Game Day Field Preparation

NFL playing surfaces are designed to be consistent for every game, and they’re a critical component to optimizing both performance and player health and safety. From Baltimore to Berlin, each playing field follows a strict set of standards developed using data-backed measurements to ensure players have the best possible fields for game day.

Different types of sensors and technology allow the NFL to test various components of the surface – from soil moisture to traction level – that create the optimal surface for both performance and player safety. Specialized tools created by the NFL like the BEAST (Biomechanical Elite Athlete Surface Tester) measure cleat-surface interaction, mimicking how players move during gameplay to assess field traction. The NFL, in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, also created a strike impact tester that mimics the pressure points an athlete feels when striking a surface with their foot to assess the potential for injury and make adjustments to field standards that prevent injury.

As the NFL’s International Series continues to expand, field operations have addressed increasingly difficult challenges to recreate standard playing surfaces in unique stadiums like Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and Croke Park in Dublin. Hear from NFL Field Director, Nick Pappas, and NFL Chief Administrative Officer, Dawn Aponte, about game day field preparation and why it’s of paramount importance to player performance and safety.