It's a Georgia Dome first.
When Mexico and Venezuela play a soccer match at the Dome on June 24, they'll do so on natural grass.
The 17-year-old Dome never has held an event on natural grass. This summer, it will host two.
The July 22 soccer game between AC Milan and Club America, part of the World Football Challenge, also will be played on grass.
Starting a week from Saturday, Precision Turf of Lilburn will spend three days laying 4-by-8 foot grass sections over the Dome's FieldTurf. Precision will go to work after Dome personnel install a thick layer of plastic and two layers of plywood.
"We're going to prepare the FieldTurf just like we would for dirt," Dome spokeswoman Ashley Boatman said. "It's the same thing we do for the Monster Jam and the AMA Supercross."
The grass will be removed and re-installed for the July 22 game.
"It can't survive in the Dome that long," Boatman said.
Plus, the Dome will host other events in between, including a national gifts convention.
The only previous soccer game in the Dome was part of an Ethiopian showcase that was more cultural affair than high-level competition, Boatman said.
Boatman said Atlanta plans to be part of the U.S. proposal to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
