Though they described it as playing slow right now, Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer and several players said they like the new artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The players trained at the $1.5 billion stadium Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s game at New England. The installation of the new turf, known as CORE and made by FieldTurf, was completed Tuesday and cost approximately $700,000.
“It was really good,” de Boer said. “The turf is of course brand new, and the grass is sticking straight up a little bit. That’s much better for our players. It’s not too hard at the moment, and if we can keep it that way it should be great.”
The previous turf, known as Revolution 360 and also made by FieldTurf, was installed for the stadium’s opening in 2017.
The new turf felt softer but springier Wednesday, something the players noticed. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said the difference in quality before and after the change is “night and day.”
“It felt good, different,” centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez said. “The ball rolls more slowly because like the grass is high. It’s good to step on it.”
Atlanta United’s players the previous two years preferred that the turf be watered before games and during halftime so that it would play as fast as possible. The new turf was being watered in places Wednesday.
Atlanta United will get its first chance to play on it in a game when it hosts Dallas on April 20. Atlanta United is 0-0-2 at home in league games this season.
“The players love to play on that turf, so hopefully we will get some good results,” de Boer said.
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