The Cincinnati Bengals have announced a significant change to their playing surface for the upcoming 2024 NFL season. The team is set to replace their current slit film turf field with a FieldTurf CORE system at Paycor Stadium. This decision comes as part of a commitment by Hamilton County and the Bengals to provide a top-level playing surface for NFL games.

Paycor Stadium managing director, Steve Johnson, expressed the commitment to quality, stating that the new field will be installed in time for the entire 2024 NFL season. The Bengals had previously used grass when the stadium opened in 2000, followed by slit film turf until this upcoming change.

The switch to FieldTurf CORE marks the end of Cincinnati's use of slit film turf, joining Indianapolis and Minnesota as the three teams that will no longer utilize this type of playing surface in 2024. Slit film turf is considered to be less safe for players' bodies compared to alternatives like FieldTurf.

The Bengals' transition to FieldTurf CORE aligns them with other NFL teams such as the Falcons, Panthers, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Giants, and Seahawks who also use FieldTurf systems. The change reflects a growing trend among teams prioritizing player safety and high-quality playing surfaces for competitive games.