The Tennessee Titans were happy to get off the field on Sunday, and not just because they lost their second game of the season

“I’ve never thought about how hot a stadium can be if it’s [synthetic] turf. [The heat] just sits there and bounces up into you,” Mailata said. “[The union] have got to bring it up. This is why we want all grass fields, to create a standard of play in the league where we’re not putting players in dangerous positions if we don’t have to.”

  • EvergreenGuru@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I wonder if occasionally tossing water on the turf or having the fill material be white instead of black would lower the temperatures.

  • boaratio@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    They’re just going to do whatever Dubai or the UAE did with their beaches and air condition the ground.

    • ryannathans@aussie.zone
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      2 months ago

      Probably nothing compared to just wearing and washing polyester/nylon/acrylic/spandex/elastane clothes and fabrics

      • GlendatheGayWitch@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Idk, at 150 degrees, the rubber could be off gassing and they’d be breathing that in while on the ground. Stadiums could also concentrate that gas on the field since there are walls around at least 2 sides, 4 if its a professional field.

        Tires are the #1 producer of microplatics, which is where my original idea came from. Although they arent running at 70 mph, so it might not produce as much as a car

  • tigermountain@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I wonder what alternatives people who put on larger events outside have come up with for when it’s just too hot to be outside .

    • Zahille7@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Have you ever had heat exhaustion? It fucking sucks and is incredibly dangerous to go through, leading to heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses and death.

      I got it once during a high school football game. It was the 4th quarter and we were down a few points anyway, but when I took the field and literally couldn’t even catch my breath and I wasn’t even sweating anymore? The ref called the game and sent me to the opposite sideline so they could stuff bags of ice in my uniform. The school we were playing at thankfully had a pool that they also had me float in for a few minutes to cool down.

      It was honestly terrible and I wouldn’t wish it on most people.

  • Renorc@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Most TPRs (thermoplastic rubber) materials melt above 350F. Most shoes are made from thermoset materials, ie the same material as tires which once cured do not melt. Although the field was likely much too hot for athletes to be comfortable or even safe, the title is complete bullshit.

      • Renorc@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Vulcanized rubber usually refers to natural rubber from plant material. Tires are thermoset, EPDM ( ethylene propylene diene monomer). EPDM is vulcanized or cross linked with either a sulpher or peroxide based system. As are shoe soles.

        Edit: the long chain polymers are cross linked not cured which changes the plastic or elastomer to a thermoset which will not melt

    • Kabaka@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
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      2 months ago

      True, but remember that these cleats aren’t “most shoes” and include some comparatively exotic materials. They’ll stop holding their shape well before 350°F or literal melting into liquid. Having worked with similar materials in the past and having just refreshed my memory with some spec sheets because you piqued my curiosity, I buy it.

      • PU shoe adhesives are designed to reactivate at roughly 50–80°C. This would absolutely have turned into goo.
      • EVA foam softens and takes a permanent set around 60–90°C. Squished, deformed foam is “melted” to most people.
      • Soft TPU and TPR are long past their rated temperature by then, but they creep and get gummy well below their melt point. Players reported “soft plastic” causing issues and I’d bet this is why.

      Otherwise, 157°F is one reading of the turf surface (I’m assuming, at least — haven’t seen documentation of how this was measured). Contact points, dark spots, a foot grinding in all have a shot at being even hotter.