Experts sound off on failed grass field at new Bills stadium
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Buffalo Bills replaced their stadium grass after only two preseason games due to poor turf conditions, prompting criticism from several turf experts.
- Renowned groundskeeper George Toma called the turf failure "terrible" and suggested negligence, while an anonymous expert labeled it the worst NFL sod they had seen.
- Tony Dick, a sports management professor and former Browns groundskeeper, stated the natural turf was unsafe compared to artificial turf, expressing concern for player safety, especially quarterback Josh Allen.
- The Bills defended their decision, citing consultations with the NFL and an independent expert who approved the sod installation timing, and emphasized the NFL's field inspections.
- Experts remain skeptical about the new turf's durability, with predictions that artificial turf might return within a few years due to safety concerns; the new field's performance will be tested in the upcoming home opener against the Lions.
