Baltimore Ravens will switch to a natural grass field

The Baltimore Ravens are deciding to do away with their turf field at M&T Bank Stadium and switch to a natural grass field that may be safer for players.

M&T Bank Stadium will get a new look next season, as the team looks to switch out its synthetic turf field with natural grass, according to NBC Sports. The debate between the two types of playing fields has been long debated, but the Ravens feel it is the way to go for them.

Turf is easier to maintain and grass is hard to keep looking pretty, but is notorious for causing injuries to players. Ravens president Dick Cass is adamant that injuries are not the reason they are switching to grass, although he does believe that natural grass is better for players. Cass said that, “if you look at studies that have been done around the league, I do think that you’d find that there are more lower body extremity injuries on artificial surface than there is on a grass field.”

The Ravens have suffered big injuries this season, including a season ending injury to their quarterback Joe Flacco on their home field.

Cass said the biggest factor was that real grass is the players’ preference, and they want to set their home team up with whatever they like most. He also thinks that coaches and fans like it more, because Baltimore is an old school football town.

The Ravens have switched their field out several times, playing on real grass until 2002, and then two different turf fields since then.

Around the league, real grass is certainly preferred, and more and more teams are leaning towards real grass. Even the Arizona Cardinals have real grass, despite playing in an indoor stadium. They roll their field outside when it’s not gamete to let it grow.

It’s a good initiative by the team to go back to its roots, despite the difficulties that may come with natural grass.