INDIANAPOLIS (May 12, 2005) -- The Indianapolis Colts have picked a new synthetic turf to replace one of the NFL's worst playing fields. FieldTurf will replace the RCA Dome's 8-year-old AstroTurf for the upcoming season, Colts president Bill Polian said.
The team has had a FieldTurf surface at its indoor practice facility for the last two seasons.
The RCA Dome and Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis were the only two stadiums last season that had AstroTurf, which has less padding, more awkward seams and, many believe, increases the chances for injury than the newer artificial surfaces that look and feel more like grass.
"Our experience is that our players are comfortable on FieldTurf," Polian said.
On May 10, the Rams announced they would replace their AstroTurf to FieldTurf for the 2005 season, then go with a new, long-term convertible system that can be picked up in parts and moved easily to accommodate functions when the team isn't playing.
Indianapolis and St. Louis were voted the league's worst fields in a survey of about 1,500 players by the NFL Players Association released in February.
