Clay, parquet, Astroturf and the seven most famous surfaces in sports – FOXSports.com

AstroTurf: Erased from existence and out of mind, regarded as a relic of the ’70s — like 8-tracks and Jimmy Carter. But it played an important role in sports and was the precusor to the field turf that dominates grass fields now — whether indoors or out. 

The Astrodome was the first major arena to get the surface because it was the first major dome on the planet (known as the “8th Wonder of the World” when it opened). But growing grass proved difficult because, you know, it was under a roof. Thus, turf. It then became a popular, cheaper, knee-ruining carpet for much of the ’70s and ’80s all over the sports world. Diving on Astroturf was slightly like diving on very smooth concrete.