FC Cincinnati TQL Stadium
Project Overview
FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium is the first venue in Major League Soccer to leverage the combination of The Motz Group’s game-changing turfgrass technology of AirPAT and Eclipse. Motz installed their proprietary AirPAT system at TQL Stadium, which is a moisture rootzone management solution that wraps the entire field with a watertight liner and uses a unique vacuum/ventilation system to create a perfect growing climate for the grass plants. The surface also features Eclipse, a championship-quality hybrid system of natural ryegrass and synthetic turf elements. Used at professional soccer and rugby venues around the world, Eclipse delivers outstanding surface stability and enhanced wear tolerance for year-round playability. A total of 84,600 square feet of Eclipse sod was installed, taking a 10-person crew four days to install and groom the field. From start to finish, the entire construction project took 14 weeks.
The Situation
FC Cincinnati and The Motz Group began working together in late 2015. Motz replaced the synthetic turf surface at University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium, FCC’s original home field. Through that continued relationship, Motz was selected to be the provider of three surfaces at FCC’s Mercy Health Training Center. As FCC entered Major League Soccer as a professional team, they began to plan for a stadium of their own. Part of the stadium blueprint was to continue to utilize Motz’s high-performance systems and expertise. Motz was the perfect choice for FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium because the company is internationally known but conveniently located in the Team’s hometown.
The Play
Once FC Cincinnati chose The Motz Group as their Official Sports Field Partner, they selected two of Motz’s high-performance natural grass systems. FCC is leading the charge as is the first MLS stadium to welcome the cutting-edge technology of AirPAT. AirPAT is designed for total customization, allowing FC Cincinnati to choose features most beneficial to their venue. The TQL Stadium system includes gravity and vacuum drainage, forced air aeration, continuous rootzone monitoring, fully automated and remote system operation, water conservation, and rootzone conditioning using warmed air. With more than two decades of proven performance on some of the world’s biggest sports stages, including at FCC’s Mercy Health Training Center, Eclipse is undeniably the industry leader in the hybrid turf “ready to play” category. Composed of natural grass grown in a matrix of synthetic elements, Eclipse delivers superior wear tolerance and recoverability. Its unique manufacturing process and proprietary production methods result in a stabilized grass that is immediately playable upon installation, even for the most demanding sports.
Our goal with this playing surface was to provide a championship-quality pitch that exceeds MLS standards and best practices for player safety, playability, and aesthetics. The combination of turfgrass technology and products that we’ve compiled here will allow us to do exactly that.
The Win
- TOTAL CUSTOMIZATION Including AirPAT and Eclipse in their new stadium design allowed FC Cincinnati to choose features most beneficial to them and their needs.
- MANAGEMENT AirPAT provides the grounds crew at TQL Stadium with a variety of advanced tools to support their field management decisions.
- RESULTS With the proprietary vacuum and ventilation technology generating near-ideal growing conditions for the Eclipse hybrid natural grass surface, AirPAT delivers superior results for FC Cincinnati, providing assistance during unpredictable Ohio weather.
Ready to Get Started?
Interested in starting a project? Have questions about our process and products? Wherever you are in planning your dream field, we’re ready to walk through your specific needs, answer any questions you have, and talk through how our team of experts will be there to guide you every step of the way.
