The History of Artificial Turf from Lab to Luxury
Artificial turf history highlights the rapid rise of this modern waterless grass. First used in sports, synthetic turf now adds green to A-list landscape designs for homes and businesses around the world. Artificial grass’s biography is a tale of innovation. Watersavers is proud to be at the forefront of lawn design with the highest quality synthetic turf.
The Origin of Artificial Lawn—From the Lab to the Astrodome
In 1965, the Houston Astros called their new home the stadium of the future. As part of its bold design, the roofed dome housed the entire stadium including the field and the seats. However, the Astrodome quickly hit a problem. The Astros built roof panels to reflect sunlight all the way down to the growing grass. Theoretically, this was a promising idea, but in practice, the glaring light from the roof affected the athletes during games. It distracted them, which was an issue during play! The solution was to paint the dome white. This solved the glare problem, and the team could play well again. At the same time, with less sunlight in the arena, the field was now wilting and dying.
On the verge of disaster, the Astrodome took a risk on a new idea. David Chaney, a North Carolina State University dean, had created a material that looked and felt a lot like a lawn. On top of that, the material did not need light or water. This invention was the first synthetic turf. For their very next season in 1966, the Astros installed this grass substitute on their home field. It worked great under the dome! Houston made headlines, and field replacements soon soared in professional sports.
History of Artificial Turf and Sports—Dominating the Field
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, designers worked to improve synthetic lawn with new materials and techniques. They created blends that were softer and looked more realistic. Additionally, they developed new infill and padding that made the grass replacement safer for heavy impact field sports. Along with use in baseball stadiums, synthetic grass became popular in soccer and field hockey. MLB teams in harsh climates led the charge because the artificial lawn provided a reliable surface for play in any weather.
Football also took notice fast. The Philadelphia Eagles and University of Pennsylvania played on this new synthetic material at Franklin Field as early as 1969. Many NFL stadiums have since gone synthetic. Just last year, the Tennessee Titans installed artificial turf at Nissan Stadium. As of 2023, fifteen NFL home fields use artificial grass and fifteen grow natural sod.
Lawn Replacement in Backyards—A History of Residential Turf
While synthetic lawn was a quick hit in the sports sphere, it took until the 1990s to win its place at home. In the 1980s and 1990s, design advances in color, softness, and blade shape made turf look and feel more appealing for home use. Furthermore, production improvements brought the price point lower. In recent years, climate change, droughts, and rising water costs have garnered new interest in artificial lawns. Celebrities have sought out high-quality synthetic lawn for use in their top-of-the-line yards. Landscape designers have also won awards for and built careers on waterless grass.
Across America, over 13,000 fields of artificial turf add green to landscapes! These artificial lawns save millions of gallons of water a year. The history of artificial turf shows how science can find innovative solutions to sustain the planet and help its residents thrive. Visit one of our store locations, browse our online shop, or contact us directly to find the turf product that is right for you.
