The NFL season will officially begin on September 9 with a much‑anticipated rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, a venue that recently swapped its playing surface for the duration of the World Cup.
All seven stadiums that hosted World Cup matches were required to install natural grass to meet FIFA’s standards, but after the tournament concluded each venue reverted to its previous artificial turf for the upcoming football schedule.
Players have long voiced a preference for grass, citing lower injury rates and a more forgiving impact on the body. A 2024 survey conducted by the NFL Players Association found that 92 percent of respondents support using natural grass in every NFL stadium.
Leonard Williams, the Seahawks defensive tackle who attended a World Cup match in Seattle, echoed that sentiment, stating that grass reduces the cumulative wear on a player’s joints and muscles.
The union’s research also highlighted a third‑party study indicating that injury rates on turf and grass were statistically similar during the 2025 season, underscoring the complexity of the safety argument.
The Business of the Playing Surface
Nick Pappas, the NFL’s field director, has pointed to cost, versatility for off‑season concerts and monster‑truck shows, and architectural constraints as the primary drivers behind the league’s reliance on synthetic surfaces.
Maintaining grass is expensive; installation, ongoing growth management and periodic replacement can run into millions, especially in stadiums that host only a handful of football games each year.
Climate plays a decisive role, with extreme heat, cold or heavy precipitation making natural grass impractical in certain regions, while proximity to regional sod farms can improve quality and reduce logistics.
The NFL and the players’ union continue to collaborate on safety and consistency standards for both surfaces, but the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, set to be renewed after the 2030 season, may become the battleground for a grass‑first agenda.
Owners are reportedly considering an 18‑game schedule, a proposal that could increase the physical toll on athletes and further complicate the turf versus grass discussion.
Nellie Drew, a sports analyst covering the league, notes that while technology now allows for high‑quality grass in domed and cooler‑climate venues, the financial incentives tied to multi‑use events often outweigh health considerations.