1 week Ago By Parker Gabriel
In some cases, the grass actually is greener. The Broncos return home Sunday after two straight tough losses on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. When they take the field at Empower Field, they’ll be doing so on a grass surface that’s been replaced since they beat Carolina at home in late October.
The Broncos set about removing the grass immediately following the team’s 28-14 win over the Panthers on Oct. 27 and had it fully replaced in about 36 hours. The fruits of our labor! 2 weeks from the last roll of sod going down.
Little paint the next couple of days and will be ready for you . — Chris Hathaway (@ChrisH5280) The project took 285 rolls of 100% Kentucky bluegrass — that’s 14 trucks worth — from Platteville-based Green Valley Sod. Broncos director of turf and grounds Chris Hathaway and his group have become good at this process.
It’s the third time in as many seasons since the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group bought the team in 2022 that the club has invested in replacing the Empower Field turf in the middle of the season. Last year’s replacement, about the same time in the season, came at a cost of about $250,000. They see it as a way to address player safety, similar to the way they replaced the artificial turf on the Broncos’ indoor practice facility this spring.
“Our field has been in good shape,” head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “I don’t know what’s taken place since the last game. The one thing I do know is if Greg feels it’s not just to his liking, then he’s not afraid to do it.
“I literally just found out. Outstanding.”.
