R$ 800 mil Neo Química pitch overhaul needs about 15 more days | OneFootball

Corinthians’ Neo Química Arena pitch, under a R$ 800 mil renovation that began in early June, needs about 15 more days to reach ideal condition.

According to Globo.com, the surface still has excess sand and limited compaction, particularly near the corner flags, despite perforation work started this week to firm it up.

After the 3-0 win over Remo on Thursday in the 19th round of the Brasileiro, midfielder Allan said the pitch is among Brazil’s best and that he had been told roughly a fortnight of machine work was still required to restore its usual level.

He added that the remaining sand can cause players to catch in the turf and suffer scrapes, and he expects gradual improvement over the next couple of weeks.

The club expects ideal conditions for the Copa do Brasil last-16 second leg against Internacional on 6 August.

The grass is natural but reinforced by synthetic fibres installed a few centimetres below the surface to anchor roots and increase durability. Last year, the NFL funded rental of a Dutch machine that stitched those fibres without removing the grass.

Corinthians have recently received proposals to stage events at the arena later this year, but the inclination is to decline them to protect the pitch.

A training incident involving Raniele on Monday was linked in part to the grass being cut about two centimetres lower than usual. He caught his foot, fell, grazed his knees and left the session, missed the Remo match, and is expected to resume training at CT Joaquim Grava on Friday.

Source: Globo.com