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Now they are replacing the field on a 1.3 billion dollar SNAFU?
Note to Whiner head office, get a new contractor...
http://abc7news.com/sports/turf-trouble-stains-levis-stadium/275305/
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) --
A major overhaul is happening at Levi's Stadium. Just three days before Sunday's home game against the San Diego Chargers, the turf has been ripped out at the San Francisco 49ers' new $1.2 billion stadium. It now awaits a new field.
Player safety appears to be at issue. Complaints of divots and slippery conditions surfaced at Wednesday's practice.
The team isn't saying why it's moving so fast to remove and replace the turf. Whatever the reason, the 49ers are wasting no time ripping out the grass, a so-called super-grass called Bandera Bermuda.
"It was weird to see a field come up that fast and try and think that they're going to get grass to grow that quickly. I mean, I know it's going to be sod, but it's not going to adhere [quickly]," said 49ers fan Scott Clements.
The Chargers have been assured by the 49ers the field will be game-ready.
"We're going on our normal pre-game routine, have everybody walk into the field; make sure they have the right cleats on. It's no different than any other game we're playing," said San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy.
Two 49ers suffered minor injuries on the Levi's Staidium field during practice Wednesday, both involving slips on loose soil. Coach Jim Harbaugh immediately moved the team to its practice field instead.
There have been no complaints from two other teams that have already played there; the San Jose Earthquakes and the Denver Broncos.
So what's the problem? The sod contractor, West Coast Turf in Livingston, has been told by the 49ers not to talk to ABC7 News. However, another major sod grower, The Grass Farm in Morgan Hill did address the issue.
Owner Erin Gil doesn't grow the variety used at Levi's, but he speculates the grass didn't establish a strong root system.
"It's been warm enough to go ahead and establish the root system. Maybe they pushed it a little bit too close in terms of the deadlines, in terms of what they wanted to have and how fast they wanted to use that field as well. So, it may have needed more time to heel in," he said.
Normal sod has about 5/8 of an inch of soil attached. To have the field game-ready Sunday, the sod may be cut with 2 to 4 inches of roots. The additional soil will help to anchor the sod to prevent slippage.
Note to Whiner head office, get a new contractor...
http://abc7news.com/sports/turf-trouble-stains-levis-stadium/275305/
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) --
A major overhaul is happening at Levi's Stadium. Just three days before Sunday's home game against the San Diego Chargers, the turf has been ripped out at the San Francisco 49ers' new $1.2 billion stadium. It now awaits a new field.
Player safety appears to be at issue. Complaints of divots and slippery conditions surfaced at Wednesday's practice.
The team isn't saying why it's moving so fast to remove and replace the turf. Whatever the reason, the 49ers are wasting no time ripping out the grass, a so-called super-grass called Bandera Bermuda.
"It was weird to see a field come up that fast and try and think that they're going to get grass to grow that quickly. I mean, I know it's going to be sod, but it's not going to adhere [quickly]," said 49ers fan Scott Clements.
The Chargers have been assured by the 49ers the field will be game-ready.
"We're going on our normal pre-game routine, have everybody walk into the field; make sure they have the right cleats on. It's no different than any other game we're playing," said San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy.
Two 49ers suffered minor injuries on the Levi's Staidium field during practice Wednesday, both involving slips on loose soil. Coach Jim Harbaugh immediately moved the team to its practice field instead.
There have been no complaints from two other teams that have already played there; the San Jose Earthquakes and the Denver Broncos.
So what's the problem? The sod contractor, West Coast Turf in Livingston, has been told by the 49ers not to talk to ABC7 News. However, another major sod grower, The Grass Farm in Morgan Hill did address the issue.
Owner Erin Gil doesn't grow the variety used at Levi's, but he speculates the grass didn't establish a strong root system.
"It's been warm enough to go ahead and establish the root system. Maybe they pushed it a little bit too close in terms of the deadlines, in terms of what they wanted to have and how fast they wanted to use that field as well. So, it may have needed more time to heel in," he said.
Normal sod has about 5/8 of an inch of soil attached. To have the field game-ready Sunday, the sod may be cut with 2 to 4 inches of roots. The additional soil will help to anchor the sod to prevent slippage.
