LyrArc Article Gist
This WSJ video shows the complex operations required, R&D over many years, new machinery developed, to produce, transport and install natural grass to specifications across stadiums in many cities of North America. FIFA'S experiment with consistent natural grass across stadiums in cities as different in climate and altitude as Mexico City Houston Dallas New York City Kansas City and Vancouver. The grass in all the stadiums in the venue locations has to be consistent so that players and team get the same feeling of playing on the grass. This was a huge challenge and machines had to be developed in Tennessee, research done at Michigan State over many years, and production set up in Denver, transport arranged for delivery to stadiums, and some stadiums having to lift the pitch by 1 inch to put the grass on top of existing turf. The game of soccer requires that players can slide across the grass without scraping their feet and this is why natural grass is the only grass surface for the sport. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
A stunning World Cup 2026 stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Mexico's business capital in the mountainous north. It is called the Estadio BBVA after the name of the Spanish bank that sponsors it. It overlooks the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains around the city, giving it a nice background. It is 144 miles from the US border and with sweeping vistas of the Cerro de la Silla mountain. Four games will be played here- one of 16 venues for World Cup 2026.  Gills in its futuristic steel exterior enable it to let air in from breezes that blow in so that fans can be cool when it is hot 82-93 degrees F. Local team Rayados play here and  multinational drinks company FEMSA funded the $200 million to build the stadium. Rayados has asked Sergio Ramos of Spain to join and it plays another local team Tigres every year with about 51,000 fans in the stadium. Women's soccer is also popular in Mexico.