Virginia Tech Transforms Lane Stadium for Metallica with Bold Turf Overhaul
Virginia Tech Uses Eye-Catching Turf Technique Ahead of Metallica’s Arrival
Lane Stadium is no stranger to roaring crowds and high-voltage entrances, especially when Virginia Tech’s football team storms the field to the pulse-pounding sounds of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” But come May 7, the legendary band behind the anthem will take center stage themselves—right on the same field they’ve unknowingly helped electrify for decades.
As part of their M72 World Tour, Metallica will rock Lane Stadium in what will be only the second major concert ever held inside the iconic venue. The last time the stadium hosted a performance of this magnitude was in 2007, in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting, when a star-studded lineup that included Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer came together for a healing show. While various artists like NLE Choppa have performed outside the stadium, Metallica’s upcoming show marks a new level of musical history being made in Blacksburg.
To prepare for this high-profile transformation from gridiron to rock arena, Virginia Tech’s grounds crew is pulling off a meticulous field renovation—and it’s far from a simple stage setup. Step one in the makeover? Removing the sprinkler heads. But that’s just the beginning.
The real magic lies in a specialized turf preparation method called “fraise mowing.” Using a precision mower, the crew removes the top layer of grass—anywhere from a quarter to over an inch deep. This process, while extreme, is strategic. It strips away thatch (a dense layer of organic debris), improves soil exposure, and creates optimal conditions for aeration and future overseeding.
In this case, the fraise mow is preemptive. With heavy equipment and thousands of fans set to cover the field, the grass underneath is bound to take a beating. By removing it in advance, the grounds team ensures that once the lights go down and the amps go quiet, they can quickly reseed and rejuvenate the field for football season.
This turf transformation isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about smart, long-term planning. And when Metallica hits the 50-yard line to play in the round, they won’t just be rocking out in Lane Stadium—they’ll be making history on a perfectly prepped field designed to rise again, just in time for fall Saturdays in Blacksburg.