Super Bowl XLIX (and the surrounding Deflategate) may have gone down in history, but the field lives on. Literally.
According to coverage by 12 News and the Arizona Republic, Tolleson Unified High School was the recipient of 90,000 square feet of sod, donated by the Arizona Cardinals and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee. The sod was moved to Charles A. Landis Stadium where it’s sitting pretty in anticipation of fall and football season.
And don’t think the Wolverines aren’t excited about their new field – or even the karma they imagine it brings.
"Our kids are convinced they are going to play at another level because of the grass underneath their feet," said Ernie Molina, Principal at Tolleson Unified High School.
The grass is natural, so it has grown since February. All Super Bowl markings and references are gone and the field is ready to be marked for high school play. The article notes that Tolleson's old field, despite being well maintained, was not playing as well as it might have been.
"It was hard and it wasn't slotted the right way. So they brought this field in," said Luis Zendejas, Senior Director of Community Relations with The Arizona Cardinals.
In order to receive the field, Tolleson had to show they were able to maintain it. Its previous setting, after all, was a domed stadium – now, it’s out in the open in the desert heat.
"We had to come up with a plan to maintain the grass from aeration through fertilization to how you cut to what you cut, those type of things," said Chad Doyle, athletic director at Tolleson.
Whether the field inspires better performance remains to be seen; however, it’s a sure thing that games will see more spectators, all eager to see the hallowed grounds where Super Bowl and Pro Bowl players once trod.
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