Will they be using helicopters to dry the field like they did before the Iron Bowl?
They got their check, that was the only concern at the time.I'm no expert, but I would think that one of the important criteria in selecting the stadium in which to play the championship might be quality of the playing surface. It appears the deciders really whiffed on this one.
It's not the stadium, it is the location of the stadium. This was a virtual certainty when they booked it. This is typical weather for this time of year in the bay area.They got their check, that was the only concern at the time.
I will cut them a little slack though. When Levi Stadium was selected in 2015, it had only been open for 1 year. If there were concerns about the field during that first year, the CFP probably thought the folks at Levi Stadium would sort it out over the next 4 years. Unfortunately...
They can't roll the turf to force out the water - the turf is too new and has not yet rooted. They are going to have to use fans. But the good news is that they also just put down a new layer of sand under the turf, so that may help with drainage.I would hope that they would have some sort of water extraction system under the turf to aid in drying out the field and not rely simply on gravity and evaporation.:conf3:
When M & T Stadium (Ravens) switched from artificial to natural grass they installed pumps and heaters under the substrate to help with rain and cold. I'm guessing that something similar may have been done for the 49ers.They can't roll the turf to force out the water - the turf is too new and has not yet rooted. They are going to have to use fans. But the good news is that they also just put down a new layer of sand under the turf, so that may help with drainage.
Trying to stay positive.
The field was completely covered during the rain. I am sure that the tarp will come off as weather permits today. The NFL has put a tremendous effort into solving the turf problems at the stadium along with West Coast Turf. They have made significant changes to the turf (a new Bermuda variety) and the sand growth medium underneath the turf. The new Bermuda variety is grown in a plastic mesh and is immediately available for play once it is laid down. West Coast Turf has three exact field replicas with crown and drainage tiles where they grow the turf prior to laying on the field.I would hope that they would have some sort of water extraction system under the turf to aid in drying out the field and not rely simply on gravity and evaporation.:conf3: