Columbus, Ohio — When it comes to defending his bill to require all professional sports stadiums in Ohio to use natural grass, second-term state Rep. Rodney Creech says he has one motivation: “Player safety, player safety, player safety.”
The western Ohio Republican, who studied agriculture and runs a turf business, announced the measure Tuesday along with co-sponsor Rep. Terrence Upchurch, a Cleveland Democrat, and a representative of the NFL Players Association.
Creech promised reporters he would never bid on any of the jobs his legislation could create, but he said he would enter the fray. sports world grass vs. artificial turf debate precisely because he has expertise in this area. His bill would require playing fields in professional stadiums in the state to be made of at least 90 percent natural gas. The measure does not include any fines or deadlines.
The law, Bill 605comes in the wake of the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision this winter to install artificial turf at Paycor Stadium, at a cost of nearly $1 million, as part of a big upgrade from the stadium. A message was left with the team spokesperson seeking comment.
The Bengals are among the teams opt for improved soft synthetic grass surfaces which increasingly look and feel like real grass, rather than natural grass, which is more expensive to maintain.
The Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians already play on natural grass, as do most of the state’s professional baseball and football teams, Upchurch said.
“While we go to games primarily to enjoy ourselves, get out of the house and have fun with our families, player safety should be a top priority,” he said. “It’s been found that games, whether it’s baseball, football or soccer, that are played on natural grass fields have fewer non-contact injuries.”
Creech said he looks forward to the bill getting a hearing when lawmakers return to Columbus after the election. He said he would consider expanding the requirement to high school athletics once he sees how this bill plays out.