Stadiums around the globe are choosing HERO Hybrid Grass… for good reason
HERO Hybrid Grass, the cutting-edge solution for multisport stadiums, is transforming the sports turf landscape worldwide.
Its innovative blend of natural grass and synthetic fibres offer exceptional performance, durability and playability. As stadiums around the globe embrace this game-changing turf, players, teams and spectators alike are reaping the benefits.
During the Women’s World Cup, held throughout Australia and New Zealand over July and August, matches were played on HERO Hybrid Grass at the following venues: Stadium Australia, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Perth Rectangular Stadium, Eden Park and Wellington Regional Stadium.
HERO Hybrid Grass, Eden Park Edition - Auckland, New Zealand
Nick Sautner, CEO of Eden Park, New Zealand, is proud to showcase his venue to the world and deliver the best football to a global audience.
“There has been an incredible amount of work undertaken by our team and partners to upgrade our infrastructure for the World Cup, the most important of which being the new HERO Hybrid Grass, Eden Park Edition. With this pitch taking centre stage, its consistency and exceptional performance elevated the standard of play and generated some notable moments.
“Hosting this World Cup is a catalyst for supercharging long-term participation growth in football, as well as stimulating other sports, leaving a legacy in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the wider Pacific.
“This playing surface upgrade also helps to future-proof Eden Park and ensure its ongoing suitability for other events.”
An all-round good sport
This high-performing hybrid grass was designed to support multi-purpose venues throughout Australia and New Zealand, which combined host AFL, cricket, football, rugby and concerts, and include Adelaide Oval, Central Coast Stadium, Eden Park, Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Perth Stadium, Perth Rectangular Stadium, Stadium Australia and Wellington Regional Stadium. This remarkable versatility allows stadiums to cater to diverse events and attract a wider audience.
Whether it be stadiums or training grounds, HERO Hybrid Grass is a long-term solution, with a 10-year plus lifespan. The fibres in HERO Hybrid Grass are spaced to suit both warm season and cool seasons grasses, and the technology can be installed onsite or on a turf farm. When installed and matured on a turf farm, HERO Hybrid Grass can be harvested and installed as a lay-and-play turf system, a requirement of most multi-purpose venues.
“As an experienced turf manager of over 30 years, having the opportunity to prepare perfect training pitches for the Women’s World Cup is a huge achievement and every curator’s dream. A major part of this is down to the HERO Hybrid Grass surface at Lakeside Stadium and the performance standards that we can achieve.”
Meeting the needs of multisport venues
Justin Lang, Turf Manager at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, is adamant that HERO Hybrid Grass offers the best solution to multisport stadium needs: “Providing players, in this case football, with the sort of high-performance surface that they can feel confident on, allows them to feel at ease and make the best plays, which is always a win for the crowds. And for tournament or stadium owners, there’s the peace of mind that you have a surface that mitigates the risk of injury and will go the distance of your event, and beyond.”
Jason Foulis, Turf Manager at the multisport Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, speaks highly of the HERO Hybrid Grass pitch being used as a training site for the Women’s World Cup.
“Being a multipurpose venue with varied user groups from domestic and international football to rugby and athletics, the resilience and consistency of HERO Hybrid Grass is second to none. Hosting approximately 50 football games a year, along with training sessions every weeknight proves the value of the product and its usability.
“As an experienced turf manager of over 30 years, having the opportunity to prepare perfect training pitches for the Women’s World Cup is a huge achievement and every curator’s dream. A major part of this is down to the HERO Hybrid Grass surface at Lakeside Stadium and the performance standards that we can achieve.”
Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel
Global reach
HERO Hybrid Grass has made its mark at iconic international stadiums such as Ireland’s Croke Park in Dublin (Gaelic football, hurling, rugby and football), South Korea’s Seoul World Cup Stadium (football), Israel’s Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv (football) and Australia’s beloved Melbourne Cricket Ground (AFL, cricket, rugby and football), elevating the player and fan experience.
HERO Hybrid Grass meets the stringent standards set by FIFA, World Rugby and other governing bodies for natural grass pitches. This unique blend of natural grass (95%) and synthetic fibres (5%) offers players the best of both worlds – the beauty and feel of real grass combined with the durability and consistency of synthetic turf. As a result, athletes can confidently showcase their skills, knowing that the surface can handle their best moves.
Hagen Faith, Turf Manager at Wellington Regional Stadium, agrees that multisport venues need the benefits of hybrid grass to stay relevant and viable. “Our venue had nine Women’s World Cup matches, including high-profile ones such as USA versus Netherlands and a quarter final, so we needed the pitch to be in the best condition possible. And that happens with HERO Hybrid Grass. And when the World Cup’s over, we can continue to deliver crowd-pleasers like the Foo Fighters concert, rugby union and cricket. The hybrid grass technology allows for the performance, flexibility, resilience and durability that today’s stadium must deliver.”
Structurally, the synthetic fibres of HERO Hybrid Grass provides vertical stability, and the open grid gives horizontal stability. The stability creates consistency and consistency creates safety. The open foundation allows the player’s energy to be absorbed in the profile and returned from the profile, ensuring the optimum biomechanical performance for elite sport, whether on the training pitch or the field of play.
Champions’ choice
When two of the world's most illustrious football clubs, Real Madrid and Manchester City, opt for HERO Hybrid Grass, it speaks volumes about its quality. Both clubs use the HERO Hybrid Grass system for their training pitches and their preference for hybrid grass reinforces its superiority in the sporting world.
Home of the Matildas
Australia's women’s football team, the Matildas, has embraced the excellence of HERO Hybrid Grass. The Victoria State Football Centre – Home of the Matildas boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including two HERO Hybrid Grass pitches installed by HG Turf Group. With a further three FIFA Quality Pro LigaTurf synthetic pitches installed by Polytan, the Matildas and other teams enjoy an unparalleled training environment, fostering excellence and innovation in football infrastructure.
Victoria State Football Centre, Australia
A superior blend
Elite sporting events such as football World Cups have traditionally been played on natural grass, but international governing sporting bodies have now identified that hybrid grass enhances playing surface performance (and therefore the game). The combination of natural grass and synthetic fibres create greater consistency, improve ball bounce, ball roll and player footing. The enhanced durability and player safety makes it an ideal choice for the elite-level turf managers, stadiums and tournaments alike.
Beyond benefiting players and teams, hybrid grass pitches enhance the experience for spectators, delivering the magic moments that make tournaments such as this incredible World Cup memorable.