GVSU Lakers Will Be Flying High on Brand New AstroTurf

Grand Valley State University Lubbers will kick off their football season with the newest AstroTurf on the market at Lubbers Stadium.

AstroTurf History

AstroTurf has been around longer than I thought - James M. Faria and Robert T. Wright who came up with the idea in the late 1950s. When Faria and Wright developed fake grass the original name was "ChemGrass." It was probably a good idea they changed the name because ChemGrass doesn't sound as cool as AstroTurf.

The first NFL team to play on AstroTurf was the Houston Oilers at the Astrodome in 1968. The game on turf was the Oilers against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was an indoor stadium so turf made perfect sense but football wasn't the first sport to use turf it was baseball but at the Astrodome. The Houston Astros played against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.

The first outdoor AstroTurf was installed at Indiana State's Memorial Stadium in 1967. AstroTurf has been a staple for sports indoors and outdoors ever since.

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Grand Valley State University Gets New AstroTurf at Lubbers Stadium

It was in 2012 when Lubbers Stadium went from Kentucky Bluegrass to Astroturf for the first time. The Lakers have played on turf ever since but this season will be extra special.

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The GVSU Lakers will play football on a new field starting this 2024 season. According to the AstroTurf Facebook page, an AstorTurf RootZone 3D3 system has been installed. Hopefully, this new field will help the Lakers win big for the fans this season.