Cost of modular pitch system is approx $1.5 million (pitch only) http://www.greentechitm.com/project/default.asp?fpID=077FA6F7-99E7-4753-8587-9079B8677F9A

Cost of ad hoc installation is $200,000 (pitch+installation) http://www.wetcoastsports.com/whitecaps-fc-friendly-against-manchester-city-becomes-unnatural-turf-war

Assume $75,000 to $100,000 is the cost of installation and transport for both systems.

• Total cost for 15 ad hoc installations ($200,000 x 15 = $3 million)

• Total cost of 15 modular installations, ($75,000 to $100,000 x 15 + $1.5 million = $2,625,000 to $3,000,000 OR $175,000-200,000/installation)

Cost is more or less even; however, the modular pitch will be paid off after about 15 installations (2-3 high profile games over 5-7.5 years) and the only recurring cost thereafter would be for installation and transport ($75,000-100,000/game or $3.50-$4.50/seat @ 22,000 tickets sold). Cost of maintenance would be negligible if stored, maintained, and used at a training centre with other permanent training pitches. PLUS the club would take in extra profits from hosting the high profile games. So... when you break it down, it's not such a far fetched investment for the club to make.

As for the MNT, the Caps could rent the pitch to the MNT for say... $5/seat @ 22,000-25,000 attendance and still pull in a profit, if charging only for installation and transport of the modules. The MNT would benefit by having:

• a natural turf stadium (another possible host stadium for matches)

• a winter location for home games

• a pro-Canadian crowd (assuming the same/similar crowd from the Women's Olympic Qualifying tourney show up).

• larger capacity than BMO Field

• all which could lead to increased exposure and visibility for both teams, and potentially increased sponsorship opportunities

In reality the options are... a) maintain the status quo, b) do what I've suggested, c) install permanent grass pitch, effectively eliminating the flexibility and profitability of BC Place as a multi-event space, or d) spend tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars on a new stadium or proper retrofit of the stadium. I don't know about you but b) seems to provide the best benefit/cost.

I prefer grass because when I was younger and played on the old turf it was awful...if I could slide check without fear of needing a skin graft then I think I'd enjoy the predictable roll of the turf.

slamo said: The touch on the ball changes no matter how good the turf. The beautiful forward ball with perfect setting weight and back spin that I played to Kris in the supporter game that even Jarju would've finished... Well, that's not a great example since it was perfect touch that so clearly should've resulted in a goal. [-(

Sorry Kris. Just playing.

Seriously though - grass plays truer and players are more relaxed knowing a ball will hit the grass and bounce true as opposed to sliding along the surface for two inches or shooting up 15 feet. You can still see strange things happen on the BC Place pitch that change the game. Balls bouncing over the heads of defenders etc. but it should be used as a "home field" advantage more than anything. Doesn't help with the NT though.

On really new turf (and I mean by that recently installed), a high ball will sit very close to the way it does on grass. But that effect disappears pretty quickly.

SAFC_Yank said:

On really new turf (and I mean by that recently installed), a high ball will sit very close to the way it does on grass. But that effect disappears pretty quickly.

Wuh? Not true. New turf is like playing on Swangard in the 80's. Very shaggy. Not at all like a top class grass pitch. I actually prefer it somewhere in between brand new and beaten to death (old Burnaby Lakes fields)... then it plays as quickly as a quality grass field.

Great article on the BBC Sport website about Artificial pitches a step closer to a return to English football

I like how Shaddy made a comment about Barry Robson calling it "astroturf"

Fynnsky said: With Henry and Marquez missing tonight - just as they did last year - Becks out both years (although this time it's a call-up), is it safe to say most of the "superstars" of MLS won't be coming here until we get grass?

Kinda seems that way. Oh well. They wanna hamstring themselves, power to 'em.

Henry is hurt and trying to get better for their match against DC this weekend. Beckham is going to the olympics for 6 weeks. The turf has nothing to do with it.

Fynnsky said: With Henry and Marquez missing tonight - just as they did last year - Becks out both years (although this time it's a call-up), is it safe to say most of the "superstars" of MLS won't be coming here until we get grass?

God, I hope so. It would be brilliant if our choice of surface was giving the Whitecaps a provable competitive advantage. If it's true you'd be insane not to put in artificial turf!

Lord_Bob said:

Fynnsky said: With Henry and Marquez missing tonight - just as they did last year - Becks out both years (although this time it's a call-up), is it safe to say most of the "superstars" of MLS won't be coming here until we get grass?

God, I hope so. It would be brilliant if our choice of surface was giving the Whitecaps a provable competitive advantage. If it's true you'd be insane not to put in artificial turf!

Sorry but Beckham is not a star on that team. Donovan is and they both played on the crap in Montreal, Seattle, and Portland. they will come and play on this field.

piltdownman said: Henry is hurt and trying to get better for their match against DC this weekend. Beckham is going to the olympics for 6 weeks. The turf has nothing to do with it.

Henry is hurt? Just like last year when he went on to play Columbus with no problem?

Javy81 said:

Fynnsky said:

piltdownman said: Henry is hurt and trying to get better for their match against DC this weekend. Beckham is going to the olympics for 6 weeks. The turf has nothing to do with it.

Henry is hurt? Just like last year when he went on to play Columbus with no problem?

If he wasn't hurt he surely would have played on the weekend, no? Against a conference rival, 1 spot behind them in the standings

On grass.

Bmac and Taylor just had a rant about Henry not turning up.

Over 50% of the German National Team trains on our surface. Time for old French men and underwear models to man up.

Yes a few big clubs 'train' on this surface.

Overall my point was meant to be that our playing surface is very likely a deterrent in attracting talent. Right or wrong, good or bad.

Lord_Bob said:

TWF said: Yes a few big clubs 'train' on this surface.

Overall my point was meant to be that our playing surface is very likely a deterrent in attracting talent. Right or wrong, good or bad.

Yeah, if only we had natural grass we could have signed Lee Young-pyo and Barry Robson.

We couldn't afford their cap hit

Neeskens1974 said:

TWF said: Yes a few big clubs 'train' on this surface.

Overall my point was meant to be that our playing surface is very likely a deterrent in attracting talent. Right or wrong, good or bad.

I betcha the only determinant is hard cash on the barrelhead.

Or in the case of Lee, the livability of the city. I think there would be lot of factors.

Fynnsky said: Opportunities to move into the fo or coaching staff seems to be quoted a lot. If that were the determining factor, wouldn't TFC be getting all the best DPs? Anyone can be the coach there.

For six months until Anselmi panics and cans them.

Not sure why I went to this effort:

Beckham - 2012: DNP in SEA, but played 90 in MTL. 2011: Played in SEA (90), POR (90) & NE (71 min.), DNP in VAN. Henry - 2012: DNP in SEA & MTL; 2011: Played in POR (90), DNP in SEA, NE & VAN.

I did not go back and check broader injury reports or other reasons for absence, except that Henry hasn't played in six of the last seven games for New York this year, including both turf games.

I guess we'll find out - Beckham not selected for UK Olympic team. Lets see if he comes to play at BC Place

limmeister said: He'll probably fake an injury so he doesn't have to play. lol.

Like Henry this year AND last year !