George Kittle Praises SoFi Stadium Grass in 4-1 World Cup Win — New York New Jersey Stadium
George Kittle liked what he saw on new york new jersey stadium’s grass field Friday night, after the United States beat Paraguay 4-1 in a World Cup match at SoFi Stadium. His post drew attention to a venue that looked more like a soccer surface than an NFL stadium, with rich, lush, naturally green grass covering the field.
“Wonder if we could get that all season,” the 49ers tight end wrote after the match. The line landed because SoFi Stadium is usually part of the turf debate, and this was a clean example of how the building can look with grass under FIFA regulations.
SoFi Stadium Under Grass
The match gave a direct look at a major NFL stadium with a grass field in place. That matters to players who have spent years arguing for a different surface, especially when a World Cup game can turn the same venue into a natural-grass setup without changing the building itself.
George Kittle’s comment was not a generic compliment. He singled out the idea of grass staying in place beyond a single soccer event, which puts a spotlight on how often NFL venues are asked to switch surfaces and how rarely teams choose the more expensive route.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke is not expected to embrace grass at SoFi Stadium because it costs too much money to maintain a high-quality grass field. That economic piece sits behind the surface debate every time the NFL weighs football traction against the look and feel players say they want.
Jones And Player Preference
Jerry Jones said earlier this year at the annual meetings in Phoenix that he was willing to install grass at AT&T Stadium for the World Cup. He added, “We have more flexibility with the way we handle our surface at the stadium,” and “We have no belief that it’s any safer to play on a grass [field] or a turf.”
Jones also said, “I’m very comfortable putting some grass down for soccer under regulations and proud to be able to do it but quickly get that turf back out there to go about the other business of the stadium and the team.” That approach matches the practical side of the issue: grass can work for a tournament, but some owners do not see it as the permanent answer.
The player side points the other way. The article says 92 percent of players prefer grass, and Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor put it bluntly: “I’m going into year 10, and I can say wholeheartedly that grass feels way better than turf.” He also said, “With MetLife getting grass, obviously it’s cool for FIFA and the World Cup.”
49ers At SoFi Stadium
The 49ers will return to SoFi Stadium in Week 15 for a Thursday night game against the Chargers. Their annual visit to play the Rams at the stadium will not happen this year because they will square off in Australia, so Kittle’s reaction landed in a season where the venue will still matter to San Francisco, just not in the usual way.
Friday night’s grass field was only temporary, but it gave players and owners the same visual at the same venue. For Kittle, the sight was simple enough to post about; for the rest of the league, it was another reminder that the turf-versus-grass argument is still being played out on fields like this one.
