Stadium Grass Advisory Council
Now our experts are your experts!
Early on, we realized that Authentic Yankees Grass Seed™, 100% Kentucky Bluegrass, would present some growing challenges to many Yankee Fans who were not familiar with this type of grass. Most grass seed offered to homeowners is a blend of quick germinating seed varieties, such as ryegrass or fescue mixed with a small amount of Kentucky bluegrass. As you've seen in our Planting and Maintenance section, the truth is that Kentucky Bluegrass takes much longer to germinate and great care and patience is required before reaching the sod quality of Yankees Sod™. It is that special. The same holds true for Yankees Sod™. Specific care and maintenance is required to keep it healthy and weed free.
So why are we telling you this? You are passionate about your team and we are passionate about great grass. We want you to enjoy Yankees Grass Seed™ and Yankees Sod™ for years to come so we formed the Stadium Grass Advisory Council or SGAC. The SGAC is a team of leading experts and professionals from Universities, Major League Baseball (MLB) Groundskeepers, Architects and Sod Growers. They offer you cutting (no pun intended) edge knowledge, understanding and expertise that MLB teams rely on every day. The Council is passionate about great grass.
Who would have imagined the excitement created from making the sod used in Yankees Stadium and the grass seed used to grow that sod available to fans? This energetic group of grass and baseball loving entrepreneurs did. What formally began a few short months ago as just another great idea has blossomed into what we believe will be a monumental success for the game of baseball and enjoyed by thousands of fans.
And now the SGAC is on your team!
The SGAC will provide you with expert advice in all areas of growing and maintaining superior grass and sod for years to come. Visit our website often for helpful hints, guidance, instructions and troubleshooting.
Stadium Associates is pleased to present the following members:
Murray Cook: Chair
Murray has been Major League Baseball's lead field consultant for many years. MLB relies upon Murray to ensure that the highest standards are maintained so that each stadium is ready to play America's pastime. Murray is known throughout the US and around the world for his knowledge and expertise on every aspect of the baseball field. Starting as a groundskeeper in 1974 for the Salem Pirates class A club in Virginia, he found out as a teenager that he had a passion for maintaining baseball fields. Little did he know, he would be doing the same thing, 30+ years later! Since 1989, he has worked for the Commissioner's Office as a field and stadium consultant providing services in the development and management of numerous international MLB exhibition games, training camps and field maintenance seminars. As President of Sports Turf Services, (a Division of the Brickman Group, Ltd ) he has provided services including field construction, design and maintenance services for the 2000, 2004, 2008 Olympics, USA baseball, the International Baseball federation, Minor League Baseball, Ripken Baseball and numerous major/minor/college/recreation fields around the world. As Past President of the National Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and board member, he has witnessed the evolution of the groundskeeping/sportsturf managers' profession.
Frank S. Rossi: PhD, Associate Professor at Cornell University
Frank is the lead field consultant for the NY Yankees. Frank administers a broad-based research and education program focused on ecological aspects of turfgrass science. The goal of his research and education efforts for undergraduates, graduate students and industry professionals is to improve the environmental compatibility and economic feasibility of turfgrass management systems.
Rick DeLea: President/Owner, DeLea Sod Farms, Inc.
Rick is the third generation leader of DeLea Sod Farms, the oldest active sod farm in America and the largest on the east coast. He is widely known as an innovative grower who specializes in difficult to grow sports turf sod. He is driven to provide the best product and service around to thousands of customers.
Danny Cunningham: Head Groundskeeper, New York Yankees
In his position taking care of the field at Yankee Stadium, Danny has extensive knowledge and experience in nurturing Yankees Sod™ first hand as well all other aspects of a baseball field. Unlike anyone else, Danny understands the demands of maintaining Yankees Sod™ day in and day out during the season. He has worked extensively over the years with Rick DeLea and Frank Rossi to perfect the art of premium baseball stadium athletic turf.
