Need a new lawn? Sounders offer CenturyLink sod

How would you like 90,000 square feet of Kentucky
Bluegrass sod delivered and installed on your property for
a nominal fee? That’s the offer Seattle Sounders FC,
First & Goal, Inc. and JB Sod are making to local schools,
governments, or non-profit organizations.

CenturyLink Field is installing real grass over the top of
the synthetic surface for the July 18 “friendly” soccer
match between the Sounders and English Premier League
power Chelsea FC. Once the game is over, crews will roll
up that beautiful lawn grown in Pasco, Wash. and take it to a location within a 45-mile radius of the stadium.

The top clubs in Europe aren’t willing to play on
artificial surfaces, which is why Sounders FC brings in
the temporary surface at a cost of roughly $100,000.
Seattle did the same thing last summer for Manchester
United and in 2009 when Chelsea and Barcelona came to
town.

Deciding where the grass goes requires a few steps. First
& Goal Inc., which operates CenturyLink Field, surveys
schools and athletic clubs around the region to determine
need. The more complicated part is finding a deserving
recipient who is also ready to take the field, because
once the sod is rolled up and put on trucks, it has to be
laid down again almost immediately.

The site must be graded and equipped with adequate
drainage and irrigation. Due to the project size, only
full installations will be considered. (Darn, I was hoping
they could put a few rolls in my front yard!)

Archbishop Murphy High School in Snohomish County was the
beneficiary after last summer’s Manchester United match.
The Wildcats now play on a beautiful natural grass
football field.

If you have a worthy spot in need of two acres of real
grass, you can contact John Wright, director of fields at
JohnW@SeahawksSoundersFC.com.