A planning application for the replacement of the existing natural grass rugby pitch with new 3G surface at Kingspan Stadium has been received by Belfast City Council.
There have been rumours for a number of months that Ulster Rugby were contemplating switching to a synthetic surface.
Consultation is currently open on the application for the works, which was submitted on March 15, with work possibly going ahead this summer if everything is approved.
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It would be the biggest change to the ground since the 2014 redevelopment, but the news hasn't gone down well with some supporters who would prefer Ulster to play on grass as they have done at the venue for the previous 99 years.
However, at present there are six pitches in the United Rugby Championship which are non wholly natural grass, you can add Musgrave Park to that list as well as Munster Rugby use the venue as an occasion home.
Speaking about the proposed switch back in February Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper said a potential switch to a new artificial playing surface at Kingspan Stadium "may be the best thing".
"There is lots of research going on into the surface," he said.
"If it's going to help the product of the type of rugby we're able to play then maybe it's the best thing. I'm a traditionalist but also a realist.
"I'm not an expert but I know it's not easy to grow grass in this country in the middle of winter and if we don't have grass out there it makes a pretty difficult surface to play on.
"I'll let the powers that be do their research - they'll find what they find and we'll go from there."
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