As futuristic as it may seem, synthetic turf could become the norm in high school football stadiums across North Carolina within a few years.

When the Astrodome opened in Houston in 1965, the playing field with artificial grass was little more than a concrete slab, a pad and a layer of indoor-outdoor carpet.

New synthetic grass is more natural, and the fields are safer.

"The new synthetic grass feels and performs like natural turf," said Todd Clarkson, an architect at Architectural Design Studio, which has helped with field renovations in the Asheville area.

"It is not abrasive. ... It is closer to turf than to the old artificial fields."

ESPN.com noted the market for companies installing artificial turf doubled between 2003 and 2005 and is expected to double again by 2009.

About 70 percent of the total market for synthetic fields is on the high school level.

A new synthetic field in an established stadium could cost about $600,000. Putting a synthetic field in a new stadium probably adds about $250,000 to the cost, Clarkson said.

But there is little upkeep. No costs for fertilizer, reseeding, field paint, field maintenance.

No one is sure how long the synthetic fields will last. Most fields have eight-year warranties with an life expectancy of 10 years or more.

The new synthetic turf fields are laid on a stone base of two to two-and-a-half inches. A two-and-a-half inch layer of ground rubber tops the stone. The carpet is placed on top of that.

"When you look at some of our land-locked high schools -- places like Cary, Wake Forest-Rolesville and Broughton -- you wonder how we can keep going like this. Those schools are hurting for fields," said Bobby Guthrie, the athletics director for Wake County schools.

"I just foresee it happening. Some fields now are being used 10 or 15 hours a day. The big thing about synthetic fields is that they can be used essentially 24-7."

High school stadium fields are used for football, girls and boys soccer, bands and, at some schools, lacrosse, field hockey and boys and girls track and field, too.

Community programs also want to use high school stadiums as well. Physical education classes at some schools, such as Wake Forest-Rolesville, have no field to which they can go.

Compounding the problem is that many new area high schools have smaller or fewer fields than older schools. Mobile classrooms now sit where youngsters used to run and exercise.

Gary Haithcock, the director of buildings and grounds for Wake County schools, said installing synthetic fields is something the schools may need to investigate in the future.

And elementary schools might need them more than high schools.

"With more and more year-round schools, there will be little time to reseed or do maintenance on the fields at the elementary schools," Haithcock said.

Fred Park, athletics director at Asheville Roberson, has high praise for the synthetic turf at his school.

"It has been great," he said. "We love it, and our kids love it."

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