Multi-Season Football Turf System for Bandy Sports – non-infill turf system
For winter ice conversion, a non-infill turf system provides the most stable surface, fastest freezing behavior, and lowest maintenance complexity.
What’s the Bandy sport field?
A bandy field is an outdoor winter ice sport venue. The field size is roughly comparable to a football (soccer) pitch, but it is larger than a standard ice hockey rink.
Bandy was originally played on naturally frozen lakes, but due to weather instability, it became increasingly difficult to find reliable, safe ice surfaces for competition. Later, football fields began to be used instead, flooding them in winter to create a smooth, flat, and safe ice surface.
The first artificially frozen bandy field was created in Budapest, Hungary, in 1923. In the 1980s, indoor arenas started to be built, allowing for a longer season. The world’s first indoor bandy arena, the Olimpiyskiy, was built in Moscow for the 1980 Summer Olympics but has hosted many bandy events since
Bandy sport field size
The size of a bandy field is regulated in section 1.1 of the Bandy Playing Rules set up by the Federation of International Bandy It shall be rectangular and in the range 4,050–7,150 square metres (43,600–77,000 sq ft) (45–65 metres (148–213 ft) by 90–110 metres (300–360 ft)), about the same size as a football pitch for association football and considerably larger than an ice hockey rink. For international play, the field must not be smaller than 100 metres (330 ft) by 60 metres (200 ft). The field is outlined with distinct and unbroken lines according to the section. These lines are red and 5–8 centimetres (2.0–3.1 in) wide, according to the section.
Recommended Turf System for Bandy Field Conversion
Non-infill sports turf, 40–45mm pile height, PE monofilament yarn, high-density stitching, stable double-layer backing.
Even water distribution、Fast & stable freezing、No rubber infill movement、Freeze thaw stability、proven performance in Mohe (–30°C), China.
Why Choose MightyGrass for Bandy sport?
Freeze-Thaw Stability
High Dtex fibers for surface resilience during freeze-thaw cycles
High Drainage Performance
snowmelt
rain-to-ice transitions
multi-layer ice building
A clear drainage path is essential for forming an even, safe ice surface.
Ideal Surface for Ice Spraying
even water distribution
fast freezing
uniform ice texture
minimal maintenance requirement
This makes it highly suitable for Bandy ice conversion.
UV-Stable Turf Fibers
Proven in Extreme Cold
Our turf system has been successfully used in Mohe, China, one of the coldest residential regions in the world (–30°C to –40°C), where the turf is converted into an ice field in winter.
This real-world example proves our turf’s high stability, strong durability, and reliable winter performance.
Bandy sport turf Specifications
| Pile height | 40–50 mm | Infill | No-infill football turf |
| Yarn type | PE monofilament | Backing | Double-layer PP + latex/PU |
| Dtex | 10,000–13,000 | Drainage rate | ≥ 60 L/min/m² |
| Gauge | 3/4″ | Cold resistance | –25°C tested |
| Stitch density | 13–18 stitches/10 cm | UV stability | ≥ 5,000 hours |
No infill vs infill turf effect on bandy field conversion
Winter Performance Comparison
| Feature | Non-Infill Turf | Infill Turf |
| Freezing uniformity | Excellent – water spreads evenly | Poor – infill obstructs water distribution |
| Freeze–thaw stability | Strong | Weak – soft spots likely |
| Fiber behavior | Stable, unaffected by infill | Infill freezes, affecting fiber positioning |
| Ice surface flatness | Smooth and continuous | Uneven, prone to hollow areas |
| Safety for skating & bandy | High | Lower due to inconsistent ice |
Conversion Difficulty Comparison
| Feature | Non-Infill Turf | Infill Turf |
| Ice-building process | Easy and predictable | Requires more correction |
| Ice formation speed | Fast | Slower (infill absorbs water) |
| Maintenance effort | Low | High |
| Meltwater drainage | Efficient | Infill may block drainage paths |
convert football field to bandy field– 8 Steps process
- Clear debris
- Check flatness
- Inspect turf condition
- Remove objects
- Inspect channels
- Remove blockage
- Ensure water flow
- Day temp ≈ 0°C
- Night temp ≤ -3°C
- Stable cold window
- Thin layer only
- Even distribution
- Avoid puddles
- Allow natural freeze
- No heavy equipment
- Let layer stabilize
- Thin spray → freeze → repeat
- Target thickness: 3–5 cm
- Maintain surface balance
- Check thickness
- Identify soft spots
- Ensure safe edge zones
- Light resurfacing
- Snow removal
- Monitor thaw cycles
Bandy Field Case — Mohe, China
Location: Mohe, Heilongjiang, China
Winter temperature: –25°C to –40°C
Turf type: Non-infill artificial turf
Function: Converted into an ice field in winter
Performance summary:
· Stable freezing
· Strong backing stability
· No damage after thawing
· Smooth conversion between seasons
· Low maintenance requirements
Get Technical Support
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FAQ
We’ve compiled answers to some frequently asked questions about multi-season football turf system for bandy sports. If you can’t find the information you need here, please contact us now.
The key to converting a football field into a bandy ice field is not the turf itself, but the ground temperature, the drainage system, and the method of building the ice in thin, controlled layers.
Managing the temperature window, drainage, and thin-layer ice spraying ensures a stable and safe ice surface.
- Do not use heavy machinery, and do not apply thick layers of water at once.
Thick water layers cannot freeze quickly, leading to a soft base layer and a hard surface layer — a highly unsafe structure. - Ensure proper drainage:
Poor drainage can cause uneven water distribution, frost heave at low temperatures, uneven pressure on the base structure, and potential damage to the turf foundation. - Freeze–Thaw Cycle:
When temperatures fluctuate between -1°C and +2°C, the ice surface may soften or partially melt, and the melted water may refreeze into cracks, increasing maintenance requirements.
A non-infill system performs significantly better during winter ice conversion because:
- More stable during freeze–thaw cycles
- Surface water spreads evenly when spraying for ice
- Faster freezing and more consistent ice layer formation
- No frozen infill particles causing bumps or depressions
- Winter maintenance becomes much simpler
- Turf returns to normal usage easily in spring with minimal impact
Non-infill turf provides the smoothest and most predictable base surface for winter ice building, which is essential for safe bandy play.
Because cold regions often experience:
- long winter periods
- wide temperature fluctuations
- repeated freeze–thaw cycles
Non-infill turf delivers:
- superior surface flatness
- faster ice formation
- lower risk of structural damage
- more consistent skating and bandy performance
This makes non-infill the preferred turf system for winter ice conversion in these climates.
The best temperature conditions are:
- Air temperature at or below 0°C
- Night temperature at –3°C or lower
- Consistent cold weather for several days
- Ground temperature close to freezing
These conditions help ensure fast, even ice formation.
In general, no.
Artificial turf fibers are made of synthetic material (PE/PP),
which do not contain water and will not crack due to freezing.
However:
- drainage must be maintained
- freeze–thaw cycles must be managed
- heavy ice pressure requires stable base construction
The system, not the fibers, is what requires careful attention.
Yes.
Once the ice melts, the turf surface returns to normal usage.
Non-infill systems are especially suitable because:
- no rubber infill to clean
- no compaction issues
- minimal post-winter recovery time
A simple brushing and inspection is usually enough.
- Brief intro: the tradition in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia
- Economics: reusing existing football fields to extend utility
- Technical challenges: freezing surface, maintaining base integrity, ensuring drainage & frost resistance