Earlier this afternoon, Carolina Football made it known that they are switching its playing surface from turf, back to natural grass for the 2025 football season.
When Carolina hired Mack Brown back in 2019, the program made the switch from grass to turf, a move that many schools around the country had made in the prior decade. According to the University, with the life of the turf set to expire, they felt it was best to move back to a natural grass playing surface.
There has long been a debate in the football world about the safety of artificial turf, with many people saying that it causes more injuries, especially ones involving torn ACLs, or concussions. During his time in New England, Bill Belichick oversaw the Patriots go from playing on a natural grass surface to an artificial one but was part of the push here from him to reinstall the grass surface that the program had for some many years.
"With our current turf reaching the end of its lifespan, the timing made sense to return Kenan Stadium to its natural grass roots," Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said. "Our staff takes great pride in maintaining a top-tier field that reflects the excellence of UNC Football, and we look forward to cheering on the team as it competes on a world-class natural grass surface next season."
Contractor Carolina Green, based in Indian Trail, N.C., will install 67,000 square feet of GameOnGrass® Tahoma sod, as well as 36,000 square feet of a synthetic turf around the field's perimeter. The irrigation system will use reclaimed water, similar to other Carolina Athletics fields.
This is yet another sign that the Tar Heels are in a period of change that is looking to put the Mack Brown era far behind them. The hope is that the team will be able to do the same thing on this grass surface this coming season.
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