Whether you’re looking to buy artificial turf to replace the natural grass surrounding your residential home or for commercial purposes, chances are that the material reminds you of professional sports to some extent. While synthetic lawns in both suburban and urban areas are becoming more and more popular, particular in regions that are prone to droughts and water restrictions, the fact of the matter is that fake grass grew in popularity because it was an affordable alternative to attempting to maintain a natural grass playing field in an indoor stadium. And the first artificial grass to come into popularity for this purpose was AstroTurf.
Invented in 1965 by a team of employees from the Monsanto Company, AstroTurf didn’t start out as AstroTurf. After the product was patented in 1967, it hit the market under the questionable name “Chemgrass”. Luckily, that name was changed after the material received publicity for its use in the Astrodome stadium in Houston. An employee of the Patent Company named John Wortmann has been crediting with coining the new name. The brand AstroTurf has passed through several hands since then.
In today’s market, there are a wide variety of options available for those looking to purchase artificial grass wholesale. Many companies continue to push the edge in terms of the technology used for these surfaces, including creating softer, more realistic materials for the artificial grass. However, AstroTurf will continue to be an important part of the history of both synthetic grass and of professional sports itself.
