accommodate multiple teams and activities, the high cost of maintaining a grass sports field or landscape, and the need to conserve water, have prompted a rising number of schools, parks and municipalities to turn to synthetic turf to meet their needs.
ENVIRONMENT: Synthetic turf has a measurable, positive impact on the environment.
WATER SAVINGS
– A typical natural grass sports field requires between 500,000 and 1 million gallons water per year.
– Every square meter of natural grass replaced with synthetic saves 2,200 gallons per year.
– Synthetic turf conserves 4 to 8 billion gallons water annually.
REDUCED PESTICIDE USE
– Synthetic turf eliminates the need for harmful pesticides and fertilizers, a principal cause of water pollution,
which can lead to Algal Bloom, depleted oxygen and damage to wildlife.
LESS POLLUTION
– Helps reduce noxious emissions from maintenance equipment and mowers.
– A push mower emits as much pollution in one hour as 11 cars. A riding mower emits as much as 34 cars.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Synthetic turf has been proven to be a highly cost-effective investment.
– A synthetic turf field pays for itself over 3-4 years.
– The cost of installing and maintaining a synthetic turf field over a 20-year period (including one replacement field) is over 3x less expensive per event than the cost of a grass field.
VERSATILE: Maximize land use with the same surface space.
Synthetic turf promotes greater utilization of land than natural grass, as you can achieve more with the same surface space. This is especially useful for highly urbanized environments with limited access to recreational areas, maximizing event spaces, or areas in drought.
ALL WEATHER USE: Ideal for inclement weather climates.
Preparing and maintaining natural turf can be particularly challenging in cold or very hot climates. Natural turf is generally in poor condition after long winter months, requiring extensive maintenance and re-leveling. Hot climates experiencing drought face significant water shortages. Synthetic turf playing fields fields remain uniform and consistent, season after season, and can be used within hours of installation–without worry of damage.
RESILIENT: Far more durable than natural grass.
– Natural grass should not be used more than 20 – 24 hours per week or 680 – 816 hours per year.
– Synthetic turf can be utilized around 3,000 hours per year with no “rest” required.
SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE: Player well-being is at the forefront of product development.
Hundreds of studies have shown that the risk of injury is no different on high quality synthetic turf than natural grass. FIFA Quality Turf, in particular, has been extensively benchmarked and tested against natural grass for player safety and performance measures.
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com
We are a dynamic, global synthetic turf company committed to BE MORE. We have manufacturing facilities on three continents, sales in over 90 countries and a trusted network around the world.
Our mission to “Be More” is ingrained in every facet of our business, every employee and throughout our value chain. With a foundation of innovation, integrity and quality, Act Global strives to positively impact society and maximize land use through the use of synthetic turf.
Corporate Office:
4201 W Parmer Ln Suite B175, Austin, TX 78727.
Phone: (512) 733-5300
