The original AstroTurf brand product was invented by James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright at
Monsanto. The original, experimental installation was inside the Waughhtel-Howe Field House at the
Moses Brown School in
Providence, Rhode Island, in 1964. It was patented in 1965 and originally sold under the name "ChemGrass." It was rebranded as AstroTurf by company employee John A. Wortmann after its first well-publicized use at the
Houston Astrodome stadium in
1966. Donald L. Elbert patented two methods to improve the product in 1971. Early iterations of the short-pile turf swept many major stadiums, but the product did need improvement. Concerns over directionality and traction led Monsanto's R&D department to implement a texturized
nylon system. By imparting a crimped texture to the nylon after it was extruded, the product became highly uniform. In 1987, Monsanto consolidated its AstroTurf management, marketing, and technical activities in
Dalton, Georgia, as AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1988, Balsam AG purchased all the capital stock of AstroTurf Industries, Inc. In 1994, Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. (SRI) acquired the AstroTurf brand. In 1996, SRI was acquired by American Sports Products Group Inc. While AstroTurf was the industry leader throughout the late 20th century, other companies emerged in the early 2000s.
FieldTurf, AstroTurf's chief competitor since the early 2000s, marketed a product of tall-pile
polyethylene turf with infill, meant to mimic natural grass more than the older products. This third-generation turf, as it became known, changed the landscape of the marketplace. SRI successfully marketed its own third-generation turf product named AstroPlay, and the resultant increased competition led to lawsuits. In 2000, SRI was awarded $1.5 million in a lawsuit after FieldTurf was deemed to have lied to the public by making false statements regarding its own product and making false claims about AstroTurf and AstroPlay products. in Texas, utilizing an older-style AstroTurf surface that has since been replaced Despite their legal victory, increased competition took its toll. In 2004, SRI declared bankruptcy. Out of the bankruptcy proceedings, Textile Management Associates, Inc. (TMA) of Dalton, Georgia, acquired the AstroTurf brand and other assets. TMA began marketing the AstroTurf brand under the company AstroTurf, LLC. In 2006, General Sports Venue (GSV) became TMA's marketing partner for the AstroTurf brand for the American market. AstroTurf, LLC handled the marketing of AstroTurf in the rest of the world. In 2009, TMA acquired GSV to enter the marketplace as a direct seller. AstroTurf, LLC focused its efforts on research and development, which has promoted rapid growth. AstroTurf introduced new product features and installation methods, including AstroFlect (a heat-reduction technology) and field prefabrication (indoor, climate-controlled inlaying). AstroTurf also introduced a product called "RootZone" consisting of crimped fibers designed to encapsulate infill. In 2016, SportGroup Holding announced that it would purchase AstroTurf, along with its associated manufacturing facilities. The AstroTurf brand has operated since then in North America as AstroTurf Corporation. In August 2021, AstroTurf became the official supplier of artificial turf to the
United Soccer League, who run
soccer leagues at the second, third, and fourth tiers of the
U.S. men's soccer pyramid and the
second tier of the U.S. women's soccer pyramid.
1960s during a June 7, 1969, contest between the
Houston Astros and
St. Louis Cardinals 1964 • The
Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, installs ChemGrass.
1966 • First major installation of AstroTurf (ChemGrass) at the
Houston Astrodome indoor stadium for the
Houston Astros. The infield portion was in place before opening day in April; the outfield was installed in early summer. • First college football game on artificial turf is played Sept. 23 in the Astrodome,
Houston vs.
Washington State.
1967 • AstroTurf is first installed in an outdoor stadium—
Memorial Stadium at
Indiana State University in
Terre Haute.
1968 • AstroTurf manufacturing facility opens in
Dalton, Georgia. • First professional football game on artificial turf is played Sept. 9 at the Astrodome between the
Houston Oilers and
Kansas City Chiefs of the
American Football League.
1969 • The backyard of
The Brady Bunch house between the service porch and garage and under
Tiger's kennel is covered with AstroTurf. According to script development notes, the installation firm hired by
Mike Brady to lay the turf was owned by his college roommate, who had just started a landscaping business after returning from a combat tour in the
Vietnam War with the
18th Engineer Brigade. In keeping with studio instructions, no direct mention of the war in Vietnam appeared in the script. The scene in which the installation takes place was ultimately cut, so never appeared in the series. • AstroTurf is installed at
Franklin Field at the
University of Pennsylvania. The first
National Football League game on artificial turf, the
Philadelphia Eagles vs. the
Cleveland Browns, is played Sept. 21.
1970s in St. Louis (photo taken in 1975) shortstop
Barry Larkin playing on AstroTurf at
Riverfront Stadium, October 1990 lining up for a play (on AstroTurf) against the
Green Bay Packers in 2004 at the
RCA Dome 1970 • The
1970 World Series is the first with games on AstroTurf (previously installed at Cincinnati's
Riverfront Stadium), as the Reds play the Baltimore Orioles.
1971 • The
CFL's
Hamilton Tiger-Cats install AstroTurf at their home stadium,
Ivor Wynne Stadium, in preparation for hosting the
Grey Cup game the following year.
1972 • The
Kansas City Chiefs home field of
Arrowhead Stadium and the
Kansas City Royals home field of
Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium) open in Kansas City, Missouri, with AstroTurf playing surfaces.
1973 • The
Buffalo Bills' home field of
Rich Stadium (later Ralph Wilson Stadium, and then Highmark Stadium) opens in Orchard Park, New York, with an AstroTurf playing surface.
1974 • The
Miami Dolphins face the
Minnesota Vikings on AstroTurf (the first Super Bowl played on the surface, but not the first to be played on artificial turf; that was Super Bowl V (in 1971) with
Poly-Turf) in
Super Bowl VIII –
Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas.
1975 • The first international field hockey game is played on AstroTurf at
Molson Stadium, Montreal.
1980s 1980 • The Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals play the entire
1980 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.
1984 • AstroTurf installs the first North American
vertical drainage systems in Ewing, New Jersey, at Trenton State College (now known as
The College of New Jersey).
1985 • The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals play the entire
1985 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.
1987 • The St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins play the entire
1987 World Series on AstroTurf in their ballparks.
1989 • The first E-Layer system (Elastomeric) is installed at the
College of William & Mary, as well as the
University of California, Berkeley.
1990s 1993 • The
1993 World Series, between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays, was the fourth World Series to be played entirely on artificial turf, following those in , , and .
1999 •
Real Madrid C.F. (Spain) becomes the first European football club to purchase an AstroTurf system for their practice fields. == References ==