Part 5/9:
The Astrodome’s construction heralded a new chapter in sports venues, integrating innovative features that had never been seen before. Among these were the experiments with the playing surface that eventually led to the introduction of AstroTurf. Initially, the stadium was intended to contain natural grass, yet the clear roofing panels made maintaining grass difficult. Thus, Hofheinz and his team turned to synthetic alternatives, marking the first time artificial turf was used in professional sports—a revolution that changed the landscape of sports fields nationwide.