The New York Yankees spent the winter rebuilding their roster. They left it to a South Jersey company to refurbish their field.
The East Coast Sod & Seed Co. of Pilesgrove has supplied the Kentucky bluegrass used at Yankee Stadium for the past dozen years. A shipment of sod arrived at the big ballpark in December. Once the winter weather breaks, the Yankees’ grounds crew—assisted by workers from East Coast Sod’s parent company—will roll out the new green carpet. “It takes 100,000 square feet [of sod], transported in 10 tractor-trailers, to cover the whole field,” says Dave Giordano, farm manager at East Coast Sod.
Dan Cunningham, head groundskeeper at Yankee Stadium, says Kentucky bluegrass is perfect for the park. “It’s a tight-knit athletic turf that makes for a good playing surface,” he explains.
Still, this season’s sod could be in for a beating. In addition to the Yankees’ 81 home games, the stadium will host Major League Soccer’s fledgling New York City Football Club. Seventeen soccer matches are planned.
East Coast Sod grows grass on 700 acres in Pilesgrove and 300 acres in Bridgeton. Clients include Merion Golf Club outside Philadelphia (site of the 2013 U.S. Open) and the revered Pine Valley Golf Club in Camden County.