Bladerunner's Zoysia Grasses Triumph across Asia's Premier Sports Arenas
In the electrifying world of sports, where every second can lead to either glory or heartache, an unlikely champion is making waves beneath the surface – Zeon and Stadium Zoysia grass. Developed over the past 10 years by David Doguet, the innovative Zoysia Breeder and Owner of BladeRunner Inc, Texas, USA, this groundbreaking turf is capturing attention for its incredible ability to withstand the rigors of the game - from the relentless stomp of cleats to the test of weather extremes. Its robust resilience and eco-friendly nature are revolutionizing the playing fields of Asia's elite stadiums. Spearheading this green transformation, the visionaries at Sport Turfs Solutions (STS) who, with their 30 years of experience dealing with Zoysia Grasses knew these new Zoysia varieties would ultimately dominate the Sports Turf World in Asia.
Spotlight on Success
A shining example of this transformation is the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, the proud arena of the Southern Johor Tigers Football Team. Since its inauguration in 2020, it has offered nothing short of immaculate conditions for every match played on its grounds. The discerning eye of the Crown Prince, who demands unparalleled standards, found Zeon Zoysia to be the unmatched choice to withstand Malaysia's demanding climate. His endorsement extended to sponsoring the Zeon Zoysia installation at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, further cementing the grass's reputation.
(Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor Baru)
Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, with its impressive capacity of over 77,000, emerged as a pioneer in Asia by embracing a permanent Zeon Zoysia field in 2018. This venue has since played host to a plethora of significant events, including major sports competitions and government ceremonies, even managing to draw a record crowd of 150,000 attendees, showcasing its robustness and appeal.
(Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta)
The journey of the Singapore National Stadium is a testament to adaptability and innovation. Since opening its doors in 2014, the stadium has undergone several turf transformations to combat the harsh local weather and its unique architectural challenges. The introduction of Zeon Zoysia marked a turning point, leading to the eventual upgrade to Stadium Zoysia. This choice has proven to be a game-changer, especially noted during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in April 2023, where its superior wear tolerance was on full display.
John Sorochan, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor - Turfgrass Science of the University of Tennessee said: “Stadium Zoysiagrass and Tifway bermudagrass had similar green turfgrass coverage on every evaluation date except after 24 games, where Stadium had greater cover, when receiving 4 games of traffic/week.”
“Stadium had significantly greater coverage than Zeon from 8 to 24 simulated games of traffic.”
(Singapore National Stadium – HSBC World Rugby Sevens)
A Vision for the Future
The narrative of success stretches beyond these landmarks to Juventus Football Academies in Vietnam and an upcoming private venue, Tou Kae Noi in Bangkok, Thailand, scheduled to feature Stadium Zoysia by mid-2024. Notably, both Zeon and Stadium Zoysia varieties achieve FIFA playing standards effortlessly, without the need for artificial backing, stitching, over-seeding or intensive maintenance, thanks to their intricate rhizome structure. This natural resilience enables the grass to recover robustly from extensive play, distinguishing it from other turf varieties that rely on lateral stoloniferous growth.
Sports Turf Solutions’ commitment to enhancing the sports landscape through sustainable turf solutions is evident in these stories of transformation across Asia. For those intrigued by the potential of Stadium Zoysia grass and the expertise that STS brings to the table, opportunities to explore these facilities or the operations behind the scenes are openly available.
In the evolving world of sports infrastructure, the collaboration between BladeRunner Inc.'s innovative turf solutions and our visionary application is setting new standards. This partnership not only elevates the playing experience but also redefines the environmental footprint of sports stadiums, proving that with the right foundation, greatness can truly flourish.