CHANGING RODEO RIDING DIRT BACK INTO GREEN MLB TURF AT PETCO PARK

San Diego, CA - San Diego Padres use EVERGREEN® turf blankets to spur on new sod growth.

This past January, the second annual San Diego Rodeo took place at Petco Park ballpark, home of the San Diego Padres, a member of the National League (NL) West Division of Major League Baseball (MLB). The sold-out, 3-day event featured some of the world’s top rodeo athletes in everything from bull riding to bareback riding, barrel racing, team roping, and more. Yes, the baseball infield and outfield were transformed into a professional rodeo venue.

When the rodeo is over and pens, fencing, chutes, and gates are removed, the groundscrew at Petco Park have the task of returning the stadium back into an MLB ballpark playing field. The infield and outfield areas are scraped down and prepared for new turf. As soon as new sod is installed, 80 thousand square feet of COVERMASTER® EVERGREEN® RADIANT Turf Covers are rolled into place to ensure ideal growing temperatures are achieved.

San Diego temperatures in February and March range from 55 to 75 degrees during the day and are considered ideal for sod growth. However, nighttime temperatures in the low 50s are not. EVERGREEN® RADIANT Turf Covers ensure lower temperatures do not affect turf growth by providing a greenhouse effect and up to a 25% increase in heat retention. By the time the San Diego Padres were back in action, Petco Park once again featured thick, green MLB baseball turf.

Posted July 15, 2025