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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Ric Charlesworth
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Ric Charlesworth across Hockey.
Five Decades of Hockey on Artificial Turf: From Montreal’s Pioneering Surface to the 2028 LA Revolution
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.
Jul 25, 2026
Half‑century of synthetic turf reshaping Olympic hockey
The 50th anniversary of AstroTurf in field hockey reflects on how synthetic surfaces transformed play, sustainability and the future of the Olympic tournament.
Jul 25, 2026
Celebrating 50 Years of Hockey’s Artificial Turf Revolution
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.
Jul 24, 2026