A new state-of-the-art pitch has been successfully prepared at the Olympic Stadium – yet it’s going to be ripped up before a football can be kicked on it in anger!
The pitch is to be used during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which kicks off next month, and then for a major rugby league fixture.
All things being equal, the pitch should then have been nurtured for the next few months until West Ham take over occupancy at the home of the 2012 London Olympics in 2016.
But no. Government mandarins have decided to spend between £500,000 and £1 million laying the Desso Grassmaster pitch for a handful of rugby matches – and then cough up the same amount again for a new pitch that will be installed ahead of the 2016-17 football season!
Desso GrassMaster is a mix of artificial and natural grass and is regarded as the top choice for Premier League and Championship football clubs.
The artificial grass fibres are injected 20 centimetres deep, and cover about 5% of the surface. While the grass is growing, the roots intertwine with the artificial fibres. The designers claim this anchors the field to create a solid, even structure with good drainage and ‘playing comfort’.
West Ham have been using Desso Grassmaster pitches at the Boleyn Ground since 2002.
These pitches typically cost between £500,000 and £1m to install and are used by the majority of Premier League clubs in addition to stadiums like Wembley and the Millennium stadium.
To use a quote from one of my favourite films: “First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price!”
Says it all really!
Sounds like the people may have been on the grass during the negotiations ?
I would imagine the Rugby World Cup agreement factored this in but it seems a bit crazy to rip up an expensive pitch after just seven competitive rugby matches have been played on it. The main reason to install Desso to allow more playing time on a busy pitch.
we will be blamed for this.. wasting more taxpayers money – I blame Tevez