Gillette Stadium’s FieldTurf Surface FIFA 2-Star Certified Again

Montreal, Canada, October 01, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Gillette Stadium's FieldTurf surface has now earned FIFA 2-Star recommended status – for the second consecutive year. It is now the only field in the United States to have successfully passed FIFA 2-Star tests in back-to-back years. When the FieldTurf was initially tested in 2010, Gillette Stadium’s surface marked the only field in the United States to have FIFA 2-Star status.

Home to Major League Soccer's New England Revolution for soccer matches and the New England Patriots for football, Gillette Stadium has proven to be the ideal multi-purpose venue with a field that has been designed specifically to mirror the playing characteristics of professional soccer, in addition to football.

The FIFA Recommended 2-Star designation is the highest synthetic turf rating from FIFA and is issued after a battery of tests are performed by a FIFA approved testing agent. FIFA final round competitions and top UEFA competitions have the FIFA Recommended 2-Star in their respective competition regulations.

“We are very pleased but not surprised that Gillette Stadium’s FieldTurf surface has once again passed the stringent testing to receive FIFA’s 2-Star designation,” said FieldTurf President Eric Daliere. "Passing a FIFA 2-Star test for the second consecutive year is another testament to the FieldTurf system’s durability and long-term performance.”

“We are proud to have the only field in the United States that has passed FIFA 2-Star testing in consecutive years,” said Jim Nolan, Sr. Vice President of Finance, Administration and Operations for Gillette Stadium. “FieldTurf provides for the best possible surface for our home teams while also setting us apart in competition for international soccer events. Our now long-standing relationship with FieldTurf has been beneficial both to our business and to the quality of the competition New England sports fans get to see on the field.”

In addition to being the home of the New England Patriots (NFL) and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS), Gillette hosts a variety of other special events, including concerts and NCAA championships.

FieldTurf was the very first artificial surface to attain FIFA Recommended status due to its superior grass-like performance, which soccer players prefer. FieldTurf was the 1st artificial pitch to host a UEFA Cup Qualifying Round (Torpedo, Moscow); and the 1st to host a FIFA Soccer Tournament (Jeux de la Francophonie).

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