Minnesota stadium installs grass for soccer match

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -

The University of Minnesota's stadium is getting a grassy makeover in preparation for an international soccer match.

The university is covering the artificial turf in TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis with real grass for a Saturday match between England's Manchester City club and Greece's Olympiacos club. An assistant athletics director tells WCCO-TV it takes 30 trucks and 10,000 square yards of sod to do the job, which began Tuesday. The sod comes from a North Branch farm.

The match is part of the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament being played in the U.S. and Canada. A tournament spokesman tells the Star Tribune that running on real grass is better for players' legs.

The sod will be removed by Tuesday so the field can be painted before a Minnesota Vikings game.

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Minnesota stadium installs grass for soccer match