Nebraska to transition Memorial Stadium turf to natural grass

July 19, 2024
In 2023, Nebraska transitioned its practice fields from FieldTurf to natural grass.

According to Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen, the school has plans to replace the artificial turf at Memorial Stadium with natural grass as early as the 2026 season.

In an interview with The Athletic, Dannen said the school will replace its two grass practice fields outside the new Osborne Legacy Complex in early 2025 with a natural surface heated from underground. The Huskers will practice on that grass in the fall of 2025 as a test for the stadium.

During the 2025 season, the Huskers football team will practice on the new surface as before installing a similar turf at the Memorial Stadium the following season if all goes according to plan.

Nebraska’s football program has played on artificial turf at Memorial Stadium since the 1970 season. Since 1999, the school has used a FieldTurf surface, which has been replaced three times — 2005, 2013 and 2022.

In 2023, Nebraska transitioned its practice fields from FieldTurf to natural grass.

“Injuries are higher on turf than on grass,” Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule said. “And when I came here, there had been a rash of knee injuries going into this season. There had been a bunch of ACLs over the last six years, a bunch of meniscus (tears). Football’s a violent game, but we already have turf in the indoor (facility).”

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