Poly-Turf - History in Miami

History in Miami

Poly-Turf was installed at the City of Miami-owned Orange Bowl in 1970 and utilized for six seasons. The stadium was used for both college and professional football, primarily by the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. It also hosted the eponymous New Year's Day college bowl game, as well as Super Bowl games. The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers won the first three Orange Bowl games played on Poly-Turf, which included two national championships. The first Super Bowl played on artificial turf was played on Poly-Turf in the Orange Bowl, on January 17, 1971, when the Baltimore Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 in Super Bowl V. The next Super Bowl at the stadium was the final game played on Poly-Turf in Miami; Super Bowl X on January 18, 1976.

The longer polypropylene blades of Poly-Turf tended to mat down and become very slick under hot & sunny conditions. The field was replaced after two seasons, before the Dolphins' 1972 undefeated season, but the replacement only lasted four seasons. Over just six years, both installations deteriorated rapidly and some football players suffered an increasing number of leg and ankle injuries; some players claimed to trip over seams. The field discolored from green to blue due to the severe UV nature of the Miami sun. The City of Miami removed the Poly-Turf in 1976 and re-installed natural grass (Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT)), which remained until the stadium's closure.