The playing surface at Tropicana Field will be upgraded for the 2011 season, as the Tampa Bay Rays announce the impending installation of a American-made, 1.1-million-square-foot AstroTurf field.
“The AstroTurf fiber and in-fill systems contain the very latest technology and will provide our players the best playing surface available,” said Rays President Matt Silverman. “Our players had the opportunity to work out on the new turf, and their opinions contributed to our decision to install AstroTurf.”
The Rays played on synthetic turf surfaces since their inaugural season in 1998.
The AstroTurf installation at Tropicana Field has already begun and will be ready for play when the Rays open the season against the Baltimore Orioles on April 1.
AstroTurf is the Official Synthetic Turf for Major League Baseball and is also used by the Toronto Blue Jays.
The field will be AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60H. GameDay Grass, in an independent study at Michigan State University and funded by NFL Charities, was determined to perform more like natural grass than other synthetic surface tested.
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