If you’ve ever played a game of social soccer with your friends, you’ve almost certainly played on an artificial surface. But is professional soccer ever played on fake grass?
The answer might surprise you, as clubs all around the world – including in North America – have artificial playing surfaces. Let’s find out why fake grass is used and what some of its benefits are.
So, do any professional soccer teams play on fake grass?
Yes, there are lots of soccer leagues in different parts of the world that permit teams to use fake grass. For instance, teams in the Scottish Premier League and Dutch Eredivisie are two examples of North European leagues that allow clubs to play on fake grass.
The main reason for this is that artificial grass is much easier to maintain, and it lessens the number of weather-related postponements throughout the season. This saves the clubs money and ensures the fixtures can be played, even at the height of winter.
Here, we take a closer look at some of the teams that regularly play soccer on fake grass and weigh up the pros and cons of doing so.
Which professional soccer teams play on fake grass?
The reality is that so many teams in northern Europe play on artificial turf or fake grass, and there are too many to name! However, here is a brief list to show you some of the different teams in Europe that have made the switch from grass to artificial turf:
- Sparta Rotterdam (Netherlands)
- Heracles Almelo (Netherlands)
- Emmen (Netherlands)
- Livingston (Scotland)
- Kilmarnock (Scotland)
- Young Boys (Switzerland)
- AS Nancy (France)
- Bodo Glimt (Norway)
- FC Spartak (Russia)
- IF Elfsborg (Sweden)
As mentioned, this is not an exhaustive list, but it does highlight just how many professional soccer teams in different countries have decided to play on fake grass.
Which MLS teams play on fake grass?
As well as teams in Europe, there are currently five teams that play their home MLS matches in stadiums with fake grass:
- Atlanta
- New England
- Portland
- Seattle
- Vancouver
Ultimately, the MLS is no different from other leagues in this regard and permits its teams to play on artificial turf. But why is this the case? Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of playing on fake grass and how it can help the clubs.
What are the benefits of playing on artificial turf?
Given that so many professional teams in Europe have opted to switch to artificial turf in recent times, it’s worth looking at why this is the case. Some of the benefits of playing on fake grass for professional soccer clubs include:
It’s weather resistant
Soccer is a sport that is played throughout the cold winter months. As such, waterlogged pitches commonly occur throughout Europe, while frozen ground is also a significant problem for some clubs.
While under soil heating and intricate drainage systems have undoubtedly helped clubs improve the management of their pitches, some clubs have decided against the added expense of installing such systems.
Soccer pitches with artificial turf are often referred to as “all weather pitches,” meaning they’re much less likely to lead to postponements, even at the height of winter.
For clubs that don’t have the financial means to invest in under soil heating or complex drainage, laying an artificial pitch can be a cost-effective solution, and it ensures that fewer games are canceled throughout the regular season.
It’s easy to maintain
Professional soccer fields look like carpets in this day and age, and the amount of work that goes into maintaining them is remarkable. Again, this is also expensive for soccer clubs, and those without big budgets may struggle to keep their pitches in great shape.
As such, laying a pitch with fake grass is much easier for clubs to maintain. After all, it doesn’t need to be cut, and there’s very little maintenance required throughout the season.
So, while it’s not a viable option for all soccer teams, clubs that are a little tighter for funds can certainly see the benefits of investing in fake turf, as it alleviates their ongoing financial responsibilities throughout the season.
It can be used for other purposes
Another benefit of artificial pitches is that they can be used for a range of other purposes. For instance, lots of soccer clubs actually use their artificial pitches for training, which saves them from maintaining a separate training complex.
What’s more, other teams even rent out their pitches during the week when it’s not in use, which allows them to generate another revenue stream. Some semi-professional soccer teams do this, and it’s a great way of bolstering their coffers!
Of course, if they had a grass pitch, it would be unfeasible to rent it out during the week as it would be ruined by the weekend! But by laying artificial turf, they’re confident that they can bring in some much-needed revenue to support their operations.
What about the drawbacks?
Nothing is perfect and fake grass on a soccer field is no exception. In fact, it’s a pretty divisive aspect of professional soccer, and many players don’t like playing on artificial turf at all.
One of the main reasons is that it feels unnatural (because it is!), and the ball runs very differently on artificial turf. If you’re not accustomed to playing on it, it’s actually very difficult to play the way that you want to.
The primary difference is that artificial turf is much harder than grass, and it’s not the most enjoyable surface to play on regularly. Soccer players need to adapt their equipment and choose the correct footwear to play on fake grass, which is another potential drawback.
Ultimately, you will find that some players like playing on artificial turf, while others hate it! But the reality is that it makes financial sense for clubs in certain parts of the world, which is why it’s becoming more and more common in the game.
Are injuries more likely on fake grass?
Lots of players express concern about playing on fake grass as they believe it increases their chances of injury. Research from HSS shows that when artificial turf was first used more than forty years ago, major knee injuries, sprains, and concussions were more common.
However, as artificial grass surfaces have improved over the years, they’ve been much less likely to cause injuries. Therefore, it’s not necessarily accurate to say injuries are more likely to occur on fake grass.
As a contact sport, there is a reasonable chance of getting injured during a soccer game that is played on any surface, so it’s important to warm up correctly and wear the correct footwear to minimize your risk of injury.
Recap: Is professional soccer ever played on fake grass?
As explained throughout, professional soccer games are commonly played on artificial turf in certain parts of the world. Undoubtedly, the vast majority of players prefer playing on grass, but for a number of reasons, some clubs opt to install artificial turf at their stadiums.
Artificial turf can be used for various reasons and is much more weather resistant than grass, so it makes sense for some teams.
However, soccer is best played on real grass, so it’s unlikely that a huge number of clubs in the biggest soccer leagues will follow suit and rip up their grass fields in favor of artificial surfaces – or at least we hope not!