Georgia Tech returns to artificial turf ahead of 2020 football season

AP photo by John Bazemore / Georgia Tech football coach Geoff Collins celebrates with fans after the Yellow Jackets beat North Carolina State 28-26 in an ACC matchup on Nov. 21, 2019, at Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
AP photo by John Bazemore / Georgia Tech football coach Geoff Collins celebrates with fans after the Yellow Jackets beat North Carolina State 28-26 in an ACC matchup on Nov. 21, 2019, at Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech is installing artificial turf on Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the 2020 football season.

The change from natural grass will make the facility available for more uses, including concerts. School officials also said the synthetic surface will be less expensive to maintain.

The field previously had artificial turf from 1971 through 1994. The school announced Tuesday the installation of the new playing surface is expected to be completed in late July.

Athletic director Todd Stansbury said in a release the artificial turf "will provide our student-athletes with the safest, most consistent playing surface available today."

Stansbury said the new turf will allow Grant Field to be available, including for practices, every day of the year "as opposed to the very limited number of events, practices and workouts that can safely be held on a natural surface."

Tech has an indoor practice facility that includes artificial turf. Even so, coach Geoff Collins said the ability to practice and play on such a surface in the stadium "will be a huge advantage" for the Yellow Jackets.

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