Bristol City to install state-of-art Desso pitch to stage football and rugby
Bristol City will install a brand new state of the art Desso GrassMaster pitch to stage football and rugby irrespective of where they end up playing in the future.
Now that it has been announced Bristol Rugby Club will move from their current home at The Memorial Stadium and, either move into a revamped Ashton Gate, or a new stadium at Ashton Vale at some date in the future, football fans will understandably worry about how the pitch will cope with both sports and an increase in games.
At the moment, Ashton Gate stages a minimum 23 first team games a season, as well as a smaller number of cup and Under-21 Development League fixtures.
The rugby club are currently guaranteed 11 home league games, plus three cup games, each season, staging home games on Fridays and Saturdays so as not to clash with landlords Bristol Rovers.
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Hosting rugby and football has done little for the playing surface at the Memorial Stadium, where games have to be postponed at some point in every season.
But City have sought to reassure concerned fans by revealing plans to lay a pitch composed of natural grass combined with artificial fibres.
The idea is that while the grass is growing, the roots intertwine with the artificial fibres and designers claim this anchors the field to create a solid, even structure with good drainage, while improving recovery time for pitches after games.
Premier League clubs Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City all use Desso pitches, while Wembley Stadium recently invested in one to combat problems with the playing surface at the home of football.
Rather more pertinently for Bristol City and their supporters, Swansea installed a Desso pitch before inviting regional Welsh rugby team The Ospreys to share the Liberty Stadium with them.
Wycombe Wanderers, Reading and Watford all host rugby union at their playing headquarters and have successfully installed Desso pitches to cope with the added wear and tear.
Should City go ahead with plans to redevelop Ashton Gate, they would replace the current playing surface at the end of next season in May 2014.
The new pitch would be moved slightly nearer to the Williams Stand and be made a little wider to allow additional run off space for rugby players.
The new pitch would be in place and ready to use by the start of the 2014/15 season.
6 Comments
by manchestergas
Thursday, February 07 2013, 12:17PM
“revnue from rugby is very small and as others have said it will be replaced with music and other events. also possible that bath might wish to play some bigger matches at the UWE. Ultimately all that matters is that we have a realistic budget and we spend witin our eans,and I'm sure we will do that. We've always done ok on that side of the game and bever been in administration or reformed like 1982.”
by bobzeebuilder
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 8:29PM
“I will strongly object to these plans as that is where I like to walk my donkeys.”
by cj69ers
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 12:12PM
“F.A.O harryreg_uk
I fully appreciated that there will be less income with the Rugby going down to Aston gate, I am sure the new ground will generate income with the brand new facilities it will have to offer. It will not just be a football stadium, its also going to be used for atheltics and for the benefit of the U.W.E, hopefully we can manage to keep the books straight PLUS !!!!!! One day we might even get promoted, heaven forbid :)
Forever Gas”
by harryreg_uk
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 11:50AM
“nobody really wants Rubgy played on their pitch but the increase in revenue leaves few with a choice.
Surely this is going to have a massive impact on Rover's financially also? - they'll obviously have a better pitch but can they afford the drop in income I wonder”
by cj69ers
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 10:21AM
“Looks like the Chairman has got his wishes to get Rugby down to Trashton. To be honest it is shame that they as a club has had to move, the home of Bristol Rugby is at the Mem but with the new venture the Rovers are currently embarking on with their new stadia your Chairman the majority owner of the club feels that Bristol Rugby will do better at Ashton Gate, time will tell. I wish them all the luck in the future because I do enjoy watching them from time to time, believe me, you will need the new pitch to cope with Rugby.
So another era comes to an end, all you need now is your own new stadia to take both clubs forward, dont hold your breath.
Forever gas :)”
by kwoodlad
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 8:10AM
“"The rugby club are currently guaranteed 11 home league games, plus three cup games, each season, staging home games on Fridays and Saturdays so as not to clash with landlords Bristol Rovers"
I think you'll find that's meant to be Friday and Sundays!”