Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Eskimos will be playing on artificial grass when the CFL starts its new season this year.

City council granted approval Wednesday to convert Commonwealth Stadium from natural grass, which has been its playing surface since the facility opened in 1978, to a form of field turf.

Commonwealth Stadium is the only facility in the CFL with natural grass.

The Eskimos made their pitch to city hall for a cost-sharing deal to make the change.

Besides a consistent playing surface for an entire CFL season, the football club pointed to the many benefits for the city -- field maintenance will be cheaper, with no watering or fertilizing required every year.

As well, with Commonwealth Stadium having a busy concert schedule, the new field will endure far less damage during the set up and tear down of those events.

One change the Eskimos won't make, however, is a move towards advertising on the field surface.

"Our sponsorship guys would love to do it, (but) we're still going to remain true to a clean field," says Eskimos' CEO Rick LeLacheur

"There might be some day that we have to go to markings on the field. For the Grey Cup game, (advertising) will be on the field because it's a CFL event."

The cost to take out the grass and install artificial turf is estimated at $2.6 million.

Crews will start digging out the grass in the next week or so, with the new turf expected to be installed by some time in May.

City council says the move will save $80,000 a year.