Grindavík weighs artificial turf for main football field

Grindavík town council is considering a request to install artificial turf and floodlights at the town’s main football field, mbl.is reports. A decision will be made alongside a comprehensive review of the operations of UMFG, the local sports club.

The review includes the organisation of sports and youth activities in Grindavík, UMFG’s governance structure, its operating model and its long-term financing.

“The turning point is that we have started looking to the future regarding investments in the town, but we still need to assess what will be done,” Grindavík Mayor Pétur Georg Markan said.

He said the issue would receive greater attention during the preparation of the town’s financial plan, when priorities will be discussed.

Markan said Hópið, the town’s indoor sports hall, had been declared a total loss. Grindavík received 1.2 billion Icelandic krónur from Iceland Natural Catastrophe Insurance after the building was deemed unusable, and the claim has been settled.

One option is to invest in an artificial-turf field, Markan said, adding that the discussion itself showed the town was now looking towards the future.

The town council said the decision on the artificial turf would be made in connection with a cooperation agreement between the municipality and the sports club. A decision is expected before the end of September.

Changes to the area’s main and detailed plans will also be required before construction can begin. The council approved a separate request from UMFG’s football division concerning training and competition facilities for the 2026-2027 winter season and instructed the director of the leisure and culture department to prepare a supplementary funding request.