The playing field at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024 will be somewhat different from what the Minnesota Vikings are used to.
The grass at U.S. Bank Stadium will be replaced by the Vikings in time for the upcoming season, according to many sources, including Kevin Seifert of ESPN.
The Vikings are presently one of three teams using “slit-film” grass, a type of turf known for having a greater incidence of non-contact injuries than other types. The crew will be putting “Act Global Xtreme Turf DX,” a kind of turf, in its stead.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals are the other two clubs who use slit-film turf; the Colts plan to switch surfaces in advance of the 2024 season.
In order to ensure a systematic selection procedure and that the current turf was covered by warranty for the duration of this season, the Vikings decided not to replace the turf before the season. In order to replace the turf in time for the 2024 season, construction is scheduled to start in February. The new surface will also be installed at the Vikings’ indoor practice facility.
The NFLPA has made an effort to convince all 32 NFL stadiums to install natural grass; however, it appears that a study determined that it was not practical to do so inside U.S. Bank Stadium, which holds around 200 other events annually in addition to Vikings football games.
I’m not sure how much the new turf will impact the team’s performance or anything similar, but it has to be viewed as a positive thing if it reduces the possibility of non-contact injuries.
