The color of the grow lights was chosen based on the wavelengths needed for the pitch to grow optimally. Photo: Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi/Axios
AT&T Stadium is in its Dallas Stadium era. Crews have installed a FIFA-compliant soccer pitch with natural grass in place of the stadium's football-friendly turf.
Why it matters: AT&T Stadium isn't hosting any events this month to prepare for its nine World Cup matches under FIFA's strict guidelines, which include limits on who steps on the pitch and how the grass should be fertilized.
Vibe check: The stadium looks like a bright, humid greenhouse. Grow lights spread out over the grass, which was grown near Denver andbrought to Arlington in 24 refrigerated trucks.
How it works: The original field level was raised by around two feet to achieve the required width of a FIFA pitch.
Largegrow lights from Rotterdam, Netherlands, and an underground irrigation system will help keep the grass healthy until tournament time.
The stadium's roof will remain closed on match days and the building temperature will be kept around 72 degrees.
AT&T Stadium is trying a new approach for its World Cup matches, with plans to lift the grow lights toward stadium's ceiling for match days and drop them back down between matches.
Fun fact: The pitch prep has required roughly 45,000 personnel hours and 15,000 tons of materials hauled in, says Tod Martin, the stadium's general manager.
"We've never put in an effort like this before...It's been a task, I will say," Martin told reporters yesterday.
What's next: AT&T Stadium has a locally based contractor who will use the grass as backfill in other projects after the tournament.
