LA Galaxy to invest $1 million into Girls’ Academy

In anticipation of the LA Galaxy Girls’ Academy launch this fall, the organization have invested a tidy sum into renovating the training pitch, with plans to install Astroturf’s state-of-the-art DT32 system and replace the controversial crumb rubber surface with organic ZeoFill.

As part of the renovations, the Galaxy will install Zeofill, a non-crumb rubber, organic mineral found in water filtration systems and health food supplements, that will be used across all playing surfaces on Field 7. ZeoFill’s ability to retain water helps reduce surface temperatures and delivers an exceptional playing surface designed for high use and performance, all while eliminating the use of crumb rubber. This venue upgrade comes in support of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks “LA Spec” initiative to replace crumb rubber synthetic fields with non-crumb rubber fields across Los Angeles. When properly maintained, non-crumb rubber fields offer superior playing surfaces as well as added environmental and economic advantages over time. In addition to the improved playing surface, the LA Galaxy and StubHub Center will install an improved lighting system that will fully-illuminate the field with high-grade lights.

I applaud the heck out of this move. Crumb rubber is awful, and it needed to be replaced. There’s a reason the team went nuts after being subjected to the surface vs. Minnesota United.