Kinnick Stadium Grass Field

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Believe isu game in 08’ was the nail in the coffin for grass where it rained night before and up until a hour before the game. That with cost to maintain grass. I’m a traditionalist and would love to go back to it but not holding my breath it will happen anytime soon.

As someone else mentioned turf from 80s anyone who played in old uni dome turf knows what it’s like to play on concrete. Was rough and could leave nasty turf burn.

I flew back for that game & we walked on the field after the game.

It was a mess & major divots everywhere.

Don’t know how players didn’t roll ankles just walking around out there.

And that wasn’t just rain, that was a ready soaking for 30 hours (at least in Des Moines)!

I think it was a hurricane remnants that sat over Iowa from Thursday night til Saturday morning.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

With Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland getting indoor stadiums with turf, the NFL is quickly eliminating any ties to the past. I miss seeing bad weather games on grass fields. Not the best to play on, but overall grass is easier on the body.

I hope college football never goes the route the NFL has. I'm looking forward to seeing some bad weather games this weekend with three first round playoff games taking place in cold weather environments.

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Vikings at Rams playoff game in December of ‘75 or ‘76, I believe. ‘80’s tv actor “Hunter” aka Fred Dryer is in that muddy mess somewhere. Rams were favored. Vikes won the game.

Where's Dee Dee McCall?

 

[SA_Hawk]

Love it. I wonder why the Chicago Bears can't get it right.

Because the City of Chicago Parks & Rec Department is in charge of the field not the Bears.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Where's Dee Dee McCall?

Hanging out with his brother CW?

 

[chuck285]

Can we flood opponents side of the field?

How about painting their side and seats pink? Just to get into their heads!

 

[chuck285]

I took some, too. It died.

I have some of the endzone grass from the 2008 penn state game somewhere. I'd love for Kinnick to go back to grass. (And unbrick the windows at the top of the east/west stands)

You guys are rookies. I stole a goal post from Minn. once..

 

[LIV4GOD]

You guys are rookies. I stole a goal post from Minn. once..

Yes, but at least I was there watching you and cheering you on!

 

[mvhomerl]

Hanging out with his brother CW?

Yep, he was part of the convoy.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

With more and more people talking about how natural grass is better for player health, having a grass field could be a recruiting pitch.

At their best, natural grass > synthetic.

But there are plenty of games that highlight the weaknesses of natural grass. The big hole that delayed the Iowa / Northwestern game at Wrigley for 15 minutes didn’t make me miss having natural grass at Kinnick.

 

[BurgHawk87]

With more and more people talking about how natural grass is better for player health, having a grass field could be a recruiting pitch.

At their best, natural grass > synthetic.

But there are plenty of games that highlight the weaknesses of natural grass. The big hole that delayed the Iowa / Northwestern game at Wrigley for 15 minutes didn’t make me miss having natural grass at Kinnick.

I think that had more to do with slapping new turf down a day or two before the game.

 

[Titanhawk2]

Vikings at Rams playoff game in December of ‘75 or ‘76, I believe. ‘80’s tv actor “Hunter” aka Fred Dryer is in that muddy mess somewhere. Rams were favored. Vikes won the game.

Rams finally didn't have to go to Bloomington in December. Got a home playoff game in sunny, warm LA that year

 

[hexumhawk]

Grass is better in general for the players and aesthetically imo. I would like to see them go back to grass, especially if we continue the similar offense we have that is more ground and pound than most. Probably comes down to the university and if they want to take on the upkeep and higher costs that goes along with it. I agree in general about the design but would kind of like to see the endzone with the helmets make a comeback.

It looks like when Iowa added the middle tigerhawk logo it took away the logo in the north EZ. Probably only going to see the main logo in the middle and nowhere else.

Probably not going to see things like this happen if it goes back to grass

 

[Greenway4Prez]

While the cost of yearly maintenance is obviously higher on grass, it’s negated by the install cost of turf and the fact that those fields are needing replaced every several years.

When Iowa re-did the drainage and base in preparation for the turf field that was installed in 2009, everything was constructed in a way that allowed an easy transition to natural grass. I really hope we do it. Get grass back in Kinnick please!

Not if it means getting a field like they have in Ames.

That's dreadful.

There’s nothing wrong with their field. It’s one of the best in the country year after year. The problem this season was rain before/during their games and teams not picking the right cleats. Which, by the way, seems to happen way too much.

 

[MitchLL]

While the cost of yearly maintenance is obviously higher on grass, it’s negated by the install cost of turf and the fact that those fields are needing replaced every several years.

When Iowa re-did the drainage and base in preparation for the turf field that was installed in 2009, everything was constructed in a way that allowed an easy transition to natural grass. I really hope we do it. Get grass back in Kinnick please!


There’s nothing wrong with their field. It’s one of the best in the country year after year. The problem this season was rain before/during their games and teams not picking the right cleats. Which, by the way, seems to happen way too much.

Regarding your excuses about the weather...everyone knows when you plan/build something, you consider the worst case scenario.

JFC. Hope like hell you're not an engineer!

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Regarding your excuses about the weather...everyone knows when you plan/build something, you consider the worst case scenario.

JFC. Hope like hell you're not an engineer!

What’s your answer then Mitch?

Surely, with all your education and experience in the green industry, you must have the answer to why ISU’s field was having “issues”.

Is this because of what Scott Satterfield said? Or is it your contention that ISU’s field always has “issues”.

 

[cidhawkeye]

You guys are rookies. I stole a goal post from Minn. once..

I have paint chips from a 1956 goal post from the Ohio State game. My Dad got them as a kid.

 

[MitchLL]

What’s your answer then Mitch?

Surely, with all your education and experience in the green industry, you must have the answer to why ISU’s field was having “issues”.

Is this because of what Scott Satterfield said? Or is it your contention that ISU’s field always has “issues”.

The heifers that graze during the week definitely has an effect.

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this. All 3 of these teams are building domes? 👎🏿

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

Not a dome at least.

 

[ToddStrong]

I haven’t heard this.

All 3 of these teams are building domes?

👎🏿

My thoughts are that all these are built to host Super Bowls that generate allot of money. If you aren't New York City and you are in a cold weather city like Cleveland, Minnesota, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago or Tennessee. This is how you get that game and year long revenue.

Sucks for us fans, but the NFL doesn't care about that. One reason to hope Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State never build new stadiums.

 

[hexumhawk]

While the cost of yearly maintenance is obviously higher on grass, it’s negated by the install cost of turf and the fact that those fields are needing replaced every several years.

When Iowa re-did the drainage and base in preparation for the turf field that was installed in 2009, everything was constructed in a way that allowed an easy transition to natural grass. I really hope we do it. Get grass back in Kinnick please!


There’s nothing wrong with their field. It’s one of the best in the country year after year. The problem this season was rain before/during their games and teams not picking the right cleats. Which, by the way, seems to happen way too much.

Also to piggyback on the Ames turf, most of their games stared just at the same time that we get dew at night in Iowa on grass. Think that was a big factor as well. Probably wouldn't have noticed it with more 11AM kicks.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

When a stadium costs over a billion dollars you better have a roof or you are losing a crazy amount of future potential earnings.

Vikings stadium is used constantly. College baseball plays around the clock inside during the winter. They will have double headers starting at 11pm or later.

Stadiums holds huge concerts, X Games, etc.