Fratton Park's playing surface has been rebuilt from the ground up in a project valued at £1.5m, with work starting on 5 May. The club says the new hybrid pitch will be ready to host QPR on 15 August.
Scope of the rebuild
The reconstruction involved removing the old layers of soil, drainage and irrigation and replacing them with a new sand-profile base and layers before laying the hybrid carpet and seeding. The surface is predominantly natural turf with a small synthetic component: 95% natural grass and 5% artificial fibre.
“In terms of this stadium, it’s the best product we've had so far,” said Dan Mellor, Pompey’s head groundsman.
Among the technical changes, the long-standing central camber that once assisted drainage has been eliminated entirely, which the club expects to improve sightlines for supporters. The club has also installed an upgraded irrigation network, increasing the number of sprinklers on the pitch.
Key figures and what they mean for supporters
- £1.5m — total cost of the pitch project.
- 95% / 5% — ratio of natural to artificial turf in the hybrid surface.
- 426 kg — amount of rye grass seed planted.
- 24 sprinklers — total now installed on the pitch (an increase of five).
- 15 August — target date for the pitch to host Portsmouth vs QPR.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project cost | £1.5m |
| Surface composition | 95% natural / 5% artificial |
| Seed planted | 426 kg rye grass |
| Sprinklers | 24 (was 19) |
| Camber | Removed completely |
Head groundsman Dan Mellor said the rebuild is more comprehensive than the hybrid carpet installation carried out in 2018, which did not include full sub-layer replacement. He described the present work as a thorough reconstruction intended to produce a more durable playing surface that can withstand additional fixtures, including women’s matches.
The removal of the camber marks the end of a feature that had been progressively reduced since 2013 but remained noticeable until now. Club staff expect the flat profile to improve visibility from the stands and create a more consistent playing surface.
Supporters can expect further updates from the club as the growing process continues toward the mid‑August deadline. In the meantime, the ground team have signalled confidence in the new pitch as they prepare Fratton Park for the coming season.
