SYNTHETIC TURF
there is the benefit of higher consumer and corporate spending power. KPMG’s research findings show
that with a proper business plan and professional management, some clubs can generate respectable revenues on a weekly basis, by renting out their synthetic field. This would not be possible with natural grass fields due to their much lower potential utilisation rate and the higher risk of surface damage.
Cost saving A primary source of financial benefits related to the adoption of synthetic turf is the potential savings achieved follow- ing its installation. These benefits can be classified into three main categories. 1. Maintenance benefits If synthetic turf is to be made a worth- while investment, it requires regular and carefully scheduled maintenance. Maintenance is important to enable synthetic turf to withstand the heavy use that it is often subjected to, and to ensure its performance, longevity and safety over its lifetime. Regular mainte- nance is also required as part of the FIFA Quality Concept certification process. According to KPMG’s research, the
number of hours spent on maintenance, and the number of employees engaged in maintenance activities can be signifi- cantly less for synthetic turfs. There are examples of carefully maintained turfs that need only a few hours of mainte- nance per week, 2-4-fold less than similar
figures for natural grass fields. As a consequence, the cost of maintain-
ing a synthetic turf may be significantly lower than that of maintaining natural grass pitches. Typical values range between 5-15,000 (£4,300-12,900; US$6,700-20,100) annually, as opposed to the maintenance costs of natural grass pitches that may reach over 20,000 (£17,300, US$26,840). Savings may easily reach 50-60 per cent of the maintenance costs of a club’s former natural grass field. Naturally, cost savings are also influ- enced by weather severity and a country’s average wage levels. Furthermore, for clubs where water costs are significant or the climate is much warmer, savings could be even more considerable. 2. Saving space Synthetic grass is a space-saver. Because it can be played on for a longer period of time, football clubs do not need as many different fields as they would need in the case of natural grass pitches. Depending on utilisation patterns, a synthetic field may be the equivalent of three to four well-maintained natural turf fields in terms of usage time. The replacement of natural grass with one or more synthetic pitches can even provide the opportunity to sell some of the space saved because of the installation of synthetic turf. This can be a particularly lucrative opportunity when the land in question is located in a highly valuable urban area. 3. Running events The cost of cancelling and rescheduling
With the opportunity to generate additional revenue, realise cost savings and boost community engagement, using synthetic turf is an option worth considering
82 SPORTS MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK 2013
Some benefits of a synthetic pitch are revenue generation, space saving and cost savings from external rentals
events, including league fixtures and training sessions, can be significant. The resistance of synthetic turf to more adverse climatic conditions implies a reduced risk of postponements or the abandoning of events.
Strategic benefits Synthetic turf can enable greater commu- nity access to a stadium. Synthetic pitches at football clubs can be used during the day by schools, while such intensive shared use is often impracticable on a natural grass pitch. However, KPMG’s research findings show that greater community access is not really viable in the case of first and second division clubs in more developed football markets. Strategic benefits are especially crucial
when a pitch is under public ownership, or has been financed with some public support, as the financing/operating
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