NFL brings forward Maracanã pitch swap ahead of Rio game | OneFootball

The NFL began the complete replacement of the Maracanã pitch this Thursday (24), just a few days before the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens, scheduled for Sunday (27). The replacement will be done using a hybrid system, which combines natural grass and synthetic fibers to increase the field’s durability.

The change was only made possible after the arrival in Brazil of a specific machine used to insert or stitch the synthetic material beneath the surface. The equipment was considered the main obstacle to carrying out the work at this time.

The initial forecast was that the machine would arrive in the country only in October, to support the work planned at the stadiums that will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The NFL managed to bring the equipment in earlier and began the operation at the Maracanã.

Fluminense returns to the Maracanã after replacement

The condition of the pitch had been closely monitored because of the number of matches played at the stadium and the weather conditions in recent weeks. Fluminense and Flamengo use the Maracanã as their home ground and have faced a packed schedule this season.

For the replacement, hybrid grass rolls previously produced by the stadium management at a property located in Saquarema will be used. Since the material was already prepared, the process known in the industry as “lay and play,” which consists of removing the old pitch and installing the new rolls, can be completed in two or three days, according to experts consulted by Lance!.

The technology is frequently used in stadiums in Europe and the United States. In Brazil, Neo Química Arena also has a hybrid system, in addition to an underground cooling structure.

The Maracanã has already had synthetic fibers installed beneath its tropical-climate Bermuda grass since 2022. A full replacement had been planned for the beginning of this year, but it did not happen because there was no suitable window in the schedule. The replacement had already been scheduled for the end of 2026.

NFL prepares Maracanã for Cowboys vs. Ravens

The work is taking place during the week of the first American football game in Maracanã history. The Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens will face off at the stadium on Sunday in one of the main sporting events held in Rio de Janeiro this season.

Contacted by Lance!, the NFL said it is working on “all stadium operations” and stated that it will not comment at this time specifically on the condition of the field.

After the event, the new pitch will also be used by Fluminense, which has the Maracanã as its home this season and is entering a decisive stretch in the calendar, with the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores underway.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.