Experiment underway to paint over the football lines at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium By Steven Sandor Posted on July 23, 2013 Comments Off on Experiment underway to paint over the football lines at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium 0 680 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The zeroes on the goal line were painted over in green. News that will get supporters of FC Edmonton very excited: Experiments are underway to see if there’s a way to get rid of the football lines on the Clarke Stadium turf for soccer matches. News that will disappoint FC Edmonton supporters: So far, the experiments aren’t going that well. At training on Tuesday, the “00” yard markings on one of the goal lines were taken out by green paint. Because the football lines are sewn into the turf, they can’t be erased — but, theoretically, they could be painted over. Then, that paint can be removed when a football game is played on the surface. On Monday, a patch of the turf was painted over in a special green paint to see if there’s a way that the white football lines can be hidden during NASL games and other soccer matches held at Clarke. But, the reviews from FC Edmonton’s coach Colin Miller and the players weren’t all that positive. A day after the paint was applied to the test patch, the turf had matted down and become very hard — and sticky, too. There were definite ridges where the painted turf met the non-treated areas. The zeroes on the goal line were painted over in green. “It’s dangerous if it’s that sticky and you have it all over the pitch,” said Miller. At least it’s a sign that the City of Edmonton, which administers the stadium, understands the clash of white football lines and yellow soccer lines is a problem. It also looks awful on the broadcasts. But, in at least one home game this season, the line confusion has worked to FC Edmonton’s advantage, when Atlanta keeper Joe Nasco was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area. The white football lines led him to believe he was still in the area, when in fact he was looking at the 20-yard football line, not the yellow soccer 18-yard limit on his box. The turf is near the end of its 10-year lifespan. Of course, this move to try and figure out ways to temporarily get rid of the football lines will only make fans worried that the city will try and squeeze more lifespan out of the bad turf. Miller said there really is only one way to fix the playing surface. “You drop a hand grenade in the middle of the pitch, then you put down a new surface. That would be ideal.” Edmonton’s first fall-season NASL home game is Aug. 11, with San Antonio providing the opposition.
