Unplayable field conditions forced the National Football League to cancel the annual Hall of Fame Game that traditionally is the first game of the NFL preseason. It never got played this year.
Advertisement
Field maintenance and Hall of Fame officials were scrambling late Sunday to try and fix issues with the field, which appear to stem from the melting of paint at mid-field and in the endzone, leading to a rubbery surface that poses a player safety concern.
Not only was it applied last minute – it was the wrong type of paint entirely, Hall of Fame Director David Baker told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We are very disappointed for our fans, but player safety is our primary concern, and as a result, we could not play an National Football League game on this field tonight. But then came the painting of the logo, which caused the problems. Later in the preseason, the Colts lost key contributors Arthur Jones and Greg Toler to significant injuries.
That’s where the field hardened. It was exacerbated when workers sprayed solvent in the midfield area, followed by using heat to dry the excess paint.
Stephen Holder of the Indy Star also talked about venturing down to the field, and seeing clumps of the field where the paint had dried in a condition he related to feeling like limestone. Players from both teams, dressed in their jerseys but not in pads, walked onto the field.
Field crews continued working on the middle of the field, spraying the logo with water.
The traditional exhibition in Canton, Ohio, an extra preseason contest for each team and source of local pride, was canceled when National Football League and team officials deemed the turf unsafe due to hardened paint and loosened rubber pellets. It was an ugly scene. Sunday’s game wasn’t going to be much of a regular season preview, although it provides a chance for end-of-the-roster plays to impress coaches and make the team.
According to David Baker, the field was in excellent shape leading up to the Hall of Fame Game.
The field came to Canton from the New Orleans Saints, used in the Super Dome previous year only.
Advertisement
The NFL’s back, sort of. The crash led to Spikes, 28, being released by New England. Paint used on the synthetic turf for logos turned hard and sticky, making it risky for the players.
