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Ivory CoastGroundskeepers Rush to Ready Rio Field for Cowboys and Ravens
Workers are preparing the Maracana turf in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens.
Maracana Turf Gets Last Minute Trim
Workers at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro are working right up to the deadline. With less than 30 hours to go before the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens kick off, groundskeepers are using mowers and scissors to level the grass.
The stadium turf has been a major concern for nearly two weeks. It is in poor shape due to a busy Brazilian soccer season. Local clubs Flamengo and Fluminense play on the field at least once a week.
Safety Concerns and Stitching Fixes
The NFL Players Association has been tracking the stadium conditions closely. Union experts expressed concern that loose turf could cause players to slip and lose their footing on Sunday. They raised issues about the traction and stability of the surface.
To address these worries, the NFL reinforced the stitching on the field. Field director Nick Pappas said that extra improvements have been made. Pappas told reporters that things check out and there is no need to worry.
Lessons From Sao Paulo
Slippery turf in Brazil is not a new problem for the league. The NFL has played games in the country since 2024, but previous games were held in Sao Paulo at the NeoQuimica Arena.
During the first game there, players from the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers struggled with their footing. Many players had to switch their cleats during the game to stop slipping. Unlike the mixed natural and synthetic surface in Sao Paulo, the Maracana field is 100 percent natural grass.
Teams Arrive as Fans Enjoy the Sun
The Cowboys and Ravens arrived in Rio on Friday after flights of about 10 hours. Both teams are scheduled to visit the stadium on Saturday. Their game is one of nine international matchups on the NFL schedule this season.
Outside the stadium, tourists and locals spent Saturday enjoying the 80 degree weather on the beach. Juan Olmedo, a 61 year old Denver Broncos fan from Chile, traveled to Rio for the game. He noted that the city offers a great tourism experience that was missing from the games in Sao Paulo.
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