Sewell-Thomas Stadium,“ The Joe”
TURFGRASS RESEARCH
During the fLEX testing for World Cup 26, researchers used a 68-kilogram athlete, which is the average weight of the athlete in the last men’ s World Cup. Adidas provided the most common soccer cleats used by World Cup athletes, and researchers used that boot on every surface that was tested with fLEX to maintain consistency across surfaces.
“ The bare minimum of all the research has to be in this high-performing range,” said Dickson.“ If it’ s not, then we throw it out. If it met those corridors, then we could continue on to further research.”
DISCOVERING A WINNING RECIPE The focus of the shallow pitch profile research was sod on plastic placed directly on top of various system combinations including synthetic turf, shock pads, drainage layers, rubber and more, said Dickson.
The fLEX testing device measures the performance and playability of surfaces, as well as the uniformity of the field.
Sewell-Thomas Stadium,“ The Joe”
Tuscaloosa, AL pened in March of 1948,
Sewell-Thomas Stadium,“ The Joe” as its called has played host to the University of Alabama baseball team for many decades. In 2015 the stadium underwent a complete modernization renovation and following the makeover, switched to NorthBridge Bermudagrass. Athletic Grounds Director Jon Dewitt loves the recuperative ability that NorthBridge displays along with its color and the fact that they don’ t need to overseed with its cold hardiness. NorthBridge is also featured as the grass covering the perennially ranked softball team’ s field as well.
“ We have NorthBridge on the diamond at baseball and also NorthBridge on the outfield of baseball … and we did that same at softball. The cultural information in the industry was NorthBridge is the better grass. And so that was my vote to administration.”
— Jon Dewitt, Athletic Grounds Director – University of Alabama
Scan to watch Jon talk more about The Joe. sportsfieldmanagementonline. com April 2025 | SportsField Management
21