83 million dollar grass field for Costa Rica

by crv.staff
05.12.09
10:00 AM UTC

Filed in Costa Rica Lifestyle, Costa Rica Living, Costa Rica News

By Richard Barone

The 83 million dollar National Stadium rapidly being built, in the northwest corner of the sixty four hectare Sabana Central park, in San Jose, Costa Rica, will have a natural grass playing field. To announce the decision, Director of the Institute of Costa Rican Sports and Recreation (ICODER), Jorge Muñoz quoted a favorite famous athlete saying, “To practice sports it should smell like grass”.

According to ICODER, a study favored a natural grass field over a synthetic one. For a number of reasons, everyone is excited about the decision. More types of athletes, from Track and field, javelin throwing, discus, hammer throw and even Rugby athletes, among others,could use the stadiums facilities converting into a class A international quality stadium.

“It would be a shame to not take advantage of the benefits of having real grass in a world class stadium. All the great stadiums where futbol (soccer) is played are grass, said Muñoz.” Vice minister of Sports, Osvald Pandolfo, had already been advised by Spain that without grass many teams would not play on the field. Natural grass requires constant, yet simpler maintenance as it renews itself.

With a projected fifty year lifespan, the stadium will generate considerable maintenance costs. If the stadium had been equipped with synthetic turf at an additional half a million dollars, maintenance would include expensive replacement periodically. Thanks to the advanced designs of China Central South Architectural Design Institute and ICODER arquitects, the fields design assures a quick and perfect drainage in even the worst storms and will have a protector for other events. Carlomagno Chacon, ICODER arquitect said, “this helps sports in general, all the athletes will love it, it’s the best decision from Osvaldo and Jorge for the new stadium”.

The soon to be inaugurated National Stadium is the culmination of a community effort begun in October 1924 for 50,000 colones (a hundred dollars) and a hundred workers. A grass field to play on. 105 x 68 meters oriented north/south. Ticos are as anxious to swear in their new stadium as they are their new government, maybe more by the look on their faces.

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