Tianjin Olympic Centre benefits from a new hybrid grass pitch

Tianjin Olympic Centre, an iconic international sports venue in China known as “The Water Drop” for its distinctive architectural design, is a hub for elite sporting events and home to two Chinese Super League clubs.

THE BACKGROUND

The stadium required a comprehensive pitch upgrade to meet the demands of frequent high-intensity usage and provide a world-class playing surface. After extensive research and evaluation, the management team selected SIS Pitches to deliver a cutting-edge solution that would set new pitch performance and durability standards.

THE BRIEF

The project encompassed:

• Replacing the existing pitch foundation with advanced systems for superior performance.
• Integrating SIS Grass Hybrid turf, known for its stability and longevity.
• Installing SIS Air aeration technology for proactive soil management and undersoil heating for all-weather playability.
• Delivering a surface capable of withstanding the demands of intensive competition and training schedules.

WHAT WE DID

Installation of SIS Grass Hybrid pitch

SIS Grass technology blends 95% natural grass with synthetic fibres, inserted at 2cm x 2cm spacings, creating a surface that maintains the feel of natural turf with the added resilience of artificial fibres. This ensures:

• Greater pitch stability.
• Increased playing hours without compromising quality.
• Consistent performance under heavy use.

SIS AIR AERATION SYSTEM

The SIS Air system, first introduced at the Luzhniki Stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, was implemented to:

• Manage soil moisture content efficiently.
• Remove excess water from the soil profile, preventing waterlogging.
• Boost ventilation, promoting healthier, stronger grass.

COMPREHENSIVE FOUNDATION UPGRADE

The pitch foundation was rebuilt from the ground up, including:

• New gravel and drainage systems.
• A custom-designed irrigation system tailored to the stadium’s unique structure.
• Lower and upper root zones optimized for grass growth.
• An underground heating system divided into three zones for precise temperature control.

THE OUTCOME

The 7,800-square-meter hybrid pitch at Tianjin Olympic Centre now offers unmatched durability and performance, meeting the needs of international level competition.

During the construction process SIS Pitches have strictly controlled the works and materials quality resulting in a high quality final product, which meets our anticipated requirement. The irrigation system was designed around our unique stadium design. Our stadium is the shared home of two Chinese Super Clubs, with a high frequency of use. Under the test of intense competition and training activities, the pitch is still in perfect condition. We are very satisfied! Thank you for the hard work of SIS Pitches construction and maintenance teams!