New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Dome taking some 'ouch' out for Saints

Panel OKs switch to artificial turf that gives players more padding

Friday October 24, 2003

By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer

Fred McAfee held up his left arm to reveal a softball-sized scar on his elbow, a badge of courage from the Saints' last home game at the Superdome.

"That turf at the Dome is old and hard," the 12-year Saints veteran said.

If all goes right, McAfee won't have to worry about turf burns after Sunday's home game against Carolina.

The Superdome commission voted unanimously Thursday to install a new artificial turf field in the stadium for the rest of this season and next season.

The Superdome and the Saints organization will split the discounted cost between $350,000 and $390,000 of the AstroPlay field, which feels considerably more like grass than the carpet-style systems that have been the norm for artificial turf the past 30 years.

FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE PLEASE CLICK HERE:

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...8576101280.xml