Rochester, MI, December 13, 2006--AstroTurf has relaunching the AstroTurf brand at an event in New York City, celebrating the brand’s 40-plus-year history, what it called a legacy of innovation, and its return as a leader in the industry it pioneered.
The event was launched by GeneralSports Venue GSV, a sports facilities and turf specialty company, which became the exclusive marketing partner for Textile Management and Associates, the owner of the AstroTurf brand, in the fall of 2006.
Archie Manning was introduced at the event as the spokesperson for AstroTurf. The rebranding of AstroTurf includes the enlistment of Manning, a former NFL MVP, as the brand's public endorser. As part of the endorsement, GSV will partner with the Manning Passing Academy, a summer football camp in Thibodaux, La., conducted by Manning and his sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli.
"AstroTurf is not only back, it is back to reclaim its position as the most technologically advanced synthetic sports turf in the world," said Jon Pritchett, CEO of GSV. "This is the brand that invented synthetic turf, and now it is the brand that is taking synthetic turf to the next level once again."
With more than 3,000 installations in more than 50 countries, American-made AstroTurf is a brand with global recognition. Patented by Monsanto in 1965, AstroTurf was the world's first synthetic turf used as a sports playing surface, gaining worldwide attention when it was installed at the Houston Astrodome in 1966. Textile Management and Associates (TMA), a 35-year-old, family owned textile manufacturing group based in Dalton, Georgia, acquired the AstroTurf brand, including all assets and intellectual property, from SRI Sports in February of 2004.
Field systems for football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse and general use will be offered by GSV under the AstroTurf GameDay Grass and PureGrass product lines. AstroTurf 12, the world's leading field hockey turf brand, and AstroTurf engineered conversion systems (indoor or outdoor) will also be marketed by GSV. GameDay Grass (polyethylene, infilled) and PureGrass (nylon, no fill required) are available with AstroTurf's proprietary Root Zone technology, a simulated thatch layer at the base of the tufted (or knitted) turf, replicating the stabilizing underlayer of root fibers in natural grass fields. This technology can be used in combination with an infill component or without any infill material.
Textile Management’s long-term partnership gives GeneralSports the U.S. sales and marketing rights for all current and future AstroTurf-branded products developed specifically for the American sports market.
Textile Management and Associates is a 35-year-old, family owned textile manufacturing group based in Dalton, Georgia. It acquired the AstroTurf brand, including all assets and intellectual property, from SRI Sports in February of 2004.
