The NFL is already drawing heat over the field conditions in Rio de Janeiro before the Cowboys and Ravens even get to Maracana Stadium.
The concern centers on the all-grass surface at the stadium, which has looked rough enough to trigger worries about how it will hold up for the game. Record rainfall in Rio has only added to the problem, especially with Brazilian soccer clubs Flamengo and Fluminense in the middle of a long season.
NFLPA executive director JC Tretter was among the voices raising the alarm Friday, posting a detailed statement on social media about what the union’s experts found.
“Based on our experts’ assessment, the field needed better traction and stability,” Tretter said. “They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game. Our experts will remain engaged and continue evaluating conditions through kickoff.
“The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping. Those conditions are generally more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury concern.
But safety isn’t the only standard. Players should be able to perform at the level they expect of themselves and that fans expect from them.
A thin, slick field may not present the same risks as a surface with too much traction, but it still affects performance and the quality of the game.”
The league has dealt with field-condition questions in Brazil before, but those previous games were played at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, a 48,000-seat venue. Maracana Stadium is much larger, with a capacity of up to 78,000, but it is not built like a standard NFL facility.
That much was obvious from video shared by 105.3 The Fan, which showed the surface looking far from ideal.
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