Ayrton Oneill
Many arenas around the country are shared by professional basketball and ice hockey teams. For example, in 2012, the Staples Center in Los Angeles hosted six games in a week, with the Kings hockey team and the Clippers and Lakers basketball teams all making the playoffs. Arenas can switch from ice hockey to basketball by first removing the walls and glass panels, then laying out insulated plywood over the ice surface, and finally piecing together the hardwood basketball floor on top. The basketball court is heavy enough to stay in place, and the insulated plywood keeps the basketball court warm while the ice underneath remains frozen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ice | Remains frozen underneath a concrete floor embedded with temperature control mechanisms |
| Basketball court | Laid on top of the ice, made of interlocking mats of rubber or fiberglass-foam composite, topped with deck boards and basketball-ready parquet |
| Ice temperature | Maintained at 16 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Ice thickness | Very thick, made of many layers |
| Basketball court weight | 25 tons or more |
| Conversion process time | As little as a couple of hours with two dozen workers |
| Conversion process | Remove walls and glass panels, lay insulated subfloor, and assemble basketball court on top |
| Basketball court size | 94 feet long and 50 feet wide |
| Hockey rink size | 200 feet long and 85 feet wide |
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What You'll Learn
The ice is covered with insulated plywood
Arenas that host both basketball and ice hockey games have a concrete floor embedded with temperature control mechanisms. When it's time to switch from ice hockey to basketball, the ice surface is not melted off but covered with insulated plywood. This plywood is made up of 285 to 300 pieces of wood, each weighing 175-190 pounds, adding up to more than 25 tons. The process of laying out this plywood and assembling the basketball court on top of it can take as little as a couple of hours with two dozen workers.
The ice rink is first enclosed by walls and glass panels, which are removed before converting the rink to a basketball court. The insulated plywood is then laid out over the entire ice surface, and the hardwood basketball floor is pieced together on top. This plywood is designed to maintain different temperatures on either side, keeping the basketball court warm while the ice underneath remains frozen.
The process of converting a basketball court to an ice hockey rink involves the same steps but in reverse. The basketball court is disassembled, and the insulated plywood and glass panels are removed to expose the ice surface. The ice surface is maintained at a temperature of 16 degrees Fahrenheit by chillers, which freeze upwards of 10,000 gallons of deionized water pumped onto the concrete slab. This results in a layer of ice that's about three-quarters of an inch thick.
The insulated plywood plays a crucial role in this conversion process, allowing arenas to quickly switch between hosting basketball and ice hockey games. By keeping the ice frozen underneath the basketball court, the plywood eliminates the need to melt and refreeze the ice for each game, significantly reducing the time and resources required for the transition.
The ability to transform an arena from a basketball court to an ice hockey rink, or vice versa, in a short period is a testament to modern technology and innovative engineering solutions. The use of insulated plywood is a key component in this transformation process, ensuring that the ice remains intact while providing a suitable surface for basketball games. This method enables arenas to accommodate multiple sports and events, maximizing their utilization and providing flexibility in scheduling. The efficiency and speed of this conversion process are crucial in venues that host consecutive games or tournaments for different sports, ensuring a seamless transition and an optimal experience for athletes and spectators alike.
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Basketball court panels are laid on top
Arenas that host both basketball and ice hockey games use a variety of methods to switch between the two sports. One common method is to utilise a basketball court that is laid on top of the ice rink. This process involves several steps and careful planning.
First, the ice rink is prepared at the beginning of the hockey season. This is done by creating an ice-bearing concrete slab embedded with miles of pipes filled with brinewater, a calcium-chloride solution, which acts as an antifreeze agent. The slab is maintained at a chilly 16 degrees Fahrenheit by chillers, which freeze upwards of 10,000 gallons of deionized water pumped onto the slab, forming a layer of ice. This ice layer is about an inch thick but is made of many tiny layers to ensure strength and durability.
When it's time to convert the ice hockey rink to a basketball court, the walls and glass panels surrounding the rink are removed. Then, large pieces of insulated plywood are laid out across the entire ice surface. This plywood is designed to keep the basketball court warm while simultaneously maintaining the cool temperature of the ice below. It is heavy enough to ensure that the basketball court remains stable and does not slide on the ice.
Finally, the basketball court is assembled on top of the plywood. The court consists of hundreds of pieces of hardwood that are carefully pieced together like a puzzle. Each piece weighs between 175 and 190 pounds, adding up to more than 25 tons for the entire court. The process of assembling the court typically requires a large crew and can take a couple of hours or longer, depending on the available workforce and technology used.
Once the basketball game is concluded, the process is reversed to revert the arena back to an ice hockey rink. The basketball court is disassembled, and the plywood is removed to expose the ice beneath, ready for the next hockey game.
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Hockey requires a protective glass wall
Another benefit of the glass wall is its ability to insulate the rink, keeping the cold air inside. This is especially useful during flooding and setup, as it helps the water freeze faster. The glass wall also allows for an unobstructed view of the game for spectators and broadcasters, as it is transparent.
The glass used in hockey arenas is typically tempered glass or plexiglass, a type of acrylic plastic. Tempered glass is created through a process of successive heating and cooling to harden the glass. While it provides protection, tempered glass can shatter into sharp shards when hit by a puck, posing a potential risk to players and spectators.
Plexiglass, on the other hand, is a more flexible and lightweight alternative that is less likely to break. It is shock-absorbing and cracks rather than shatters when broken, making it safer and easier to replace. The switch from tempered glass to plexiglass in many hockey arenas reflects the priority placed on player and spectator safety.
In addition to the glass wall, hockey rinks may also have acrylic shielding panels or innovative systems like GlassFlex®, which provide additional protection and enhance the overall fan experience. These shielding panels produce a loud clashing sound and visibly flex when impacted, adding to the excitement of the game.
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Basketball courts are smaller than hockey rinks
To facilitate this, special insulated plywood is laid out over the ice surface, and the hardwood of the basketball floor is pieced together on top. This plywood is essential in maintaining the integrity of both the basketball court and the ice rink. It keeps the basketball court warm, while also ensuring that the ice remains frozen underneath. The basketball court is made up of hundreds of heavy wooden pieces, weighing upwards of 25 tons in total, which ensures that it stays in place during play.
The process of converting a hockey rink to a basketball court can be completed in as little as a couple of hours, with two dozen workers. However, it requires a lot of planning and upfront work. For example, the ice rink must be embedded with temperature control mechanisms to ensure that the ice remains frozen when covered by the basketball court. Additionally, the basketball court must be carefully laid out in a stair-step pattern, with all the lines in place, and each piece locked into place with a sledgehammer.
The ability to quickly and efficiently convert between hockey rinks and basketball courts is crucial, especially in arenas that host both hockey and basketball teams. For example, in 2012, the Staples Center in Los Angeles hosted six playoff games in one week for the Kings hockey team and the Clippers and Lakers basketball teams. Similarly, in 2024, the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars shared an arena during their respective Western Conference Finals, alternating games each night.
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Ice is maintained at 16°Fahrenheit
Arenas that host both basketball and ice hockey games have to be carefully planned. The basketball court is smaller than the hockey rink, and the hockey rink has a protective glass wall and a penalty box that needs to be assembled. These structures are usually temporary and can be easily removed when converting the rink to a basketball court.
To convert the rink to a basketball court, the glass panels and walls are removed, and the ice is covered with interlocking mats made from rubber or a fibreglass-foam composite. On top of this, deck boards topped with basketball-ready parquet are laid out. The basketball court is made up of hundreds of wooden pieces that weigh several tons, which ensures that it stays in place on top of the ice.
Ice is maintained at 16° Fahrenheit by chillers to freeze upwards of 10,000 gallons of deionized water pumped onto the slab into a layer of ice. This temperature is lower than the optimum temperature for figure skating, which is 22 °F, and lower still than the freezing point of water, which is 32 °F.
Water freezes at temperatures of 32 °Fahrenheit or 0 °Celsius and below. At temperatures below 32 °F, water vapour develops into frost at ground level and snowflakes in clouds. Below the same temperature, liquid water forms a solid, as in river ice, sea ice, hail, and ice produced commercially or in household refrigerators.
Ice is the solid state of water, which is normally a liquid. Water molecules interact with one another strongly enough to form an ordered crystalline structure, with each oxygen atom collecting the four nearest neighbours and arranging them in a rigid lattice. This structure results in a more open assembly and, hence, a lower density than the closely packed assembly of molecules in the liquid phase. This is why ice floats rather than sinking.
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Frequently asked questions
Arenas can switch from ice hockey to basketball so quickly because the ice is not melted off. Instead, insulated subfloors are laid on top of the ice, and then the basketball court is built on top of the subfloor in panels.
The subfloor is typically made of interlocking mats composed of rubber or a fibreglass-foam composite.
The basketball court is made of deck boards topped with basketball-ready parquet.
Each panel weighs around 180 pounds.
Depending on the system used, with two dozen workers, the process can take as little as a couple of hours.
