The Forefront of New Technology: Ricoh Arena Welcomes XtraGrass

May 2015 sees the beginning of work to install a full XtraGrass pitch at the Ricoh Arena: home of Wasps Rugby Football Club and Coventry City Football Club. With the ability to sell out the 32,600 capacity, the Wasps are making a significant investment into improving the pitch performance and GreenFields will be responsible for the management and maintenance for the next five years.

XtraGrass is a hybrid system which incorporates the reinforcement of natural grass with artificial turf; generating a high wear capacity capable of delivering up to 1000 hours per annum and reducing the number of playing surface related injuries.

Increased Footfall for the Multi-functional Ricoh

The Ricoh Arena is unlike any other venue in the UK; a pioneer in the world of business, entertainment and sport. Home to Premiership Rugby team Wasps and Coventry City Football Club, this world-class destination in Coventry has provided a catalyst for urban regeneration and economic development since it opened in 2005. The award-winning venue has a mix of state-of-the-art conference, training, banqueting, exhibition, hotel, and music and sports facilities. It has become a firm favourite in the UK for music promoters as well as business and sports event organisers. The development of the XtraGrass hybrid system will enable dual use to take place on the pitch without the wear and tear that a grass pitch would sustain.

The Wasps are Ready to Sting

One of the best known names in English rugby, Wasps are the last English club to have been crowned European Champions and have won six league titles. In 2004, Wasps achieved a remarkable double, being crowned European and English Champions in the same season. The Club has also won the Anglo Welsh Cup and Parker Pen Challenge Cup. Between 1999 and 2009 Wasps reached 10 finals and won each of them. The investment into the new hybrid XtraGrass pitch means that the Ricoh, and the Wasps, will be at the forefront of sports development, and the use of combined natural and synthetic turf.