AstroTurf
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| AstroTurf | |
 |
|
| Type | LLC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Dalton, Georgia, USA |
| Key people | Michael Dennis-Vice Chairman and President of GeneralSports Venue, Jon Pritchett-CEO of GeneralSports Venue |
| Website | http://www.astroturfusa.com/ |
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Though the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf [1] while the current products incorporate modern features such as antimicrobial protection, rubber infill, backing systems and nylon yarn fibers.
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[edit] History
AstroTurf was invented in 1965 by employees of Monsanto, patented in 1967, and originally sold under the name "Chemgrass". It was renamed AstroTurf after its first well-publicized use at the Houston Astrodome stadium. Monsanto later sold the AstroTurf brand to Southwest Recreational Industries (SRI), who held the rights until filing for bankruptcy in 2004. The development of the turf is now property of Dalton, Georgia based Textile Management Associates, Inc. It is sold by GeneralSports Venue, LLC.
[edit] Product Timeline
[edit] 1960s
1966
- AstroTurf installed at Houston Astrodome.[2]
1968
- AstroTurf manufacturing facility opens in Dalton, GA.[3]
[edit] 1970s
1974
- Miami Dolphins play Minnesota Vikings on AstroTurf in Super Bowl VIII – Rice Stadium, Houston, TX.[4]
1975
- AstroTurf was installed at New Orleans Superdome[5] and Detroit Silverdome.[6]
- First international field hockey game played on AstroTurf at Molson Stadium, Montreal.[7]
- Cincinnati Reds win World Series on AstroTurf.[8]
[edit] 1980s
1981
- Oakland Raiders play Philadelphia Eagles on AstroTurf in Super Bowl XV – Superdome, New Orleans, LA. [9]
1983
- Women's World Cup Hockey games are played on AstroTurf.[10]
- AstroTurf installs first North American vertical drainage systems in Paterson, NJ at Trenton State. [11]
1989
- First E-Layer® system (Elastomeric) installed at William and Mary, as well as University of California, Berkeley. [12]
[edit] 1990s
1996
- Atlanta Olympic Field Hockey installs AstroTurf System.[13]
1999
- The first Premier League-caliber European soccer club, Real Madrid C. F. (Spain) purchases AstroTurf system for practice fields.[14]
[edit] 2000s
2003
- Buffalo Bills install AstroTurf system in Ralph Wilson Stadium.[15]
2004
- Textile Management Associates acquires all AstroTurf trademarks, intellectual property and manufacturing facilities.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3332828&id=M2twAAAAEBAJ&dq=3332828&jtp=1#PPR2,M1
- ^ http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Astrodome
- ^ http://www.astroturfusa.com/about/history.html
- ^ http://msn.foxsports.com/turftalk
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913439,00.html
- ^ http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/past/Silverdome.htm
- ^ http://football.ballparks.com/CFL/Montreal/veryoldindex.htm
- ^ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1975ws.shtml
- ^ http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/superbowl/Superdome.htm
- ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040516/spectrum/main1.htm
- ^ http://www.tcnjathletics.com/Sports/gen/2003/stadium.asp
- ^ http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/RELEASE/2005/pr061805.htm
- ^ http://www.panstadia.com/vol3/34-082.htm
- ^ http://www.southwestrec.com/international/news/photos2.htm
- ^ http://www.southwestrec.com/news/field/filled/buffalo_bills_030506.htm
