Construction of SISGrass stitched hybrid turf stadium pitch
Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge Stadium
Project challenges
A densely populated area of London
The stadium is in a very populated and heavily trafficked area of London. This presented challenges with maintaining good working relationships with local residents and adhering strictly to local planning restrictions.
The access around the stadium is one way and relatively tight, which required a very strict traffic management plan to ensure smooth interaction between artic lorries, stadium visitors, fans, hotel guests and club employees.
Trusted suppliers and hauliers were employed to maintain a very tight construction window and adhere to local restrictions. They are so important to delivering a successful project.
Our approach
An extensive pitch re-construction
The scope of work comprised the following:
- Excavate to remove 200mm depth from the entire surface of the existing pitch, load onto lorries and remove from site for processing and re-use
- Trim existing lower sand profile to designed pitch levels, ensuring the new finished levels consider the requirements of TV and spectators alike
- Replace irrigation where appropriate and make repairs to the undersoil heating system
- Supply and install new 100mm depth of lower sand rootzone and 100mm depth upper rootzone
- Amelioration of nutrient retaining amendments
- Cultivation, fertiliser applications, seeding and synthetic run-off works carried out by our partners Premier Pitches
- Installation of SISGrass stitched hybrid pitch reinforcement system
- First year’s renovation carried out in 2022 carried out by Premier Pitches Ltd.
Outcomes
A successful re-construction that plays as expected
The pitch was successfully grown in by head groundsman Jason Griffin and his grounds team, who continued to maintain a high standard during the first season’s use.
The pitch played as expected during its first season, reacting well to intense use at times, across all club competitions and training sessions.
