Magazine - Etihad Turf won't Look Good

By Editor in General News on 17th Feb 2010 14:00

Etihad Stadium are today due to finish their 33-hour operation to dismantle the staging for the three AC/DC concerts held at the venue.

Arena curating staff are planning a turf replacement program for parts of the arena damaged by the concert but it cannot be done in time for the three matches in four days Etihad will host this week.

While the stadium insists the three matches - tomorrow's A-League final between Melbourne and Sydney and NAB Cup clashes between St Kilda and Collingwood on Friday and Geelong and North Melbourne on Sunday - will go ahead as planned, it also conceded the turf would not be in peak condition for them.

''In terms of the turf, we have been in constant liaison with our hirers, the AFL and Melbourne Victory, as well as the FFA,'' stadium spokesman Bill Lane said yesterday.  ''For Thursday and Friday nights and again on Sunday, the arena may not be as aesthetically pleasing as for most events - it may be a little rough in some areas but we will be able to present a safe and stable surface.''

About 180,000 patrons attended the AC/DC concerts, which stadium boss Ian Collins described as ''one of the great presentations in the stadium's 10-year history''.

Plastic flooring was used to cover most of the arena from Thursday until yesterday in an attempt to reduce the impact on the turf. Lane said any superficial damage would be promptly repaired. ''We will commence a turf replacement program from Monday of next week and this will then improve the overall presentation of the arena,'' he said.

Source & More: www.smh.com.au

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