Beijing's Olympic Stadium To Install Natural-Grass System

BOCOG Turns To Atlanta-Based Company To Install Olympic Stadium Natural-Grass Field

Beijing's Olympic Stadium will install a natural-grass sports field system from  Atlanta-based GreenTech at an estimated cost of $1.5M, according to Gregory Gilligan of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH. The GreenTech sod system, which uses "inter-locking trays,"  is the same turf system used at the Olympic stadium in Athens in '04, at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium and at Giants Stadium. GreenTech started in Richmond, Virginia, more than a decade ago, and Founder & Dir Chris Scott said the Olympics deal is the "biggest athletic field project in four years in the world and we're doing it." Scott said the cost of converting a typical stadium to GreenTech is between $1-3M;  FieldTurf Dir of Marketing Darren Gill said that his company's cost is about $750,000. Gill said that stadiums pick artificial turf for "greater flexibility." Gill: "The ability to use the stadium for more than just another venue like for concerts is important. By having a natural grass surface, you are limiting the venues you can have there. You really have to take care of the grass and you can't put on many other events" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 11/18).