Sligo company strikes top deal for World Cup
Irish-owned global pitch specialists SIS Pitches has installed the pitch for the much-anticipated 2018 World Cup Final in Russia.
SIS Pitches was selected to design, construct and install six of the 12 pitches to be used at the World Cup finals, including at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The Luzhniki Stadium will host the opening game, the opening ceremony, a semi-final as well as the World Cup Final itself.
This is the first time that a World Cup Final has ever been played on anything but all-natural grass. Russia 2018 starts on June 14 – one month from today.
SIS Pitches is a world leader in synthetic and natural sports surfacing and is one of the world’s largest sports pitch companies.
The global pitch specialists lay grass and synthetic pitches and sports surfaces at world-class stadiums around the globe. SIS Pitches was set up in 2001 by CEO George Mullan, who directs the company from Sligo.
The use of the company’s sophisticated reinforced natural turf system, called SISGrass, as well as its revolutionary aeration technology, SISAir, will make the Luzhniki Stadium the most technologically advanced pitch in World Cup history.
The company is in the process of having each pitch independently certified to FIFA’s quality standards before SIS Pitches formally hands over three of the pitches to stadium management, who will handle all of its maintenance.
Otkritie Arena, the home of Spartak Moscow, and Rostov Arena have already been handed over and SIS Pitches will continue to maintain Luzhniki Stadium throughout the World Cup, with a crew of five people based at the stadium for the tournament.
SIS Pitches Founder and CEO George Mullan said:
“It was an absolute honour to have been chosen to not only design, construct and install the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium but at six of the 12 World Cup venues – working on more pitches than any other company.
“It’s the first time a World Cup Final has been played on anything but all-natural grass. SISGrass was only launched in 2015 and already it has been installed at a number of worldclass stadiums and now the 2018 World Cup Final will be played on it.
“The quality of SISGrass will ensure that the pitches are resilient in all conditions, and I am sure the 2018 World Cup finals will be one that we will always remember.
“We are delighted with the decision and that our investment in setting up an office in Russia five years ago, combined with completing new stadium pitches for Spartak Moscow and Krasnodar in the last few years has been rewarded.
“Our Russian staff have done a superb job.”
As well as Luzhniki Stadium, five other pitches are in the process of being installed by SIS Pitches.
Some 30 of the 32 teams will play on SISGrass during the first-round games, with Serbia and Demark playing all three opening games on a SISGrass surface.