Category Archives: Information Reads

Synthetic v. Grass: The Numbers

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Recently there have been several high-ranking officials/ executives in soccer making statements about synthetic being the “cheaper alternative” to natural grass.  So it is becoming the overall belief that synthetic is cheaper than natural grass….

THAT ABSOLUTELY IS NOT TRUE.  

Yes, it is no secret where this blog stands on the issue of natural grass v. synthetic turf. Specialized sports field managers around the world are creating new ways for natural grass fields to sustain increased traffic almost every day. And we continue to stand by the idea that in 5 years, natural grass will provide a high traffic option to match synthetic turf.

But at no point has the blog made statements that are not based in fact, nor have we denied that synthetic turf IS an excellent tool for extremely high traffic situations (over 1000 hours in the north, over 1500 hours in the south), for situations w/ space demands (high schools, inner cities, etc) , or for indoors.  Synthetic turf sometimes is recommended.

But w/ conceding that synthetic is a tool for extremely high traffic, the mis-information about synthetic is cheaper than grass “because it doesn’t require maintenance” must be corrected.  Ultimately, those statements are biased and un-informed.  Let’s look at the facts when it comes to grass v. synthetic turf:

Total Over 10 Years For 1 Grass Field v 1 Synthetic Field: 
(There is a complete breakdown of costs below)

Synthetic Professional:  $1,900,000

Synthetic Practice/ Tournament:  $1,700,000

Natural Grass, Professional:  $1,750,000

Natural Grass, Practice/Tournament:  $1,100,000

Natural Grass, Youth:  $650,000

Thoughts:  

At the professional level, the break even cost of grass v synthetic over 10 years is nearly equal.  Certainly much debate is around synthetic being able to sustain higher amounts of concerts, monster trucks, etc.  But with these multiple events, synthetic fields are failing at higher rates as well. And their replacement cost is much higher than grass field replacement costs.  Things like heat and grow lights increase grass costs, but extra padding and heat for frozen synthetic adds equal costs.  So ultimately, the comparison is even.

However, for grass fields, the cost numbers for maintenance decreases exponentially when additional fields are added.  Even just 1, full time/ skilled Sports Field Manager can maintain multiple fields.  The equipment fleet for 1 field can maintain multiple fields as well.  Thus these numbers drop quickly when more fields are added.  So for a professional stadium w/ a practice facility having staff and equipment that are shared, the cost drops quickly.

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In regard to youth soccer….  recently a high ranking and fantastic soccer executive publicly stated that “we don’t have the resources to have grounds crews fixing fields through all these clubs, so it (synthetic) becomes an easy option.”  

Yet clubs have $1.7 million to invest over 10 years to convert an already existing field to synthetic??

A “grounds crew fixing fields” could do ALOT with $170,000/ year!!  The maintenance budget for a professional level sports field comes in at only $115,000 for labor and supplies for a single field.  A well paid grounds crew of 2 could maintain 3-5 fields at a higher level than they are currently being maintained with that $170,000.  And ultimately, cheaply built/ native soil fields are being compared to million dollar synthetic fields.  Not an equal comparison.

March 25: Results of Recycling Dressing Following Dragging

As we look at the facts, synthetic v. grass is not a debate about money.  It ultimately is about high traffic and space.  Synthetic turf is an excellent tool for high traffic situations, it absolutely is needed.  But synthetic is NOT the “future of soccer” as recently stated even by a National Team coach.  Clubs are businesses 1st, and grass is the more efficient $$ answer.  Especially when a specialized Sports Field Manager is involved working diligently to save the club money and produce the best grass fields possible for the lowest cost.

(Breakdown of Costs Below….Let the Debate Continue!)  

1)  How Am I Educated to Address This So Directly & Boldly?
I, Jerad Minnick, (the author of this post) am one of a handful of sports field managers in the world that have built from the ground up and maintained both grass and synthetic fields.  I have, and I will continue, to make recommendations and consultations on the need for both grass and synthetic fields in situations that warrant.  These numbers are conservative & factual.

2) Construction Costs

Synthetic Professional:  $1,000,000 (Professionally built, no shortcuts on base construction, fibers, infills, etc)

Synthetic, Practice/ Tournament:  $850,000 (Shortcuts on base construction, fibers, infill, etc.. still a good field)

Natural Grass Professional*:  $600,000 (Professionally built, no shortcuts)
*: 10″ sand profile, drainage, irrigation, sodded.
*: Creates a field that is rain-out proof

Natural Grass Practice/ Tournament*:  $350,000
*: Practice/ Tournament:  6″ sand profile, drainage, irrigation, sodded
*: Creates a field that is rain-out proof

Natural Grass Youth Field*: $150,000
*: Field using native soil, graded level, irrigation, no drainage#
#: Fact: This is the majority of all Parks/ Youth grass fields in the USA

3) Maintenance Costs:
Synthetic (Either construction):  $10,000/ year*
*: equipment for grooming, infill, minor repairs, etc.  Maintenance is simple.

Natural Grass Professional:  $40,000/ year*
*: Average over for equipment, supplies (fertilizer, seed, etc), water, etc

Natural Grass Practice/ Tournament:  $30,000/ year*
*: Average over for equipment, supplies (fertilizer, seed, etc), water, etc

Natural Grass Youth Field:  $30,000/ year*
*: Average for paying landscape contractor to mow, seed, fertilizer, etc

4) Labor Costs:  

Synthetic Professional:  $30,000*
*: Non-skilled, full time to deal with clean up/ set up/ grooming/ etc

Synthetic Practice/ Tournament:  $20,000/ year*
*: Non-skilled, part time to deal with clean up/ set up/ grooming/ etc

Natural Grass Professional:  $75,000*
*: 1 full time, skilled, 1 part time skilled person for growing natural grass on 1 field (or up to 3 fields)

Natural Grass Practice/ Tournament:  $45,000*
*: 1 full time, skilled person for growing natural grass on 1 field (or up to 2 fields)

Natural Grass Youth Field: $20,000*
*: Part time, non skilled labor for clean up, set up, etc.

5) Replacement Costs:

Synthetic:  $500,000 after 8-10 years

Natural Grass:  No need from “regular” use*
*:  concerts, monster trucks, etc not “regular use”

Total Over 10 Years: 

Synthetic Professional:  $1,900,000

Synthetic Practice/ Tournament:  $1,700,000

Natural Grass, Professional:  $1,750,000

Natural Grass, Practice/Tournament:  $1,100,000

Natural Grass, Youth:  $650,000

6) Extras/ Outliers *These Will Bring the Most Debate*: 

Synthetic:

– Overall Costs:  Vary*
*: Storm Water Management:  Up to $300,000 (Some States deem synthetic as an “impervious surface”, like a parking lot, & need engineering to reclaim water )

*: Construction Cost Savings:  Can be up to $200,000 (Some states have cheaper labor/ stable soils that reduce costs.  BUT that would be for grass & synthetic)

*: Relationship w/ Vendor:  Different synthetic vendors will make “deals” with different clubs, teams, etc to get their product in.  It is a very competitive market, but w/ few very high quality products (those are much higher quality than the others)

– Extra padding to soften synthetic:  $500,000*

*:  Average:  Different companies work different deals.  The “best” synthetic field in America is public to admit they have added nearly $1,000,000 extra

– Replacing fields more often than 8-10 years:  $500,000*

*: High profile, multiple event professional synthetic fields are being replaced in shorter intervals than the 8-10 years that fields being used for sports only last

– Irrigation System for Heat Reduction:  $40,000*
*: Piping, heads, booster pump to shoot water long distance

Grass:
– Seeding/ Sprigging v. Sodding:  Reduces cost up to $100,000*
*: Seeding/ sprigging grass fields in allowed windows saves money

–  Glycol heating for sand:  $800,000 (plus operating costs)

– Forced air heating for sand:  $400,000 (plus operating costs)

– Grow Lights:  $100,000 per lighting unit (5 most in USA for soccer)

– Re-sodding even without heavy traffic:  $150,000 (has, and does, happen)

Environmental Stewardship in Your Maintenance Plan: Opportunity to Set an Example

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Environmental Stewardship in Your Maintenance Plan: Opportunity to Set an Example

By: Jerad R. Minnick & Sarah Hardy

Printed in the August, 2012 SportsTurf  

http://read.dmtmag.com/i/77829/8

Environmental stewardship is now common in all aspects of our lives.  Just look around you while you are reading now… there likely is an example close by.  Recycling receptacles, energy efficient lighting, low-volume water fixtures.  The transition to “green” is no longer just a fad that is dictated by a person’s political affiliation or geographic region. Protecting the environment is recognized as a moral responsibility.

Sports field and parks maintenance departments are realizing that going “green” is not a complex issue. Rather it is a basic use of simple conservation. Ironically, maintenance budgets are becoming financially “green” by adopting new methods and technologies to reduce waste in order to save the environment.

For sports field and park maintenance departments considering options to become more environmental friendly, it can initially seem as a daunting task.  But to start, there are five pieces of a maintenance program that can have the largest environmental impact.  1) nutrient management, 2) pesticide usage, 3) equipment fleet management, 4) irrigation practices, and 5) field paint.  Focusing on these five elements will initiate the “green” direction of a program.  Let’s examine each of the pieces and explore the potentials for evolution in the maintenance program to protect the environment and to save money.

1)    Nutrient Management:

Environmental Impact:  It is possible for some fertilizer nutrients to leach through the soil via stormwater and irrigation when used incorrectly or in excess

Evolution Potential for Maintenance Programs:  Technologies in both granular and liquid fertilizers allow managers to exert more control over their plant-feeding program to avoid wasted fertilizer that could potentially pollute.

Many granular technologies are based around the timed “release” of nutrients. Some are controlled by chemical formulations, some have special “coatings”, and others use basic mineralization. All of these different release methods provide turfgrass managers with control over the quantity of each nutrient they want to provide a growing turfgrass plant.  The fertilizer’s known technology, along with historical data for soil temperature fluctuation and weather conditions, can be combined using computer graphs to create an efficient, season-long granular program, eliminating waste and over-fertilization.

In addition, regular soil testing provides a base line of plant available nutrients in the soil and will supply the estimated nitrogen release (ENR) from organic matter present.  Soil testing 4-5 times a season can illustrate to a manager the need for macro and micro- nutrients.  Tracking the ENR provides the ability to cut back on nitrogen inputs as the soil microbes break down the organic matter and release nitrogen.

The slow release technologies, accompanied with regular soil testing provide managers the ability to reduce their over all inputs and ultimately reduce costs on fertilizers and on fungicides needed to control plant diseases caused by deficient or excess fertilizers.

Liquid fertilizer and bio-stimulant use is growing in the sports field maintenance industry because of the increased growth control they provide to managers.

Foliar fertilizers are readily available for the plant to absorb and use quickly and efficiently to reduce the total amount needed.  Foliar fertilizers are able to supplement fungicide programs and help the grass plant withstand diseases and traffic as well.

Bio-stimulants provide an avenue of natural, healthy growth that reduces the need of mineral fertilizer. Because of environmental stresses (drought, excess rain, heat) and physical stresses (traffic, mowing, compaction), the turfgrass plant is not always able to perform its natural growth and development processes. Bio-stimulants are organic products that use plant hormones to promote growth while aiding in plant metabolic processes such as respiration and photosynthesis

Overall, the usage of foliar fertilizers and bio-stimulants gives managers the ability to grow a stronger, healthier plant by using less material and providing non-harmful, naturally plant-occurring compounds.

 

2)    Pesticides:

 Environmental Impact:  Historically, some pesticides have been non-selective in the “good” or “bad” pests that they can kill, earning a connotation of fear for the word “pesticide”.

Evolution Potential for Maintenance Programs:

Fungicides–

Fungicides are important in the battle to combat turfgrass diseases. Stress conditions from weather and foot traffic make the grass plant susceptible to invasion from disease pathogens.  Fungicides aid in the battle against the attack of diseases during these stress times.

Advancing science allows us to understand why these pathogens can adversely impact the plant. For simple examination, we can use a human analogy- A human who has a balanced diet, hydrates, exercises regularly, and gets adequate rest has high energy levels and a strong immune system that can fend off infections and diseases naturally

Likewise, a healthy grass plant has some of the same natural responses and energy reserves to fend off disease and consequently withstand more traffic.  Balanced fertilization, proper water amounts and timing, continued soil aeration, and appropriate mowing height; all are steps toward a healthy plant with strong cell walls, deep roots, and energy levels to withstand stresses and diseases.

 Insecticides

Advancements in insecticide technology are providing some of the most dramatic environmental differences for managers of sports fields and parks.  For example, a grub control product that has come to the market is from a new chemistry class that requires no signal word on the label.  The chemistry is based on a naturally occurring substance found in the bark of Ryania, a tree and shrub species. This technology is not required by the EPA to include a safety signal word on the label after acute toxicology testing showed no har m to humans, birds, or fish. Therefore, grubs – one of the most common and destructive insects on cool season turfgrass – can now by treated without any danger to the environment or patrons on the fields or in the parks.

Other products and companies are involved in creating natural occurring technologies as well.  Even natural substances such as garlic oil and cedar oil can be used to reduce populations of nuisance insects such as gnats, ticks, and ants.

Additionally, new turfgrass plant genetics creating stronger and healthier plants that can withstand more damage from diseases and insects.  The stronger plants raise the threshold for treatment from pesticides completely.

 

 3)    Equipment:

 Environmental Impact:

A fleet of maintenance equipment, mowers, utility vehicles, and tractors, among others,  rely on petroleum products to operate.  Gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, and grease are all big expenses.  Additionally, operating such a large fleet of equipment constantly emits exhaust into the air during a workday.

Evolution Potential for Maintenance Programs:

Hybrid and electric technologies are no longer advancements solely owned by car companies. Equipment companies are now producing hybrid mowers that require up to 40 percent less diesel fuel and are comparable in cost to conventional mowers.  Not only do the hybrid mowers dramatically eliminate emissions, but it also requires less maintenance with less fluid changes and the engine running at less rpm’s decreases noise pollution. In addition, vegetable-based hydraulic fluids and greases reduce petroleum dependence, along with reducing the risk of hydraulic leaks onto the grass and shop spills.  As more machines are designed to burn engineered fuel, bio-diesel will continue to grain strength and popularity

 

4)    Water Conservation/ Watering Efficiency

 Environmental Impact:

Water is our earth’s most valuable resource. Overuse and waste of water not only impacts our overall water quality, it also adds to disease pressure on stressed turfgrass and washes fertilizers through the soil more quickly.

Evolution Potential for Maintenance Programs:

When considering water conservation and irrigation, turf managers should strive to water efficiently and purposefully.

The effects of improper timing for watering are harmful.  Not only is water wasted but the likelihood of disease outbreaks increases because of prolonged periods of leaf wetness.

Overwatering is also harmful.  Roots are damaged when overwatering takes place as the water reduces the air space in the soil and the nutrient food bank is lost because the water washes them through the soil profile.

Improvements in weather forecasting resources to monitor weather conditions provide valuable information for reaching maximum watering efficiency. Wind speed and direction, humidity, and UV index are all factors that lead to evapo-transpiration (ET).  ET is the term used to describe the amount of water lost from the soil during a given day.  Monitoring the precipitation forecast in combination with the actual ET and ET forecast, can help determine whether to wait an additional day for irrigation or until a rain event. Larger or busy facilities should consider the merits of a paid subscription weather service as well as employing real-time consulting services to be able to make better decisions on watering.  The money savings from skipping only a few watering cycles will pay for the subscription.

Additional technology such as rain and wind sensors should be used in a water conservation program as well.  These sensors can be installed on irrigation satellites to stop watering if sufficient rainfall has been received or if wind is gusting as to cause the water to blow off target. High-efficiency irrigation heads should replace aging irrigation heads that are leaking at the base seals and water pressure should be monitored in order to use the correct nozzles to reduce misting.  Aggressive aeration also helps with water penetration so that less water is required to soak into the soil and lessens run off.

Water is a vital natural resource, and everything must be done to use it efficiently.

5) Paint:

 Environmental Impact:

Sports field paint historically been considered at least somewhat environmentally “safe” as these water-based paints break down relatively quickly. However, the colorant in these paints still holds VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that could be harmful for the environment. These VOC’s are known pollutants to the environment that do not break down quickly.

Evolution Potential for Maintenance Programs:

A soccer field has nearly ½ mile of lines to be painted each week.  A football field has over .75 miles of lines prior to numbers, hash marks, and logos.  Because of this large  volume of paint being used, it is important to be mindful of the VOC content that is being added to the environment.   New paints are now available with  low or no VOC content.  Your sales or paint manufacturer can give you the exact VOC content of the products you are using.

Conclusion

According to studies at Colorado State University and North Carolina State University, well maintained turfgrass sequesters up to .45 tons of carbon from the atmosphere per year.  So the turfgrass in a park or large sports facility has the ability to remove the carbon amount equivalent to the emissions of driving a car from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA 45 times.

As maintenance programs continue to evolve to reduce carbon inputs, sports fields and parks will be able to improve the overall quality of the environment and save money.  Certainly there are many more parts of a program where environmental protection can be found.  But examining the standard approach in each of these five areas begins the journey toward long-term results for environmental protection. In addition, facilities will save money along with providing a more quality experience for the visitors and players who frequent the fields and parks.  Yet most importantly, the environmental stewardship sets an example for the young patrons of the parks to follow.  These young patrons are the sports field and park managers of the future that will carry on your example of environmental stewardship.

Upcoming Topics

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Heat continues to prevail across most of the country…  Those cool season plant carbohydrate reserves are getting burned up quickly!  We are starting an aggressive aeration and renovation project this week on 9 cool season fields.  Gas exchange is more important than ever in such heat-  It’s essential to get the soil opened for the stressed plants.  We all CAN, and WILL, WIN this battle with the heat!

Today SoccerPlex is wrapping up the Club National Championship for lacrosse.  Over 500 games in 4 days- Cool season fields averaged 20 games a piece, bermudagrass averaged 32 games.  Yes. That is a bunch!

 And what a successful event!  We learn more and more each time we host such an event about how to bring fields through such heavy traffic.  Ask Matt Carroll (John Deere Landscapes in Atlanta) or John Torres (Head Groundsman at PPL Park in Philly) about our 1st lacrosse tournament in 2009.  We will never forget it.  WoW. The destruction. And from 1/2 the number of games.  It’s exciting to have success like this weekend in comparison to those events just 3 years ago.

That fact brings me to laying out the next batch of topics to explore with you.

What has played the biggest role preparing fields to be able to handle this many games?  Especially after 3 weeks ago hosting the 2-day Nations Capitol Cup lacrosse event (220 games) and 12 days ago hosting the All American National Lacrosse Classic (80 games w/ a day of practice and skills).

Ultimately there are 2 things that allow us to survive:

1)  Ultra strong, durable and healthy grass plants

2)  Managing the traffic instead of letting the traffic manage us

The strong, durable and healthy grass plants come from aggressive aeration, nutrient management, and bio-stimulant and growth regulator utilization.  The results are amazing: bluegrass w/ leaf blades the width of fescues and the density of bermudagrass.  As we work through these pieces, I look forward to the ideas and information we can share with each other.

 Managing the traffic is the most fun piece of the puzzle though.  There is no science involved-  no respiration.. no gibberellic acid or cytokinins.. no chlorophyl, bore-0-phly (haha!).  Just outside the box, creative, off the wall ideas to move around and combat traffic.  No answer is wrong.. no idea too far-fetched.  The limits for the possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned this week as we work through these topics to create ideas and help each other find new ways to host more events, generate more revenues for our facilities, and increase our expertise and job security!

Cheers to a successful Sunday