The genetically-enhanced turf installed this week at the Dolphins' stadium was the "result of nearly two years of research into determining the most workable grass for a safe and durable field for football that will hold up to the impediments imposed by the new shade canopy covering the stands," according to Craig Davis of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. The Platinum TE strain of Paspalum, more expensive than Bermuda grass, was "developed to tolerate shade and withstand the traffic of sports activity." It has been "available for less than 10 years," and has been "most widely applied to golf courses." It has also been "used successfully at Marlins Park" since '14. Dolphins Senior VP/Stadium Operations Todd Boyan said, "It's a quality grass. It's something that's firm enough for the players for traction and soft enough for safety." The Dolphins' new field was "trucked in from a sod farm in Alabama." Meanwhile, the Dolphins are already practicing on the surface "at their training facility" in Davie, Fla. To ensure that the new turf "thrives despite more shade at the stadium, the Dolphins purchased 13 banks of grow lights from a firm in the Netherlands." The lights are used "extensively in soccer stadiums in Europe and South America that have similar shade canopies" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/5).
