Now more than ever, the NFL keeps a close eye on injuries to its players and how to prevent them. Part of that process is constantly evaluating the playing fields themselves.<\/p>\n
The grass vs. turf debate is often one fans point to when a star goes down with a significant injury, as different NFL stadiums feature varying playing surfaces. Some venues have kept their traditional grass fields, while others have turned to artificial turf.<\/p>\n
When the New England Patriots<\/a> take on the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> in Super Bowl 60, playing conditions will be as important as ever, with a title on the line between the AFC and NFC champions. What type of field will they play on?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know about whether Levi\u2019s Stadium has a grass or turf playing field.<\/p>\n MORE: Explaining viral Levi’s Stadium conspiracy theory about 49ers injuries<\/a><\/p>\n Is Levi’s Stadium grass or turf?<\/p>\n Levi’s Stadium has a natural grass playing surface. In 2014, the stadium implemented an\u00a0ahybrid Bermuda grass called\u00a0Bandera Bermuda, with a company named\u00a0West Coast Turf installing the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2014, the 49ers<\/a>‘ then-head groundskeeper said the team selected the certain type of grass to help avoid injuries, per the 49ers<\/a>, saying it \u201chas good tensile strength so when a player plants his cleat, it stays together.”<\/p>\n Because the field uses grass, it has to be maintained more often throughout the year.<\/p>\n The 49ers are installing new grass at Levi\u2019s Stadium after this past weekend\u2019s Ed Sheeran concert ahead of their Thursday Night matchup against the New York Giants<\/a> #FTTB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SZCnIQHkNR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Markus Boucher (@MarkusBoucher) September 18, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n According to SF Gate, <\/a>for Super Bowl 60, the NFL ordered a grass called “Ready Play’ from West Coast Turf, “a Bermuda grass that the company overseeds with ryegrass.” Weeks in advance of the big game, the field was put into place.<\/p>\n Virtually every NFL stadium has faced complaints from players about the field surface, and Levi’s Stadium is notably no exception. In 2015, grass collapsed under Ravens<\/a> kicker Justin Tucker, with a chunk of turf giving way. Later on, the day after Super Bowl 50, Broncos<\/a> cornerback Aqib Talib said “the footing on the field was terrible,”\u00a0per ESPN.<\/a><\/p>\n Do the Patriots play on grass or turf?<\/p>\n The Patriots play on artificial turf at Gillette Stadium, using a FieldTurf surface since 2006.<\/p>\n