Europe’s first Field in a box™ opened in Madrid
The first TenCate Field in a box™ system is installed and opened in Europe. The first European Field in a box™ was opened in Madrid. The field was commissioned by UEFA. FedEx helped make the installation possible. FedEx is fully committed to social investments in the markets in which it operates. The TenCate Field in a box™ system from TenCate Grass connects sports to social, educational and economic objectives.
TenCate Field in a box™ is an integrated, easy-to-install solution based on an artificial grass system and is comprised of an artificial turf mat of 20 by 40 metres, a foundation and boarding. Materials from TenCate Grass and TenCate Geosynthetics are used as a basis for the system. The system is packaged and delivered in a container, installed on location and equipped with all the extras. The field can provide incentives for employment opportunities and increase involvement from the local population. The system also addresses the global goals of the UN for sustainable development.
Cañada Real Galiana, Madrid
The field in Madrid was provided on behalf of the football organisation UEFA and is located in Cañada Real Galiana, an underprivileged neighbourhood in the Spanish capital. Funding for the installation of the field in Madrid was provided by FedEx. The courier and logistical services company is impressed by the innovative design of TenCate Field in a box™ and in particular by its sustainability. The FedEx Trade Networks division provides international transportation services and can ship the containers all over the world.
Delivering for good
With its global ‘delivering for good’ programme, FedEx is fully committed to social investments in the markets in which it operates. It is utilising its tools and networks to connect local communities to facilities that they would otherwise have no access to. In Madrid, FedEx is working together with Red Deporte Y Cooperación. This local, non-governmental organisation is involved in education, health, integration, peace-building and sports participation. As the main sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, FedEx is working together with the UEFA Foundation for Children and streetfootballworld. That is a global, non-profit network that uses football as a tool to bring about social change and to define communities that could profit most from a sports field. Red Deporte Y Cooperación is a part of the streetfootballworld network.
‘A smart approach’
TenCate Grass has already been approached for cooperation by a variety of institutions and companies both domestically and internationally, explains Hein Heerink. Heerink is product manager at TenCate Grass and co-designer of the system. ‘It is important for us to show that we can take a smart approach to installing artificial grass fields that also have a social objective. The first fields will serve as credentials for future projects.’
