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Tampa's Rolling Out The Green Carpet (Of Sod) For Super Bowl

News Channel 8 photo by KATE CALDWELL

Crews will 95,000 square feet of grass to cover the grounds by Sunday.

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By PENNY CARNATHAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2009

The semi-tractor-trailers started rolling in about midnight Thursday carrying 2,000-pound rolls of turf harvested the same day at Bent Oak Farm in Foley, Ala.

It's supersod for the Super Bowl. Crews got to work early this morning carefully laying the 41-foot–long strips at Raymond James Stadium.

"This is the best field of grass in the United States at this time," said Ed Mangan, the horticulturist and turf specialist overseeing his 20th Super Bowl football field.

The grass is Bermuda Southern hybrid 419, planted specifically for Super Bowl XLIII about a year and a half ago. It's the best athletic grass for the South — and an excellent choice for local homeowners, Mangan said, though it takes a little more care than "common" Bermuda.)

When all is laid, with any luck by Sunday evening, there will be 95,000 square feet of grass to be watered daily. Trucks will continue arriving through Saturday, when about 20 are expected. It takes about 680 rolls to cover the field.

There's even more Bermuda Southern hybrid 419 growing at a little sod farm nearby in case patches are needed.

Tampa is paying for the grass, which cost about $85,000, said Reid Sigmon, executive director of the host committee. The Tampa Sports Authority will decide what to do with it after the game, he said.

If it's covered up for the Monster Jam Monster Truck Racing event scheduled for Feb. 21, it likely won't be salvageable, Mangan said.

"It's covered with plywood and plastic and buried a good week."

A 2004 poll of NFL players ranked Raymond James Stadium's turf the best in the nation. The Indianapolis Colts' RCA Dome's Astroturf was voted the worst.

"Tampa Bay fields always rank very high, if not the best," Sigmon confirmed.

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