{"id":58631,"date":"2024-06-11T12:39:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T09:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=58631"},"modified":"2024-06-11T12:47:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T09:47:31","slug":"renewed-veritas-stadium-meets-high-fifa-requirements","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/renewed-veritas-stadium-meets-high-fifa-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewed Veritas Stadium meets high FIFA requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Renewed Veritas Stadium meets high FIFA requirements<\/h2>\n

There is now an even better setting for international football matches in Turku. The new artificial turf pitch meets FIFA requirements and allows players to play in the stadium all year round. Environmental responsibility was also taken into account in the design of the artificial turf.<\/p>\n

Veritas Stadion is the home ground of Turku football fans in the Kupittaa sports area next to the city centre. The football stadium’s Olympic stand was completed for the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, and several extensions have room for more than 9,000 spectators. In 2023, it was time to renovate the stadium to meet international FIFA Quality pro standards.<\/p>\n

Mika Laine<\/strong>, Design Engineer at the City of Turku,\u00a0 thinks it was very positive that Sweco was able to provide all the design services. Sweco’s sports facility designers were responsible for the main design, water supply planning, HVAC design and supervision. “We stayed on schedule even though it was tight.”<\/p>\n

New irrigation and heating system<\/h3>\n

During the renovation, the stadium’s natural turf was replaced with heated artificial grass. At the same time, the asphalt area surrounding the field was removed and converted to artificial turf for safety reasons.<\/p>\n

“The goal was to provide players with more warm-up space and minimise safety risks,” says Mikko N\u00e4rv\u00e4, <\/strong>Sweco’s sports facility designer.<\/p>\n

The field was intended to be suitable for year-round use, which is why the irrigation and heating system was updated to suit artificial grass. “Watering an artificial turf pitch improves the playing conditions because the ball behaves on its surface in the same way as on natural grass,” N\u00e4rv\u00e4 says. In addition, the new irrigation system meets FIFA’s quality standards, allowing international matches.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly artificial grass construction<\/h3>\n

Environmental responsibility was taken into account in the structural choices of the artificial turf field. The layer dividing the field is made of crushed concrete, and underneath it is a lightening layer of crushed Foamit foam glass.<\/p>\n

“Foams are made from purified recovered glass in Finland,” says N\u00e4rv\u00e4. Instead of rubber granules, the artificial grass was filled with environmentally friendly Bioflex sand, which is green in colour. “That’s why the field doesn’t look like traditional artificial grass.”<\/p>\n

The flexibility properties of the field were ensured with a stretch mattress with an integrated drainage system. “Free energy, i.e. condensing heat from the adjacent ice arena, is utilised in the heating and drying of the rink. It reduces the need for purchased energy.”<\/p>\n

The players have welcomed the artificial turf with joy<\/h3>\n

The artificial turf on the pitch received a FIFA Quality pro rating after tests carried out by FIFA. The renovated stadium serves as the home base of FC Inter, Turun Palloseura and Finland national under-21 football team, and the players have welcomed it with joy.<\/p>\n

“The new pitch makes it possible to play better-looking football because the ball moves quickly and steadily on the pitch,” says former national team striker Kasper H\u00e4m\u00e4l\u00e4inen<\/strong>. He also thinks the field is light for an older player to run. “The filler stays well in the field and doesn’t stick to clothes as much as traditional rubber granules.”<\/p>\n

The first match on the new ground was played on May 22, 2022 between FC Inter and IFK Mariehamn. The Finnish women’s national football team “Helmarit” also played the opening match of the UEFA Nations League against Slovakia on the pitch in September 2023.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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