VENUES NSW has kicked off its $1.4 million effort to overhaul the turf at Turton Road to line up with some of Sydney's top venues.
The pitch has been laid bare as the turf is replaced with what Venues NSW chief executive Paul Doorn said was the same technology on the ground at Olympic Park and in Parramatta.
"The new world class playing surface, Evergreen Matrix Instant Play Turf, brings McDonald Jones Stadium in line with both ANZ Stadium and Bankwest Stadium," Mr Doorn said.
"The stadium is used year-round so the construction team has done an excellent job to fit this project within the very narrow window of time between the end of the Knights' season and the first Jets home game.
"The old turf will now be re-distributed to other sporting organisations in the region including the nearby Broadmeadow Magic FC and Stevenson Park."
The Newcastle Jets are scheduled to play their first home fixture of the season at McDonald Jones Stadium on on October 26.
"This is a great result for not only the stadium's anchor tenants - the Newcastle Jets and Newcastle Knights - but also for the Hunter region's sports fans," Hunter and Central Coast MLC Taylor Martin said.
"McDonald Jones Stadium has hosted some great sporting events in recent years and upgrading the playing surface will mean we can attract more high-quality events to the Hunter region."
