Saoirse Downs
Many arenas around the world host both basketball and hockey games. For example, the Staples Center in Los Angeles is home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers basketball teams, as well as the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. Arenas can transition between basketball courts and hockey rinks in as little as 90 minutes with the help of modern technology and a large workforce. To convert a hockey rink to a basketball court, the walls and glass panels around the rink are removed, and large pieces of insulated plywood are laid out over the ice. The basketball court is then pieced together on top of the plywood, which keeps the court warm and the ice cool. After the basketball game, the process is reversed to prepare for the next hockey game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time taken | Depending on the technology used and the workforce available, the transition can be done in as little as 90 minutes with a large crew or can take a few workers an entire day to complete. |
| Ice rink | The ice rink is made by flooding the surface with many layers of water to create a thick layer of ice. |
| Basketball court | The basketball court is made of wooden planking or hardwood and is laid on top of the ice rink. |
| Insulation | A layer of insulated padding or plywood is placed between the ice rink and the basketball court to prevent the court from becoming cold. |
| Scoreboard | The scoreboard needs to be converted to suit the sport being played. Some newer scoreboards are designed for multi-sport use and can be easily converted. |
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What You'll Learn
The ice rink is covered with insulated plywood
Arenas that host both basketball and hockey games have to undergo a transition process to convert the ice hockey rink into a basketball court and vice versa. This process is done by a crew of workers and can take as little as 90 minutes with a large crew or an entire workday with a small crew.
The Denver Nuggets basketball team's court, for example, consists of 285 pieces of wood that weigh 186 pounds each, adding up to a court that weighs 26.5 tons. The process is reversed after the basketball game to prepare the arena for the next hockey game.
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Basketball court panels are laid on top
Many arenas around the country host both professional basketball and ice hockey teams, requiring them to switch between the two setups. The process of converting an ice hockey rink to a basketball court involves first removing the walls and glass panels surrounding the rink. Then, large pieces of insulated plywood are laid out over the ice. Finally, the basketball court, which is often made of wooden planking or hardwood, is assembled on top of the plywood.
The insulated plywood layer serves two purposes: it keeps the basketball court warm, preventing condensation, and keeps the ice cool. This allows the ice hockey rink to remain intact beneath the basketball court, eliminating the need to remake the ice for each game. The basketball court is heavy enough to stay in place on its own, weighing over 25 tons.
The process of converting the arena from a basketball court back to an ice hockey rink involves simply disassembling the basketball court and removing the plywood. The ice underneath is maintained at 16 degrees Fahrenheit by chillers to freeze upwards of 10,000 gallons of deionized water pumped onto a slab, creating a layer of ice.
The conversion process can vary in duration depending on the technology used and the number of workers available. With modern technology and a large crew, the transition can be completed in as little as 90 minutes. However, with fewer workers, it can take up to a full workday. Arenas that frequently switch between basketball and ice hockey become very efficient at making these changes.
In addition to the physical setup of the court or rink, other adjustments are made to accommodate the different sports. For example, the scoreboard used for basketball may be different from the one used for ice hockey. Some arenas have multi-sport scoreboards that can be easily converted for the specific sport being played. These scoreboards may also include large LED displays that provide additional customization options.
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Scoreboards are adapted for basketball
Scoreboards are an integral part of the viewing experience for fans and athletes alike in basketball. They have come a long way since their inception, from being handwritten on a public board to the modern-day LED scoreboards that offer a 360-degree viewing experience. The transition from a hockey rink to a basketball court also involves adapting the scoreboard to suit the latter.
The scoreboards used in basketball and hockey differ, and arenas have to ensure a quick and easy conversion. Newer scoreboards cater to multiple sports and can be easily adapted from hockey to basketball. These multi-sport scoreboards can be customised with small LED panels that can display text and be changed from "penalty" to "fouls" with a switch.
LED scoreboards are a popular choice for basketball arenas. They offer a brilliant viewing experience from almost any angle and distance with their high-intensity LED digits. They can display the score, time, and other important game information such as team fouls, player numbers, and time outs. LED scoreboards can be controlled from anywhere, even via a mobile app, and can be paired with a controller to display real-time scoring and statistics.
Video displays are another option for basketball scoreboards, especially in large arenas and stadiums. These offer the ultimate fan experience by providing live action, highlights, and commercials in addition to the score and game information. Arenas can also opt for a combination of a traditional LED scoreboard and a video display to ensure that the score and game information are always visible alongside other engaging content.
The conversion of scoreboards is an essential aspect of transforming an arena from a hockey rink to a basketball court. With the right technology and features, scoreboards can be adapted to suit the needs of basketball games and enhance the overall viewing experience for fans and athletes.
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Hockey rink walls and glass are removed
When converting a hockey rink to a basketball court, the walls and glass panels around the rink are removed. This process is done by a crew of workers, which can range from a few workers taking an entire day to dozens of workers completing the task in as little as 90 minutes.
The glass shielding around a hockey rink serves several purposes. Firstly, it protects spectators from line-drive pucks, which can cause severe or even fatal injuries, and it also protects arena owners from potential lawsuits resulting from such incidents. Secondly, it keeps the puck within the rink, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay. Additionally, it insulates the arena by retaining cold air within the rink, especially during flooding and setup. Lastly, it acts as a barrier between players and fans, preventing physical altercations during highly emotional games.
The glass used in hockey rinks can be either tempered glass or acrylic. Tempered glass, found along the sides of the rink, penalty box, and team benches, undergoes heating and cooling to strengthen it. It can withstand the impact of players and provides a clear view for spectators. When broken, it shatters into small, relatively safe pieces. Acrylic panels, on the other hand, offer superior impact absorption. They can reach up to eight feet in height, providing increased safety.
After the walls and glass are removed from the hockey rink, the next step in the conversion process is to lay out large pieces of insulated plywood or a similar subfloor over the ice. This layer of insulation prevents the basketball court above from getting too cold. The basketball court is then assembled on top of this insulated base.
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The process is reversed to switch back
To switch back to a hockey rink from a basketball court, the process is reversed. The basketball court is dismantled, and the wooden planks are removed, revealing the insulated plywood beneath. This layer of plywood, which was essential in keeping the basketball court warm while preserving the ice, is then taken away. Finally, the walls and glass panels are reinstalled around the rink, and the hockey rink is ready for use once more.
The process of converting an arena from a basketball court to a hockey rink and back again is a complex and labour-intensive task. It requires a large crew of workers, and the time taken can vary from 90 minutes with a large crew to an entire workday with a smaller group. Arenas with efficient crews and modern technology can perform these transitions swiftly, allowing them to host both basketball and hockey games with minimal downtime.
The ice rink's surface is maintained at a freezing temperature of 16 degrees Fahrenheit by pumping brinewater, an antifreeze agent, through miles of pipes embedded in an ice-bearing concrete slab. This system ensures that the ice remains frozen and suitable for hockey games even when covered by the basketball court.
When it is time to switch back to a hockey rink, the basketball court is carefully disassembled into its constituent parts. The wooden planks that form the basketball court's surface are removed, revealing the insulated layer underneath. This layer of plywood is a crucial component, as it serves the dual purpose of keeping the basketball court warm for optimal performance while also preserving the ice rink beneath.
The insulated plywood is then carefully lifted and removed, exposing the frozen ice rink. Finally, the walls and glass panels that define the hockey rink's playing area are reinstalled, creating a safe and secure environment for the upcoming hockey game. The process of transitioning from a basketball court to a hockey rink involves careful planning and execution to ensure that both sports can be played safely and effectively in the same arena.
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Frequently asked questions
Depending on the technology used and the number of workers available, the transition can take as little as 90 minutes with a large crew or a full day with just a few workers.
First, the walls and glass panels surrounding the hockey rink are removed. Then, large pieces of insulated plywood are laid out over the ice. Finally, the basketball court is assembled on top of the plywood.
The basketball court is very heavy, typically weighing more than 25 tons, which keeps it in place on top of the ice.
Some arenas use multi-sport scoreboards that can be easily converted from basketball to hockey with a simple switch. Other arenas use LED panels that can be customized to display text relevant to the sport being played, such as changing from "penalty" to "fouls."
