Synthetic turf first used in Houston’s Astrodome, completed in 1965, to replace grass when it was learned that grass would not grow well in indoor stadiums. It was quickly brought into every indoor and many outdoor stadiums around the country, and was often used on porches and patios to give the appearance of perfect grass.

Thirty years later, astroturf is considered a very inadequate playing surface and is a cause of many major injuries, particularly in football since the surface itself provides only a thin padding over concrete. It has now fallen out of favor, like the multipurpose dome in which it “grew.” Most baseball teams are now demanding more traditionallooking stadiums with real grass.