The first official Rock in Rio USA has come to a close. But not before putting on a party in true Vegas fashion.
Photo credit: aLive Coverage
The inaugural Rock in Rio USA festival kicked off this year at the new MGM Resorts Festival Grounds, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the arid climate and foot traffic from nearly 200,000 rock fans, the event site remained green, lush and free of dirt – thanks to more than a half million square feet of Act Global artificial grass.
532,800 square feet of Act Global turf at Rock in Rio USA. Photo Credit: Martin-Harris Construction
The 40-acre City of Rock site showcased musical acts on three stages, a Ferris wheel, themed Rock Streets, a VIP viewing area, wedding chapel, and a 64-foot-high zip line towering above the festival grounds. The impressive two-weekend musical line-up included Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Foster the People, John Legend, No Doubt, Deftones, Gary Clark Jr, Ed Sheeran and more.
Rock in Rio fans lounge on the artificial turf lawn. Photo credit: a Live Coverage
The site was also covered in 532,800 square feet of artificial landscape turf, contracted by Martin-Harris Construction and installed by Park West Sports Systems. The Turfscape product features a blend of lifelike green turf fibers, along with a light brown thatch layer to lend the comfort and appearance of real grass. The synthetic turf provided a soft, clean surface throughout the event grounds for the enjoyment of Rock in Rio fans.
Photo Credit: aLive Coverage
“Artificial turf is an ideal, versatile solution for event spaces and venues, particularly in very hot, rainy or inclement weather,” said John Baize, director and co-owner of Act Global. “Dust, mud, maintenance, and watering are all minimized for the ease of event management and enjoyment of festival guests.”
Photo credit: aLive Coverage
The environmentally-friendly turf required no mowing or watering by Rock in Rio personnel, saving the associated time and costs required to maintain a large festival site. It is highly UV protected and durable to withstand heavy foot traffic as well as intense sunlight.
Feedback regarding the use of synthetic turf has been overwhelmingly positive. Several online commenters remarked positively on the turf: “Thank you! Dusty festivals are a nightmare!” And John Katsilometes for LasVegasSun.com and LasVegasWeekly.com: “Fake turf was a great idea.”
This may be the first event on the new turf, but it won’t be the last. The MGM Resorts Festival Grounds can hold up to 12 events per year, with next up “Party for a Cause” April 1-3, 2016, with Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Kenny Chesney as headliners. Rock in Rio is slated to return in 2017.
Click here to see more Rock in Rio USA 2015 [Photos].
Shelby Becker is a creative content creator and marketing specialist at Act Global. She’s an animal rights activist, avid concert-goer, and scary movie enthusiast. Follow her on LinkedIn .
For more information, contact marketing at sbecker@actglobal.com