Shaw Sports Turf introduces new synthetic turf system meeting updated NFL requirements
Shaw Sports Turf has introduced a series of NFL-approved synthetic turf systems. The systems, which comprise the brand’s Forge Series, have passed the NFL’s new synthetic turf testing requirements, developed to set higher standards and establish greater consistency across NFL playing surfaces.
The new Forge Series is a complete system-level product line built to meet the NFL’s performance and safety standards while providing improved design options. At the heart of each system is Game ON, Shaw’s patented technology that integrates numbers, hash marks, yard lines and logos directly into the turf, eliminating the cut-and-glue inlay process that has long challenged maintenance and installation crews across the industry.
The series includes: ForgeX, ForgeX-E, ForgeX Pro and ForgeX-E Pro — all designed with a range of features and benefits to meet the specific needs of NFL teams for their playing surfaces.
Each Forge system was intentionally designed, tested and approved as a complete system under the NFL’s latest standards.
Forge Series: Game ON
Traditional fields require numbers, hash marks and logos to be cut and inlaid, a process that creates ongoing maintenance demands and performance vulnerabilities at inlayed points. Launched in 2022, Game ON designs are integrated into the turf during manufacturing, resulting in fewer cut areas, less waste, easier maintenance and greater long-term performance consistency.
Leveraging the power of Shaw Sports Turf’s Game ON technology, the new Forge Series offers significant improvements in design and performance for improved NFL experiences, according to the company.
“We are proud to be among the first brands to meet the NFL Field Certification Requirements and Criteria, and we’ve continued to build on that foundation with a portfolio of four synthetic turf systems that now meet NFL standards,” said Logan Poillucci, Shaw Sports Turf brand manager.
Requirements for NFL playing surfaces
In December 2025, the NFL announced its Mandatory Practices for NFL Playing Fields, which introduced updated official playing field requirements and guidelines and established deadlines for NFL team compliance.
- 2026: Any NFL club installing a new playing surface must select a system meeting the league’s approved metrics and standards.
- 2028: Every NFL stadium, domestic and international, must install a surface meeting the new NFL/NFLPA performance and safety benchmarks.
About the Author: Nathan Mader
A native from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Nathan received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University in 2024. During that time, he worked as a reporter, copy editor and video producer for the student newspaper, The Lantern. While interning at CityScene Media Group as an editorial assistant, Nathan gained valuable experience in pursuing great stories that made him want to continue writing and editing for magazines.
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