After weeks of meticulous dirt work, laser grading, and sand base preparation, the moment has finally arrived. The natural grass is here.
The Logistics of Sod Arrival
Installing a world class pitch inside a massive stadium is a logistical feat. It begins early in the morning at the loading docks.
“Good morning. We are accepting sod trucks now, backing them into the docks,” Pete reported as the first semi trucks arrived. “So, this is the beginning of the day, unloading vehicles, and then start moving sod.”
The grass arrives in massive, heavy rolls, carefully transported to preserve the root structure and moisture levels. Using specialized forklifts, the crews carefully unload each roll, moving them from the trucks to the stadium floor where the installation teams are waiting. The coordination between the delivery trucks, the forklift operators, and the installation crews must be seamless to ensure the grass is laid as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Laying the Turf: Precision Meets Scale
Once the rolls reach the field, the real work begins. Laying natural grass on this scale requires specialized machinery designed to unroll the heavy turf without damaging the carefully prepared sand base underneath.
“We are on the second day of laying grass,” Pete noted in his latest Fox Report. “And as you can see by the video here, we are past the halfway point. You can see the goals are in place. So by end of day, we will be practically finished.”
The transformation is rapid but precise. As the machines unroll the grass, crews follow closely behind, ensuring the seams are tight and the surface remains perfectly smooth.
“As we lay grass, we are constantly keeping the surface smooth and tight and rolled with proper water and grooming,” Pete explained. This continuous attention to detail is what separates a good field from a World Cup caliber pitch.
Indoor Cultivation: The Role of Grow Lights
One of the unique challenges of this project is establishing natural grass inside a stadium with a roof structure. To ensure the turf roots deeply and thrives, the team deploys specialized equipment.
“You see the grow lights- the white wagons out there,” Pete pointed out, gesturing to large structures positioned on the newly laid grass. They will be in place for the next month.
These grow lights simulate the full spectrum of sunlight, providing the exact energy the grass needs to establish itself in its new environment.
“Very vibrant, nice looking grass, very hardy, very durable,” Pete observed.
With the sod nearly complete and the grow lights in place, the field is finally taking shape. The meticulous preparation of the subgrade is paying off, providing the perfect foundation for this premium natural turf.
Stay tuned for the final updates as we wrap up this incredible project in Los Angeles. We partnered with other leaders in the field like Brightview Landscapes, Desert Green, Precision Turf, Clark Construction, and Lloyd Engineering, to make this project a success.
To get caught up on all of the phases of this project, check them out here: link to our blog.
Advanced Sports Group is a premier sports construction firm specializing in both natural and synthetic turf installations. From community parks to the world stage, we are field builders committed to building quality.