UNC's Kenan Stadium transforms with new layer of sod for Chelsea vs Wrexham soccer match

More tickets are now available to one of the biggest soccer matches to come to the Triangle. Kenan Stadium will roll out the red carpet when Chelsea and Wrexham come to town next week.

The problem is, a soccer pitch and a football field are NOT the same. Crews are converting the field into something more "football friendly."

It’s a first at UNC’s Kenan Stadium since they first covered this field with durable artificial turf.

A high profile soccer match between British power Chelsea and media darlings from Wales’ Wrexham, who are owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, are due to play in Chapel Hill on Wednesday July 19th, but they require a different playing surface.

Chelsea Vs. Wrexham at Kenan Stadium fan information

Casey Carrick, UNC’s director of Grounds and Turf Maintenance said, "It is Bermuda 419 warm weather, you know, 90 degrees like today is not a problem for it. It weighs 17 pounds a square foot, so it’s very heavy."

Each of the rolls of sod weigh 25-hundred pounds. A "side kick" machine makes sure the seams are tight. It takes this crew two days to cover the field, first with a "geotextile fabric" that shields the artificial turf below, and then the grass.

Chad Price, owner of "Carolina Green" explained, "It’s an inch and a half thick. It’s grown with this special sand mix. It gives it stability and drainage so if it does rain it doesn’t turn to mud."

He and his crew make a living providing a first rate game-day surface. "You know, considering what the level of athletes are going to have to play here, that’s just what they require. We put the grass down and pretty much play on it immediately. "

Fans of European Football are eager to see the game, even if they’re not aware of all the work that makes it possible.

Price said, "Really, the best case scenario is when no one notices the grass, you know? And that’s when ‘ve done a good job. When there are no problems and everybody’s happen with the way it plays and I’m sure that’s what we’ll see here next week."

A few tickets were released Wednesday afternoon for the Chelsea Wrexham showdown. All the excitement begins one week from from the writing of this article, July 19th.