Camping World Stadium Playing Field Replacement

The City of Orlando (City) is soliciting proposals from interested and qualified Proposers to provide Playing Field Replacement Services at Camping World Stadium.

The primary objective is to provide a cost-effective synthetic turf surface that achieves strict compliance with the newly established criteria adopted by the National Football League (NFL) - National Football League Player's Association (NFLPA) Joint Surface Safety and Performance Committee throughout the Jacksonville Jaguars’ one-season residency in Orlando.

An additional, though no less important, objective is to ensure that the provided system delivers an 8-year total lifespan that meets the City's long-term needs for comfort, cooling, and multievent performance after the Jaguars depart. This may include compliance for other periodic NFL events including regular season games and the NFL Pro Bowl.

The City is also committed to environmental health and safety objectives. The project should minimize the negative impacts of synthetic turf disposal and the release of microplastics by requiring advanced waste management and strict compliance with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Heavy Metal material testing.

Activitas has consulted with the City of Orlando (City) and its partner, Florida Citrus Sports (FCS), since 2010 on issues related to the playing surface at Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl. This includes the original conversion from Bermudagrass to infilled synthetic turf and subsequent replacements including the most recent resurfacing in 2020.

The current surface is an AstroTurf Rootzone 3D3 Blend TRIONIC HD 52 with a 2” pile height. The carpet sits on top of a Brock SP-17 pad and is infilled with a blend of silica sand and a processed wood infill known as “Brockfill”. Prior surfaces have utilized sand and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) crumb rubber. Based on Orlando’s climate, the current natural infill has provided a noticeably more comfortable environment for users and is highly regarded by both the City and FCS.

The synthetic surface has been utilized for high school and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football games, including two (2) major college bowl games, and several NFL Pro Bowls from 2018 to 2025. The surface is frequently covered with temporary grass surfaces for high profile soccer events including several Florida Cups, international friendlies, and matches for the 2025 International Federation of Association Football "FIFA " Club World Cup. It is also periodically covered with venue flooring (Terraplas, I-Trac and similar) for major concert series and events ranging from WrestleMania to Monster Jam.

The field base is a conventional underdrained two-layer system with an open graded crushed stone base and a finer stone grading/finishing layer. It also contains a triaxial grid between the subgrade and the crushed stone base to mitigate the significant forces placed on the base by concert stages, earth berms and impacts from motorized vehicles utilized for these events. The base was recently tested for permeability and suitability for reuse by SportsLabs. A report is included as part of this RFP.

The stadium is currently undergoing a $400 million renovation project scheduled for completion in 2027. The project will add technology improvements, increase seating capacity and suites, provide additional fan amenities, and change the lower bowl to provide flexible concert staging area(s).

Concurrent with the completion of the renovation in 2027, the City of Orlando will welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League as principal tenants for the 2027-2028 NFL season while EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is expanded and renovated. This will be a critical factor in the decision-making process for the replacement of the surface.