FieldTurf
Canadian artificial-turf brand for athletic fields, sports venues, and selected public infrastructure applications.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
FieldTurf is a Canadian brand of synthetic playing surfaces used primarily for football, soccer, baseball, rugby, field hockey, and other athletic applications. The brand is associated with a generation of artificial turf designed to look and play more like natural grass than the short, hard-pile surfaces that preceded it. Its systems generally use long polyethylene-blend fibers tufted into a polypropylene backing, with layered sand and rubber infill providing weight, drainage, traction, and cushioning. The business originated in Montreal. Jean Prévost acquired the patent for the product in 1988 and initially operated through a company called SynTenni Co. The business later adopted the FieldTurf name. In 1995, former Canadian Football League player and coach John Gilman joined the company as chief executive, helping direct its transition from a specialist synthetic-surface venture into a prominent supplier to professional, collegiate, school, and municipal sports organizations. FieldTurf achieved an important early reference installation in 1997, when English football club Middlesbrough selected the surface for a training facility. Its first major United States installation followed in 1998 at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Texas. The brand then expanded into higher-profile college and professional venues, including Nebraska's Memorial Stadium in 1999 and Seattle's stadium, now known as Lumen Field, in 2002. These projects helped establish long-fiber, infilled synthetic turf as a practical alternative for facilities seeking year-round availability, lower weather-related disruption, and the ability to host multiple sports and events. Soccer became another important area of development. FieldTurf installations obtained FIFA star ratings, and the brand was used at venues involved in international competition. In 2005, Costa Rica's Saprissa Stadium became the first stadium to host a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on FieldTurf, while the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada used the surface for a substantial share of its matches. At the same time, the product's use in Major League Soccer and other elite football settings generated debate. Players and coaches accustomed to natural grass questioned the feel, hardness, heat, and physical demands of synthetic fields. Several venues responded by using removable natural-grass systems for selected FIFA-sanctioned events or by replacing synthetic turf altogether. Ownership and corporate structure changed as the brand grew. French flooring manufacturer Tarkett, initially a minority shareholder, increased its stake in 2005 and integrated FieldTurf into its sports-surface operations. FieldTurf is now operated within Tarkett Sports, part of Tarkett SA. In 2010, FieldTurf acquired EasyTurf of San Diego, expanding its presence in residential and commercial synthetic-grass markets in the United States. The brand's commercial proposition combines field availability, drainage, multi-sport flexibility, and a playing experience intended to approximate grass. Its products have been installed in thousands of athletic fields; the company reported more than 7,000 installations by 2012. FieldTurf also markets specialized systems, including Air FieldTurf for areas around airport runways. The brand remains active under Tarkett, although questions about injury patterns, maintenance, infill, heat, environmental effects, and the suitability of artificial surfaces for elite sport continue to shape procurement and public discussion.
History
FieldTurf developed from a Montreal-based synthetic-surface business established after Jean Prévost acquired the product patent in 1988. The company initially used the name SynTenni Co., but later adopted FieldTurf as its principal corporate and commercial identity. John Gilman, a former Canadian Football League player and coach, joined the company as chief executive in 1995. His arrival coincided with the brand's effort to make artificial turf more credible for organized sport and professional facilities. The product differed from older artificial surfaces through its longer, grass-like fibers and infill system. Polyethylene-blend monofilament fibers were tufted into a permeable polypropylene backing. Silica sand formed the lower infill layer, a sand-and-cryogenic-rubber mixture occupied the middle layer, and rubber occupied the upper layer. The system was intended to provide ballast, drainage, traction, and a cushioning effect while allowing athletes to plant and pivot in a manner closer to natural grass. Unlike some competing constructions, the FieldTurf system described in the reference material did not depend on a separate shock-absorbing pad beneath the infill. FieldTurf's first prominent professional installation was completed in 1997 at Middlesbrough Football Club's training facility in England. In the United States, Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Texas, received the first installation identified in the reference material in 1998. Nebraska's Memorial Stadium became an early major college football installation in 1999, followed in 2000 by installations at Washington State University's Martin Stadium and the University of Washington's Husky Stadium. In 2002, Seattle's new professional stadium selected FieldTurf rather than the originally planned natural grass. The venue later became Lumen Field and was shared by the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC. Natural grass could be brought in for FIFA-sanctioned events. Soccer helped give the brand international visibility but also exposed the cultural and performance tensions surrounding artificial fields. Boston University's FieldTurf soccer field became the first FieldTurf installation to receive FIFA one-star status in 2001, and Costa Rica's Saprissa Stadium hosted a World Cup qualifying match on the surface in 2005. Dundalk's Oriel Park received the brand's first FIFA two-star rating. FieldTurf was also used for almost half of the matches at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, according to the reference material. At the professional soccer level, the surface was controversial. International players and some MLS participants preferred natural grass, citing differences in surface feel and concerns about the physical toll of playing on artificial turf. Canadian players petitioned for a natural surface at Toronto's BMO Field in 2006, and the venue changed to traditional grass beginning in 2010. David Beckham argued that MLS should use grass more broadly, while Thierry Henry declined to play a road match in Seattle while with the New York Red Bulls, specifically because the stadium used FieldTurf. Tarkett became increasingly central to FieldTurf's corporate development. The French flooring manufacturer was initially a minority shareholder, increased its stake in 2005, and integrated the brand into Tarkett's sports operations. FieldTurf is now part of Tarkett Sports within Tarkett SA. In May 2010, the company acquired EasyTurf, a San Diego synthetic-grass business, to broaden its reach beyond athletic venues into residential and commercial landscaping. Safety research has remained an important part of the brand's history. FieldTurf-funded peer-reviewed studies reported broadly comparable or, in some settings, lower overall injury rates than natural grass, while identifying differences in injury types. By contrast, an NFL Injury and Safety Panel analysis of game data reported higher rates of certain knee and ankle injuries on FieldTurf, including elevated ACL-sprain rates. These conflicting findings have prevented a simple consensus and have kept artificial-turf selection tied to sport, climate, maintenance, league rules, and public-health considerations. By 2012, FieldTurf had reported more than 7,000 athletic-field installations. In addition to sports fields, the brand developed Air FieldTurf for runway-edge areas at airports. Its continuing identity is that of a specialized artificial-turf brand operating within Tarkett's broader sports-surface portfolio.
- 2012
More than 7,000 athletic fields reported
[1]FieldTurf reported that it had installed more than 7,000 athletic fields.
- 2010
EasyTurf acquisition
[1]FieldTurf acquired EasyTurf to enter the United States residential and commercial synthetic-grass markets.
- 2007
FieldTurf used at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
[1]Almost half of the tournament's matches were played on FieldTurf installations, according to the reference material.
- 2005
Tarkett increases its stake and integrates FieldTurf
[1]Tarkett increased its ownership position and integrated FieldTurf into its sports division.
- 2005
First World Cup qualifying match on FieldTurf
[1]Saprissa Stadium in San José, Costa Rica, hosted a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on FieldTurf.
- 2002
FieldTurf enters an NFL stadium
[1]Seattle's new stadium selected FieldTurf; the venue is now known as Lumen Field.
- 2001
First FIFA one-star FieldTurf soccer field
[1]Boston University's FieldTurf soccer field became the first FieldTurf installation to obtain FIFA one-star status.
- 1999
First major college football installation
[1]Nebraska's Memorial Stadium became an early major college football venue using FieldTurf.
- 1998
First United States installation
[1]Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Texas, received the first United States installation identified in the reference material.
- 1997
First major professional installation
[1]Middlesbrough selected FieldTurf for a training facility, giving the brand an early high-profile professional football reference site.
Products and positioning
A performance-oriented artificial-turf brand positioned as a durable, drainable, multi-use alternative to natural grass, with long polyethylene fibers and layered infill intended to improve realism, traction, and cushioning.
Artificial athletic surface
FieldTurf athletic turf systems
The core FieldTurf product is an infilled synthetic playing surface made from long polyethylene-blend fibers tufted into a woven and nonwoven polypropylene backing. Layered silica sand and rubber infill provides stability, drainage, traction, and cushioning. The systems are designed for football, soccer, and multi-sport fields where year-round availability and resistance to weather-related wear are important.
Soccer field surface
FIFA-rated FieldTurf soccer systems
FieldTurf developed soccer installations capable of obtaining FIFA star ratings. These systems supported use in international soccer venues and competitions, although governing-body requirements differed by competition and rating level. The brand's FIFA-rated installations helped establish synthetic turf as a viable option for selected professional and international facilities.
Airport infrastructure surface
Air FieldTurf
Air FieldTurf is a specialized FieldTurf application used around runway edges at some airports. It extends the brand beyond sports venues into public infrastructure and is intended to provide a managed synthetic surface in areas adjacent to aircraft operating environments.
Residential and commercial synthetic grass
EasyTurf
EasyTurf was a San Diego-based synthetic-grass business acquired by FieldTurf in 2010. The acquisition gave FieldTurf an entry point into residential and commercial landscaping applications in the United States, complementing its established athletic-field business.
Brand decisions
2010
Acquisition of EasyTurfM&ABackground
FieldTurf sought access to the growing United States residential and commercial synthetic-grass markets beyond its traditional athletic-field base.
Action taken
FieldTurf acquired EasyTurf of San Diego, California.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened FieldTurf's market coverage to include non-athletic synthetic-grass applications.
2005
Integration with TarkettM&ABackground
Tarkett had been a minority shareholder in FieldTurf and increased its stake as the artificial-sports-surface business expanded.
Action taken
Tarkett integrated FieldTurf into its sports division, creating the corporate structure under which the brand operates today.
Aftermath
FieldTurf became part of Tarkett Sports within Tarkett SA, linking the brand to a broader flooring and sports-surface group.
Recent events
BC Place turf to be repurposed for flood-affected Abbotsford Cardinals[3]
Reported:
The article reported that BC Place Stadium’s existing turf would be repurposed for the flood-affected Abbotsford Cardinals. FieldTurf, Beyond The Turf, and Binnie were donating labour and expertise to remove damaged turf at the Cardinals’ facility and transport and install part of BC Place’s old field. Installation was scheduled to begin in late January 2022.
Sources3 sources
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