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Basel calling - TurfTech 2025
On 1 and 2 September, the turf and sports field sector gathered at St Jakob-Park, FC Basel's stadium, for the second edition of TurfTech. What started in Genk as a compact, hands-on gathering grew into a European meeting place in Basel where technology, sustainability and craftsmanship reinforce each other - with a strong content programme, exciting keynotes and an exhibition floor full of innovative solutions for groundsmen, greenkeepers and field managers. Prominent partner of this event: Keep It Green!
The first edition in the Cegeka Arena (KRC Genk) brought together just under 200 participants from 14 countries in an open atmosphere where knowledge sharing was central. The move to Switzerland marked a clear scale-up: hundreds of professionals from all over Europe descended on the two-day programme, which took place in a top football stadium that acted as a living lab for new technologies. “We wanted to create an international stage for groundsmen and show them how much respect they deserve,” says Florian Mans, organiser of TurfTech and Chief Commercial Officer at Stogger Turf Care. “Day in, day out, they stand on the field in all weathers. Their commitment and professionalism deserve an event that is about more than commerce. We wanted to make TurfTech a knowledge platform, not a sales show.”
The Basel edition was all about efficient and responsible maintenance: less energy, less water, higher playing quality and longer life of sports fields. An important part of the programme revolved around data-driven management.
Think sensors, dashboards and measurement tools that provide real-time insight into hardness, grip, ball bounce and moisture balance. Those technologies enable maintenance to be tailored exactly to what the pitch needs, with less waste and better results. Keynotes and practical examples showed how clubs and municipalities are moving from gut-feeling maintenance to informed, measurable decisions. Energy management was also discussed in detail. Energy-efficient supplemental lighting systems help accommodate natural light deficits in stadiums without derailing energy costs. In addition, several companies showed machines and tools that simplify or combine maintenance: devices that aerate and sand in one pass, robotic mowers that can work autonomously, and smart field meters that translate measurement data directly into dashboards. The emphasis was not on spectacle, but on practical applicability - what works in the field, and how to organise management more intelligently and efficiently.
For many visitors, TurfTech is as much a meeting opportunity as a trade fair. The format - from TED talks to the pitch - encouraged spontaneous conversations between field managers, suppliers and researchers. In Basel, it became clear once again how knowledge, technology and people can come together to make innovation really pay off.
“The best thing is to see that everyone here talks with each other, not against each other,” says Mans. “There were lighting specialists, fertiliser manufacturers, grass experts - all in one room.
And everyone shared knowledge and experience freely. That's the essence: keep talking, keep visiting each other, keep it social. We are doing this together.” With over 300 participants from all over Europe, the fair took on a distinctly pan-European character. This increase in scale increases the networking potential and also makes benchmarking between clubs and municipalities more realistic: what works in Basel or Amsterdam can - with local adaptation - also be applied in Genk or Antwerp.
“We want to keep it as broad geographically as possible,” explains the CCO. “From the south of Spain to the north of Scandinavia: different climate zones, different challenges. This is the only way to get an honest picture of what is really going on in the sector.”
Innovation also brings challenges, of course. New technologies require investments - from sensor networks to LED installations - and thus convincing business cases. It also requires training and willingness to change: technology only pays off if it is used correctly. Finally, local regulations concerning water, pesticides and noise also determine the practical feasibility of new techniques. For Belgian field managers, TurfTech is more than a memory of the first edition in Genk: it remains close by and recognisable. The challenges in an urban context - limited space, high occupancy and pressure on sustainability - are identical to those of many Belgian clubs and municipalities. Moreover, several companies that were present in Basel are also active in Belgium, which facilitates the implementation of new systems.
TurfTech is organised by Stogger Turf Care, a Dutch company specialising in smart lighting and monitoring solutions for sports pitches. This DNA - technology coupled with applicability - is palpable in every part of the event: what is shared on stage is concretely demonstrated on the pitch a moment later. “We are doing this for the industry, not for ourselves,” stresses Mans. “We want to move the industry forward, with products as well as knowledge. TurfTech needs to grow into the knowledge platform for sports pitches in Europe.” Looking ahead, he gives a hint: “The next edition will have an even greater focus on golf, rugby and cricket in addition to football. We are aiming for around 500 participants. So yes - we are going bigger again. There's no other way,” he laughs.
TurfTech 2025 confirms that the future of sports fields is data-driven, more efficient and sustainable. From hybrid grass and energy-efficient grow lights to smart sensors and robotics - the innovations are tangible and deployable. For clubs, municipalities and suppliers, the message is clear: those who invest in knowledge and technology today will reap playing quality, cost control and sustainability tomorrow. “We want to move the industry forward,” concludes Mans. “And we do that not only with technology, but by bringing people together. That is the real strength of TurfTech - and yes, above all: keep it green!”
