World Cup turf experts say the grass is greener in Philadelphia, specifically at the Linc

As Philadelphia hustles to prepare for the world’s largest sporting event, one aspect of that preparation is already well ahead of the game.

Last month, turf management professionals from FIFA, working in concert with professors from Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee, provided an overview of monthslong research designed to ensure that the 16 natural grass surfaces of the host cities, whether existing or installed, are up to standard to play World Cup matches on.

During a one-hour media briefing, FIFA’s pitch management director Alan Ferguson, Dr. John Sorochan, a professor of turf grass science at Tennessee, and Dr. John Rogers, who holds the same title at Michigan State, all lauded the work of longtime Eagles grounds crew chief Tony Leonard.

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“I would say at this point, when it comes to Lincoln Financial Field and Tony Leonard, you probably got one of the top guys in the business [in Philadelphia],” said Ferguson, who doubles as a field management general for the English Football Association, which oversees the Premier League. “We’re really fortunate on the FIFA side to have guys of Tony’s caliber delivering the pitches for us.”

Ferguson said much of the praise comes from the work that Leonard and his team did for the Club World Cup, keeping the pitch pristine for Real Madrid, Chelsea, and many of the world’s biggest clubs over the course of seven matches in a 12-day span.

The field heaped praise from players at a time when much of the complaint about last summer’s tournament was how ineffective some of the playing surfaces were across the 12 host stadiums, with some even being referred to as a “disaster.”

Not the Linc. Instead, players praised the Linc. Both Sorochan and Rogers agreed with their sentiments, and added that when it comes to turf management, the Eagles and Lincoln Financial Field have it down to a science — literally.

“The Club World Cup was a bit of a scramble, but the work that Tony and his team did actually started with the sod farmer, on the farm,” said Sorochan. “They imagined the scenario of the field not being in the stadium, but on the right on the farm. They shifted their maintenance operation to the farm so they could work with the bluegrass right at the site, and understand how it would translate to the field for the matches.”

Added Ferguson: “By the time it got to the stadium, everyone was on the same page,” he said. “They knew the cutting heights, they knew the frequencies, and they produced, I would say, without hesitation. The best field for the Club World Cup was in Philadelphia. It was commented on by a number of players and coaches. That field was superb.”

While the Linc plays home to the Eagles, many people may not recall that the first event to test its conditions was actually a soccer match. In 2003, Lincoln Financial Field opened with a friendly between European soccer giants FC Barcelona and Manchester United.

Since then, the Linc has hosted many soccer matches. In the aftermath of last summer’s Club World Cup, it host its biggest when five group-stage matches beginning on June 14 culminate with a round-of-16 match on July 4.

Last year, Leonard told the Inquirer that the planning for World Cup started immediately after the last game of the Club World Cup. However, when it comes to the right type of grass, Leonard and FIFA differ a bit on what works in conditions that can exceed 100 degrees on the field.

For that, Leonard is a fan of using Kentucky bluegrass, which he suggests is better suited for the rigors of matches in extreme heat and sun. However, while FIFA is taking cues from the turf masters, the goal originally was to have all 16 pitches of the World Cup laid with Bermuda grass, which allows for optimal ball movement for the players, even if it can be a bit more of a challenge to maintain.

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Bermuda grass, as Leonard noted, is what is laid onto the field for an NFL season. So why the change?

“My opinion was that I think Kentucky bluegrass is a better soccer surface and one that we’re accustomed to,” he said. “From a maintenance standpoint to help condition the grass, it comes down to planning and timing the watering. That actually affects the speed of play, the speed of the ball and the surface where the ball can move the way that these players want it to move, whether that’s a 2 p.m. game or a 9 p.m. game.”

It appears that FIFA’s turf pros might actually agree.

“I think the [NFL stadiums] have done a fantastic job for us where we had to use Bermuda grass,” said Ferguson. “But it gave us a little bit more to think about. When you think most of the stadiums in the States previously, the big stadiums that transition from a number of events to soccer, there’s maybe one or two games [they need to adjust for]. But [with the World Cup] some of these stadiums will be playing seven to eight games and must maintain being a high quality surface and really help to produce some great games of soccer. So taking all of that into account, I think some of us would be happier personally to not to use Bermuda grass if we can help it.”

What type of grass Leonard and his team lay on the Linc’s field ultimately will be in agreement with FIFA. But after listening to Ferguson, Sorochan and Rogers, whatever Leonard decides, the pushback should be minimal.

Rogers and Sorochan noted that Leonard and his team didn’t just rely on their own agronomic intuition, but have routinely visited Michigan State, Tennessee, and even professors at Penn State in efforts to make sure the field that’s laid for Philly’s World Cup matches are top tier.

“Philly is ahead of the game, and it’s really because of Tony and his team,” said Sorochan. “He likes to get into the science. I just remember for the Club World Cup, because it was a summer tournament to have Bermuda grass in Lincoln Financial Field knowing how hot it could be in Philadelphia, was not the move.

“So when the schedule came out for the [World Cup] and when the games that were being played, with most of them in June, he knew that laying Kentucky bluegrass, he can have that ready and know it’ll be perfect when the tournament starts and can keep it going even when it starts to get hot; vs. trying to wake up Bermuda grass, which needs hotter weather earlier to get it up and going.“

Sorochan added: “That was one part of his decision-making. Then there’s the research on the differences in mowing heights between the two grasses to get the ball to perform and play the same. Tony has done that over the years, and that’s why I think when it comes to this summer, Philly will be ahead of the game.”