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Welcome to The Turf Zone podcast. This episode features the article “My FIFA World Cup Experience” written by Dante Filadoro and read from New England Blade magazine.

Getting the opportunity to work on the field crew for the World Cup at Boston Stadium was an experience I will never forget. Being part of an event of that size was incredible, but what made it even better was getting to work alongside so many great people from throughout the turf industry.

The crew brought together local turf managers from just about every area you could think of, including parks and recreation, colleges, high schools, golf courses, sports turf, consulting, and landscaping. Everyone had different experiences and knowledge to bring to the table, and it was great being able to work side by side, share ideas, and learn from each other. It showed how strong the turf community is and how people from completely different parts of the industry can come together and work toward the same goal.

I especially want to thank Ryan Bjorn and the crew he has at Boston Stadium. Everyone on that team was welcoming, helpful, and willing to share their knowledge. They are some incredibly smart turf managers who take a lot of pride in what they do. Even with the long days and pressure that comes with preparing a field for an event like the World Cup, they made it an enjoyable experience and treated everyone like part of the crew.

It was also awesome getting to work alongside so many Stockbridge alumni. Seeing people who went through the same program and have gone on to work in different areas of the turf industry was something I really enjoyed. Having everyone come together for an event this big made me even more proud to be part of the Stockbridge community.

Most of all, I can’t thank Ryan, Drew, Chris, and the rest of the Field Crew team enough for allowing me to be a part of this experience. I learned a lot, met some great people, and made memories that I’ll carry with me throughout my career. Being able to help prepare a field for the World Cup is something I’ll always be proud of, but the people I got to work alongside are what made the experience truly special. It was an amazing opportunity and one that I will remember forever. •

A recent UMass Stockbridge graduate, Dante Filadoro is Operations Manager at New England Sports Turf in Chelmsford, MA. He is a 2025 DeWolf Outdoor Education scholarship recipient.

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