(This entry is formulated with some information provided via a media release from the event organizers - Desso Sports System and Singapore Sports Hub)
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| The new 55,000-capacity National Stadium |
I was part of the media contingent who were invited to have a feel and look of the new turf surface that is to be the centerpiece of the new 55,000-seater National Stadium within the premises of the iconic Singapore Sports Hub.
Scheduled to be completed by next month when the new arena will be staging their very first event - The Rugby World Club 10s on 21st and 22nd of June, the pitch will be turfed using the Desso GrassMaster system which is developed by Desso Sports System, a leading specialist in global sports field technology.
Scheduled to be completed by next month when the new arena will be staging their very first event - The Rugby World Club 10s on 21st and 22nd of June, the pitch will be turfed using the Desso GrassMaster system which is developed by Desso Sports System, a leading specialist in global sports field technology.
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| Kudos to these guys for their work |
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| A moth inspecting the blades of the grass |
WHY "DESSO GRASSMASTER"?
Prior to the stadium tour, the members of the contingent were given a presentation by the event organizers on why Desso GrassMaster was chosen ahead of the other two alternate methods (namely the "Lay and Play" and "Artificial Surface") to lay the playing surface in a process that took 19 months.
Having the target of staging up to 90 events a year, it's essential to have a surface that can be used for both sporting and non-sporting events that requires versatility and durability.
For that being the reasons why the "Lay and Play" (for the lack of reinforcement to hold the grass to the surface and risk of having players being injured) and "Artificial Surface" (while providing a shorter maintenance period, it doesn't meet the requirements of the athletics world governing body - IAAF's approval and other credibility issues) are ruled out.
Prior to the stadium tour, the members of the contingent were given a presentation by the event organizers on why Desso GrassMaster was chosen ahead of the other two alternate methods (namely the "Lay and Play" and "Artificial Surface") to lay the playing surface in a process that took 19 months.
Having the target of staging up to 90 events a year, it's essential to have a surface that can be used for both sporting and non-sporting events that requires versatility and durability.
For that being the reasons why the "Lay and Play" (for the lack of reinforcement to hold the grass to the surface and risk of having players being injured) and "Artificial Surface" (while providing a shorter maintenance period, it doesn't meet the requirements of the athletics world governing body - IAAF's approval and other credibility issues) are ruled out.
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(L-R) DTZ's Senior Director Gregory Gillin and Desso's CEO Alexander Collot d'Escury with grass sample of the field |
Besides providing better stability and reinforcement of the grass to the playing surface, Desso GrassMaster earned the nod for having the lowest operational costs among the three surfaces that help to maximize the return of the investments by those stadium operators who installed them, according to Desso.
USED IN BOTH OLD TRAFFORD AND WEMBLEY
It is understood that National Stadium in the Sports Hub will be the first Asian stadium to install this new surface that was already laid in place in stadiums like Manchester United's Old Trafford and the Wembley Stadium.
USED IN BOTH OLD TRAFFORD AND WEMBLEY
It is understood that National Stadium in the Sports Hub will be the first Asian stadium to install this new surface that was already laid in place in stadiums like Manchester United's Old Trafford and the Wembley Stadium.
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| The stadium is seven-story high |
On top of that, a brief introduction before the pitch presentation also revealed that the seven-story arena with its retractable roof comes with a "comfort cooling system" to provide athletes, spectators with a "unique and comfortable" environment and would downsize the capacity to 52,000 if a cricket match is being scheduled by having those movable-tiered seating "retracted" in a "48-hour process".
This is a massive investment that it proven those who installed had got their returns in a short space of time.
ReplyDeleteBut for being the first in Asia to have this Desso GrassMaster surface, the immediate outcome is critical to see if the rest of the region are ready to reap it out and have it on.
Other than being a football, rugby, cricket and concert-ready surface, wonder if baseball is possible.