Artificial turf: The game-changer for urban sports

"Shall we go play? Come to the field in the afternoon!" This simple invitation encapsulates the joy and freedom of our childhood. Playing football or cricket with friends on the neighbourhood field was a cherished pastime. Unfortunately, today's youth rarely have such experiences.

Why is that? The encroachment of urban spaces where fields are replaced by buildings has been a long-standing issue in our country. This trend is not limited to cities; even suburban and rural areas are losing their open spaces.

Artificial playing fields, or turfs, have emerged in major cities to address this issue. These synthetic surfaces can be installed on any solid base and are available for rent. Besides football and cricket, many turfs also accommodate badminton.

To delve deeper into the world of artificial turfs, The Business Standard interviewed three co-owners of Mirpur's popular Aero Turf: Jabbar Sarkar, Prayas Abed, and Afsar Jamil.

ABCs of turfs

A field covered with artificial grass is commonly known as turf. In Bangladesh, the trend of using turfs began in 2015, initially installed on a sandy field adjacent to the BFF (Bangladesh Football Federation) building for practice purposes. Subsequently, entrepreneurs started constructing turfs in Dhaka for commercial purposes. 

Prayas Abed of Aero Turf said, "In big cities like Dhaka and Chattogram, there are very few places to play. The few fields that exist are never empty. When I go to play with my friends, I find that someone else is already playing on the field or it's occupied for some other purpose."

He further mentioned that the biggest advantage of artificial turfs is that they can be used at night, and one can exclusively use them for a specific period by paying a certain amount. 

The primary component of turf is artificial grass. This type of grass is called 'FG grass' or 'field grass'. It is made of synthetic fibres, which are derived from polyethene or polypropylene. 

This grass looks and feels very similar to natural grass but does not degrade even with excessive use. It is also durable in any weather and water-resistant.

The primary component of turf, artificial grass, is made of synthetic fibres derived from polyethene or polypropylene. Photo: Collected

FG grass is available in various qualities, and prices vary accordingly. Some companies approved by FIFA, the international governing body of football, manufacture this grass in China. Most of the grass used in our country's turfs is imported from China. By importing grass from approved companies, one can obtain a FIFA certificate for the turf. According to Aero Turf, they are the only rooftop turf field in Dhaka that meets FIFA-approved standards.

Other materials are also required to construct a turf, including adhesive, granules, and shock absorber pads. A type of plastic resin adhesive is used to attach the FG grass. Granules are small plastic beads that are placed under the grass to fill empty spaces. Shock absorber pads are placed below the granules to protect players from injuries.

While adhesive and granules are available domestically, they can be imported from China at a lower cost. Other accessories, such as goalposts and paint, are also available locally. One of the most important components of a turf is its drainage system. In natural grass fields, water from rain or other sources is absorbed by the soil.

However, this is not possible on turf. Therefore, a good-quality drainage system must be installed in turfs. The turf's floor is constructed with a slope to prevent water from accumulating due to rain or other reasons.

Constructing a high-quality turf can cost upwards of 60 lakh to several crores of taka. In most cases, turfs are built for commercial purposes. Investing in the turf business is quite profitable, as turf fields are environmentally friendly. They require very little water and no pesticides or fertilisers. The three entrepreneurs stated that with proper maintenance, a turf field can last for at least 8 to 10 years without requiring significant expenses.

Although the replacement cost of artificial grass is several hundred times higher than natural grass, it is becoming increasingly popular due to its usability.

Dhaka and Chattogram: The turf cities

Dhaka and Chattogram, the two megacities of Bangladesh, have seen a significant rise in artificial turf fields. With a dwindling number of traditional sports grounds in these urban centres, the demand for artificial turfs has skyrocketed.

In 2015, the first turf was installed near the BFF (Bangladesh Football Federation) building, primarily for training purposes. Around the same time, another turf was set up at the Kamalapur Stadium. By 2018, Dhaka's Bashundhara residential area saw the establishment of the 'NDC Sports Facility', a private artificial field for a local football team. Subsequently, NDC Sports Facility also began renting out its field commercially.

Today, Dhaka boasts numerous turfs, including Alpha Sports in Mohammadpur, DSF on Pilkhana Road, Maticata Club Volta, Aero Turf, DBox Sports Complex, and Offside Home of Football in Pallabi, Jaaf Arena, Chatto Turf, The Stadium, and NDE in Basundhara, Metroplex Sporting and Kick Off Football Ground in Purbachal, Turf Ground in Uttara, and Chefs Table and False 9 in 100 Feet.

In 2020, a private turf court was constructed in Bayezid, Chattogram. The following year, a commercial turf named Chatto Turf opened in the city's Number 2 Gate area. Due to the increasing demand, another turf called Seco Arena was launched in Chattogram the next year. Fortune Sports Arena opened in the Chandigarh area in early 2022.

Besides these, Chattogram has over two dozen turfs, including KB Turf in Bakalia, ACM Turf in Katalganj, Dugout Turf in GEC, and Halishahar Turfs on Marine Drive.

Turfs are also emerging in other major districts of Bangladesh, such as Cumilla, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi. These turfs, depending on their size, can accommodate teams of five to 11 players at a time.

Today, turfs are evolving into comprehensive sports complexes. In addition to football fields, these facilities often include courts for cricket, tennis, badminton, and basketball. Many modern turfs even have swimming pools.

To cater to players, these facilities provide amenities like dressing rooms, washrooms, and canteens serving light refreshments.

Who uses turfs?

Turf users are not limited to the younger generation. While young people do visit, they don't constitute the majority. The primary users of turfs are office workers. Many spend an hour or an hour and a half playing football on the turf after work to break the monotony of their daily routine.

Many turfs provide footballs, so people can simply come straight from the office and start playing. Young students often have the opportunity to play on their school grounds, but office workers don't have that luxury.

Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health. Farhan Akif, who works for an international NGO in Dhaka, regularly plays football on the turf after work. He says, "Even when I was in university, I played every day. But after getting a job and entering a mechanical life, my fitness was declining. Then I found a turf in Uttara."

"Now, I regularly play with my friends and colleagues from the office after work. Although there is some cost involved, it's completely worth it."

Various offices organise tournaments on turf, and office workers enthusiastically participate in these events. To book a turf, one usually needs to make a phone call. For busy days or advance bookings, it is advisable to book a few days in advance. 

Most turfs have their contact numbers and schedules listed on their Facebook pages, making it easy to schedule a time. Additionally, players can post on various turf-related Facebook groups to find teammates.

Regarding the cost of turfs, Jabbar Sarkar, said, "Our turf is open from 7am to 1am. During weekdays, the rental cost for a 1.5-hour slot is Tk3,000, and at night, it's Tk3,500."

He added that the cost is slightly higher on weekends due to higher demand, at Tk3,500 during the day and Tk4,500 at night. Larger groups can share the cost, making it relatively cheaper.

Additionally, many people rent turfs for entire days or multiple days for tournaments, which reduces the cost. 

How do the players view turfs?

Abyaz Irtesham, a fourth-year student at Dhaka University, grew up in the capital and has loved playing sports since childhood. He now regularly plays on turf, having visited almost all the turfs in Dhaka.

"When I was young, I used to play on real grass fields. But now, it's difficult to find such fields in Dhaka city. These fields are now used for fairs, sacrificial animal markets, or political rallies. Due to these reasons, we now play on artificial grass fields."

He further added, "The biggest advantage of turfs is that they don't get waterlogged. During rainy days, playing football on a muddy field can be a hassle, but turfs don't have such problems. The shock pads beneath the grass provide better ball control. The maintenance of natural grass fields in our country is also not very good. Turf fields don't have these issues."

While special turf boots can be purchased for playing on turf, it is possible to play barefoot. However, turf boots are generally recommended. Unlike football boots with sharp spikes, turf boots do not have protrusions, reducing the risk of injuries during play.