SGL Masterclass 2024 highlights
On Wednesday, March 20th and Thursday, March 21st, the 16th edition of the Masterclass took place in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Enjoy the highlights!
Visiting three iconic stadiums in Edinburgh & Glasgow with over 100 turfgrass professionals from around the world, what a great time we had in Scotland! Now that we have had time to process all the impressions from the Masterclass 2024, we can proudly look back on a successful event. We hope you enjoyed the event and returned home with valuable insights, new connections, and fresh energy. Thank you for your presence, enthusiasm, and knowledge sharing. Let’s work together to make the turfgrass community even stronger!
Aftermovie
Two days in Scotland have not only produced beautiful memories but also nice footage. If you want to relive our time in Edinburgh and Glasgow, or get an impression of our events, then watch the aftermovie. Enjoy!
Recap of the programme
Through inspiring presentations by industry experts, interactive workshops, and impressive stadium tours, we updated the attendees on the latest innovations in sustainable grass grow lighting, data-driven pitch management, and eco-friendly grass disease management. During the Masterclass, there was also plenty of to time engage with fellow industry professionals, allowing to not only acquire new knowledge but also network.
High expectations at Hampden Park
After a relaxed Tuesday evening where participants could get to know each other over pre-Masterclass drinks, Wednesday morning marked the official start of the programme. With two buses filled with turfgrass professionals, we moved from the hotel in Edinburgh to the iconic Hampden Park in Glasgow, where we were greeted by an authentic Scottish bagpiper. Once inside, we were welcomed by Ian Maxwell (CEO of the Scottish Football Association). Then it was time for the first guest speaker of the day. Bob Milano Jr. (principal of Lloyd Civil & Sports Engineering) has a wealth of experience in stadium and field management, and in his presentation, he discussed the trends and possibilities of sports field management in North America.
After Bob, John Sorochan (Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management at Tennessee) took the stage. John leads the research team tasked with ensuring that consistent turfgrass is used across stadiums in multiple countries during the 2026 World Cup in North-America and Mexico. In his presentation, he delved into the research conducted by him and his team on behalf of FIFA. After lunch, participants were given a tour of Hampden Park by the ground team, exploring the stadium and the field. During the interactive data monitoring session, they were also put to work themselves.
We wrapped up the day with a pleasant evening with good company in the center of Edinburgh, enjoying some Scottish traditions.
Sports history at Murrayfield and Celtic Park
Day two began with a panel session on sustainable grass disease management at Murrayfield Stadium. Panelists Deborah Cox (Managing Director Lagan Valley Scientific), Eva Sánchez (Head grounds manager at Real Sporting de Gijón), and Simeon Liljenberg (Turfgrass consultant) answered questions from their various expertise on grass diseases, shared their views on chemical usage and increasingly stringent regulations, and provided tips on smart, sustainable solutions for grass diseases. The panel session provided the audience with the opportunity to question the panelists extensively, resulting in engaging interaction.
Afterwards, we were given a tour of Murrayfield Stadium, and some participants took on the challenge of shooting a rugby ball through the rugby goalposts. They did so with varying degrees of success… There wasn’t much time to treat the injuries, as we soon continued our journey to the next venue: Celtic Park. Boarding the bus to Glasgow, upon arrival at Celtic Park, Masterclass participants were given a comprehensive tour, learning all about the iconic football stadium where Celtic F.C. has been playing its home games for decades. Passionately, they were told about the history of Celtic Park and the legend that surrounds “The Paradise.”
The end of the tour also marked the end of Masterclass 2024. After two fantastic, intensive days, it was time to say goodbye. Of course, we didn’t send the class of ’24 home empty-handed. Here’s to a successful Masterclass. Cheers!
Reviews
“Being the first time here at the Masterclass, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, I was truly impressed with the content, the effort, and the planning that SGL put into getting everyone out and about to each venue. The hospitality of the group was also excellent. Thank you, SGL, and to all the staff who helped. Very generous and very insightful.”
“The event was superbly organised, informative, and thoroughly enjoyable. There were great networking opportunities with turf managers from all over the globe.”
“A wonderful couple of days. SGL can hold their heads high for organising such a brilliant event where everything went so smoothly. It was great to speak to different people whom I hadn’t spoken to before. The talks were very informative, and I could have listened for hours. It was a great way to network and meet people from the industry in different parts of the world and exchange different experiences. There was well over a millennium of experience on the tour, so it’s vital to be able to tap into that knowledge, which we were able to do.”
“The Masterclass gave us the opportunity to share our experience with top groundsmen from all over the world. We had a great days with speakers and visits. Always keep learning!”
“It’s great to meet and see friends and colleagues; you always learn something when you interact with people facing similar situations. We all have challenges; it’s just the scale that varies between venues.”
