Natural Grass Field for New Stanford Stadium

We urge you to strongly reconsider current plans and instead install a Natural Grass Playing Field in the new Stanford Stadium. Although the chosen in-fill synthetic turf might be better than Astroturf, a natural grass playing field would be a far more safe choice. All artificial turfs raise the chances of injury such as Turf toe, which is an injury to the base of the big toe. This condition is often caused by running or jumping on hard surfaces such as artificial turf. In fact, previous studies have concluded increased injuries due to artificial turf:

- Skovron A.J.S.M. 1990 Epidemiological Review: Artificial Turf Increased Lower Extremity Injuries 30\% to 50\%
- Powell A.J.S.M. 1992 NFL Study 1980 1989 Astroturf Responsible for Increase ACL tears.
- Guskiewicz A.J.S.M 2000 Head Contact with Artificial Turf Results in Increased Occurrence and Severity

Our players deserve a field that provides optimal safety.

The majority of Pac-10 schools may be using artificial turf. However, Stanford should consider offering its athletes the best facility possible. Our field crew has done a great job in the past maintaining the field in pristine shape, we are sure they would do the same with the field in the new stadium. Sunken Diamond, Maloney Field, and Steuber Rugby Stadium have maintained a natural grass playing field through their renovations in the last decade. A Natural Grass Playing Field is the perfect fit for the new Stanford Stadium; an in-fill synthetic turf would be a stain on already pristine picture.

Again, we urge you to install a Natural Grass playing field in the new Stanford Stadium.