Leading sports surfaces specialist, SIS Pitches, has reported a 44% year-on-year increase in hybrid pitch installations, driven by demand from Premier League football clubs.
The growth in demand for durable, high-performance playing surfaces among football’s elite in preparation for the current season has meant that SIS stitched hybrid playing surfaces for half of the clubs in the Premier League this summer to help them prepare for the current season.
The growing adoption of SIS Grass Hybrid at stadiums and training facilities has also been seen abroad, especially across Europe, the Middle East and in North America.
In the past six months alone, SIS Pitches has stitched hybrid surfaces at stadiums or training grounds for the likes of Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.
Notable among its list of successful projects this summer was the stitching of the new hybrid pitch at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. The state-of-the-art playing surface was installed alongside a SIS Air AquaCycle aeration and water management system, making it one of the most advanced playing surfaces in the world.
SIS’ impact is equally felt across the Championship, League One, and League Two. Clubs such as Birmingham City, Wrexham, Derby County, Wycombe Wanderers, Stevenage, Mansfield, Colchester United, Swindon Town, Notts County and Stockport County have all benefited from SIS Grass Hybrid or SIS Synthetic artificial surfaces. Notably, Stockport County’s SIS Grass Hybrid pitch at its Edgeley Park stadium contributed to the club winning the EFL’s Grounds Team of the Season award two years running.
Non-league clubs are also embracing the latest hybrid pitch technology, recognising the performance and durability benefits seen at higher levels. Hednesford Town is one such example, having invested in a new SIS Grass Hybrid surface at its Keys Park home with the same aeration, vacuum drainage and water recycling and management system installed at Everton’s new world-class sporting, music and entertainment arena.
Earlier this summer, the leading sports surfaces specialist made a multi-million-pound investment in a new fleet of 16 hybrid pitch stitching machines, which allow faster installations and greater configurability for its global customer base. This investment also eases operational pressure for groundspeople working at multi-use stadia, whose narrowing timeframes to install hybrid grass pitches between matches and non-sporting events represents a major challenge. This need for speed and flexibility – without compromising quality - has been driven by clubs and franchises around the world seeking to maximise stadium revenue by hosting concerts, exhibitions and fixtures spanning multiple sports.
Ivo Lamot, CEO at SIS Pitches said: “Demand for our elite-level hybrid pitch technology has never been greater, not just among clubs in the Premier League but many others around the world.
“The rise of the multi-use stadium and the revenue it can generate means many forward-thinking clubs are looking to install or replace their playing surface in a much tighter timeframe than before. Having invested significantly in our advanced stitching capabilities, we’re best placed to meet those needs, which is resulting in an increase in projects from new and existing clients.
"Furthermore, with the recent launch of our new Game-Ready Hybrid pre-stitched turf product, means we can harvest and transport turf with the hybrid fibres already within the profile. This means a ready-to-play, reinforced surface can be installed in an exceptionally quick timeframe.
“One of the best things about hybrid pitch technology is its accessibility at all levels of competition. We’re seeing an increase in interest from clubs further down their respective countries’ football pyramids, eager to benefit from the consistency and durability it brings. We’re fully expecting this growth trajectory to continue well into next year and beyond.”
