Alright, so I finally got myself down to Lucas Oil Stadium not too long ago. Been hearing all the chatter during the offseason, you know, about them yanking out the old field and slapping down something new. It’s always something, isn’t it? Every few years, gotta get the latest and greatest, or so they tell us.
Walked in, and yeah, you could spot the difference right off. That old slit-film turf, it always had a particular sheen, you know? This new stuff, they’re calling it Hella Matrix monofilament turf. Sounds real fancy, like something cooked up in a lab, and I guess it was. They got this done over the summer. Took ’em a while, I bet.
So, What’s the Big Deal with This New Green?
First look? It’s definitely different. Less like that old shiny plastic carpet and more… well, they say it’s supposed to be more like individual blades of grass. You gotta squint a bit, but I see what they mean. The color looked pretty vibrant, almost too perfect, if you ask me. But hey, it’s new.
I’ve heard the NFL Players’ Association guys are all over this kind of surface. They reckon this monofilament stuff is a step up for safety. Apparently, they believe it’s made with stuff that’s, I dunno, closer to nature, maybe some organic components in the mix, and that it has more give. The idea is that it’s better on the joints, less chance of a guy’s cleat getting snagged and something tearing. We’ve all seen enough of those ugly injuries, right? So, if this helps even a little, then good on ’em.
It’s kinda funny, actually. I’ve been a Colts fan for what feels like forever, even remember all the hubbub when they first landed in Indy. Way back then, turf was just… turf. Green stuff they played on. Nobody really talked about slit-film versus monofilament or whatever. Now, it’s all these high-tech surfaces, studies, and everyone’s got an opinion. Progress, I guess. Or maybe just more things to spend money on.
Now, I wasn’t out there running routes on it, you get me? Just an old fan in the stands. But you see the replays, you hear the players and coaches talk. If this Hella Matrix stuff actually plays more like good old grass and keeps the boys healthier, then I’m all for it. They take a beating out there, week in and week out. Anything that helps ’em walk off the field instead of being carted off is a win in my book.
Lucas Oil’s a heck of a stadium, no doubt. But that field, that’s the stage. Getting that surface just right, it’s a bigger piece of the puzzle than most folks think. Not just for the Colts, but for any team playing on it. So yeah, the new turf is in. It looks shiny. We’ll see how it holds up through the season, how it really plays when things get rough. You tend to notice these details when you’ve been watching the game for a long time. It ain’t just about the touchdowns; it’s about all the little things too.
