
Half a Century of AstroTurf: The Evolution of Hockey’s Synthetic Surface
Celebrating 50 years of synthetic hockey turf, from its Olympic debut in Montreal to the sustainable surfaces set for Los Angeles 2028.
Jul 25, 2026
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Celebrating 50 years of synthetic hockey turf, from its Olympic debut in Montreal to the sustainable surfaces set for Los Angeles 2028.

The 1976 Montreal Olympics introduced artificial hockey turf, sparking a half‑century of innovation that reshaped rules, equipment and global participation, culminating in a new Poligras installation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The sport marks half a century since the first match on synthetic grass, a milestone that reshaped rules, tactics and equipment while driving sustainability efforts.