Inside the championship pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium

What does it take to maintain a world-class football pitch that also hosts rugby, American football, lacrosse, concerts and more? Paul Zaraza, Stadium Grounds Manager at Sports Illustrated Stadium, shares his journey from golf courses to the heart of Major League Soccer. In this interview, he explains the challenges of transforming a football pitch for different events, how he uses advanced grow lighting technology, why last season’s success was extra special for the grounds team, and what to expect at the Masterclass.

Different event, different approach

Each event requires a different pitch setup, and American football presents a particularly big challenge. “For our college football game, it took three days just to paint the lines,” Paul explains. “An American football field has far more markings than a football pitch, so painting alone was a huge task. Maintenance-wise, I raised the height of cut, dried the pitch out to prevent excessive damage, and aerated right after the game to bring it back to life.”

Removing the football lines after the game was another demanding process. “It took us an entire evening to scrub them off. That week, I was doing over 30,000 steps a day—normally, I average between 20,000 and 25,000. People aim for 10,000 steps a day, and I’m doubling that!”

New York Red Bull’s championship season

Despite the stadium’s versatility, Paul’s main focus remains on football. The New York Red Bulls play in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, where they fought their way into last year’s play-offs, finishing seventh. Against the odds, they went on to win the Eastern Conference championship. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to win the MLS Cup (national championship), but it was a season to remember.

“Last season was amazing—not just for the club, but for our grounds team as well,” Paul says. “Seeing our pitch on national television during such an important moment was a great feeling. We take a lot of pride in our work, and it’s rewarding to see that effort recognised.”

One of his proudest moments of the season came early on. “We had two home games with three-inch (7.6 cm) rain events during the matches. Other teams had to postpone, but we kept playing. When that got attention on social media, it was a huge compliment to our team.”

Grow lights

Paul and his team rely on a combination of HPS and LED grow lighting to maintain the pitch’s high quality, especially in challenging weather conditions. “We have a four-zone setup and try to give each zone two full days under the lights. That’s when we see the best results,” he explains. “We always start on the west side because it gets the least sunlight.”

Using both HPS and LED grow lights gives Paul a direct comparison of their effectiveness. “Last summer, the US Women’s National Team trained here and tore up the penalty spot during a shootout. I placed the LED units on it for a week, and it fully recovered. They are outstanding lights!”