Here's how 'lay and play' works as FSU installs new turf at Doak ahead of Alabama opener
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It's not like Florida State football fans need anything else to feel anxious about less than two weeks before the Seminoles' season opener against Alabama.
Yet, news Sunday evening, Aug. 18, that FSU planned to tear up the turf at Doak Campbell Stadium starting Monday and install a new playing surface caused a stir.
Not to panic, according to FSU.
The "lay and play" surface has been used in recent Super Bowls, along in other stadiums like Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. It is also scheduled to be used for some playing surfaces in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The surface is a thicker natural grass that is immediately playable after installation.
Why is FSU tearing up its turf at renovated Doak Campbell Stadium?
Doak Campbell Stadium, of course, has undergone a massive $265 renovation over the past three years. The finished project will make its debut in the Seminoles' opener against the Crimson Tide on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
More than 2,000 season-ticket holders in new and renovated spaces that included the West Sideline Club, west sideline chairback seats, Founders Suites, Founders Loge and Dunlap Champions Club enjoyed a sneak peek inside of Doak on Saturday, Aug. 17.
With all that has been done to iconic venue, the timing surrounding FSU's decision to replace the stadium turf at this late date prior to the team's season opener felt odd to some.
However, an FSU athletics spokesperson told the Tallahassee Democrat that player safety was one of the primary factors in the decision and the current turf was worn in sections. The spokesperson also said plans to re-do the playing surface at Doak was in the works.
He added the field change was unrelated to the stadium renovation project.
The cost of installation could exceed $300,000, according to a Democrat source. FSU said the new surface will hold up for the entire season (seven home games), and that the university plans to repeat this process moving forward.
In addition to football, FSU is planning to host other events like concerts and motocross events starting in early 2026 to leverage the stadium's newly renovated facilities.
Here is FSU's 2025 football schedule
Games with an asterisk are ACC games.
- August 30: vs. Alabama, 3:30 p.m. (shop tickets) (ABC)
- September 5: vs. East Texas A&M, noon (shop tickets) (ACCNetwork)
- September 13: Bye
- September 20: vs. Kent State (shop tickets)
- September 26: at Virginia*, 7 p.m. (Friday, ESPN)
- October 4: vs. Miami*, (shop tickets)
- October 11: vs. Pittsburgh*, (shop tickets)
- October 18: at Stanford*, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- October 25: Bye
- November 1: vs. Wake Forest*, (shop tickets)
- November 8: at Clemson*
- November 15: vs. Virginia Tech*, (shop tickets)\
- November 21: at NC State*, 8 p.m. (Friday)
- November 29: at Florida (shop tickets)
While at FSU athletics spokesperson told The Tallahassee Democrat
The plans to re-do the playing surface at Doak Campbell has been in the works for some time,
need anything else to worry about less than two weeks ahead of , news early Sunday evening (Aug. 18) that the athletics department planned to tear up the turf at Doak Campbell Stadium caused a stir.
Less than two weeks before the Florida State football team will open its 2025 season against Alabama, the university is planning to install an entirely new playing surface, a university spokesman confirmed with Warchant.com on SundayThe work is scheduled to begin Monday morning, with the existing surface being removed and replaced with a “lay and play” field, which will be ready for competition later this week.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU to install new 'lay and play' turf at Doak ahead of Alabama opener
