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Many arenas across the world are shared by professional basketball and hockey teams, requiring them to switch between the two sports. This process involves converting the rink to a court by removing the glass panels and walls, then laying insulated plywood over the ice surface. On top of this plywood, the basketball floor is assembled. This process can be done by two dozen workers in a couple of hours, or it can take up to a whole workday with just a few workers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Planning | A lot of upfront planning is required to combine hockey and basketball in the same arena |
| Stadium size | The size of the stadium required for both sports is similar |
| Flooring | The flooring needs to be easy to convert between the two sports |
| Fan experience | In basketball, the floor is open to the fans, while in hockey, there is a protective glass wall assembled with a penalty box on both sides of the ice |
| Seating layout | Basketball seating is right up to the back of the players on the floor, while hockey seating needs to be set back to account for the glass walls |
| Ice | The ice is not melted off, it remains frozen for the duration |
| Conversion process | To convert from a rink to a court, the walls and glass panels are removed, and a subfloor is laid out over the ice, with the basketball floor built on top |
| Subfloor material | Special insulated plywood or interlocking mats made from rubber or fiberglass-foam composite |
| Basketball floor material | Hardwood or deck boards topped with basketball-ready parquet |
| Basketball floor weight | More than 25 tons |
| Conversion time | Depending on the system and workforce, conversion can take a few hours to an entire workday |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and designing the arena
Planning and designing multi-purpose arenas that can host both basketball and hockey games require careful upfront planning. The size of the stadium required for both sports may be similar, but there are distinct needs for each sport that must be considered.
For instance, the flooring requirements for basketball and hockey differ significantly. In basketball, the floor is open, while hockey requires a protective glass wall and a penalty box on both sides of the ice. These structures can be temporary and easily removable when converting to a basketball court, but they require additional space. The seating layout also varies between the two sports. Basketball arenas typically have seating right up to the back of the players, whereas hockey arenas require seating to be set back to accommodate the glass walls. Therefore, the seating arrangements and sightlines must be carefully designed to ensure optimal viewing experiences for spectators.
Another critical aspect is the ice rink and its underlying infrastructure. Underneath the ice is a concrete floor embedded with temperature control mechanisms, such as miles of pipes filled with brinewater (an antifreeze agent), which is maintained at freezing temperatures. When converting to a basketball court, insulated plywood or interlocking mats made from rubber or fiberglass-foam composite are laid over the ice, followed by the basketball floor. This process ensures that the basketball court remains warm while the ice below stays frozen.
To facilitate quick transformations between sports, the infrastructure and systems within the arena should be carefully designed. This includes ensuring easy access to the necessary equipment and materials, such as the glass walls, insulated plywood or mats, and basketball floor panels. Additionally, adequate storage space should be allocated for these components when not in use. The placement and arrangement of these storage areas can significantly impact the efficiency of the conversion process.
Furthermore, the arena's lighting, scoreboards, and any other sports-specific technology should be designed with versatility in mind. The ability to quickly adjust and adapt these features for different sports can streamline the transition process and reduce the time and resources required for conversions. Overall, the key to successful planning and designing of multi-purpose arenas lies in understanding the unique requirements of each sport and incorporating flexible, efficient solutions that can accommodate both basketball and hockey with minimal disruption.
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Removing glass panels and walls
To convert a hockey rink into a basketball court, the glass panels and walls must be removed. This is because, in basketball, the floor is open to fans, whereas hockey requires a protective glass wall assembled with a penalty box on both sides of the ice. These structures are typically designed to be temporary and easy to remove when converting the space for basketball.
The process of removing the glass panels and walls is just one part of the transition from a hockey rink to a basketball court. Arenas with ice hockey teams will also have to deal with the ice. The ice is not typically melted off, but instead remains frozen for the duration. This means that when it is time to switch to basketball, workers must lay a subfloor on top of the ice before building the basketball court.
The subfloor is typically made of interlocking mats composed of rubber or a fibreglass-foam composite. On top of this, deck boards are laid, topped with basketball-ready parquet. The basketball court is made up of hundreds of wooden pieces, each weighing around 180 pounds, totalling over 25 tons. The court is pieced together like a puzzle, with each piece locked into place and then tightened with a sledgehammer.
The process of removing the glass panels and walls, as well as setting up the basketball court, can vary in time depending on the number of workers available. With two dozen workers, the entire conversion process can be completed in just a couple of hours. However, with fewer workers, it can take up to a full workday.
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Laying insulated plywood
Arenas that host both basketball and hockey games have to be carefully planned. The flooring, in particular, is critical when combining the two sports. To convert a basketball court to a hockey rink, the walls and glass panels are removed, and the ice rink is assembled. To convert a hockey rink to a basketball court, insulated plywood is laid out over the ice, and the basketball floor is pieced together on top.
When laying insulated plywood, the first step is to prepare the surface. If you are laying insulated plywood over an existing floor, ensure that the floor is clean and free of debris. If you are laying the plywood over concrete, you may need to install a vapour barrier to prevent moisture from seeping through the concrete and affecting the insulation.
Next, cut the insulation to size. You will need enough insulation to cover the entire area where you will be laying the plywood. The insulation should be cut slightly smaller than the size of the plywood sheets to allow for a gap between the sheets of plywood. This gap will be covered by the plywood, which will be screwed together to form a continuous layer.
Now, lay the insulation down and start placing the plywood sheets on top. As you go, screw the sheets together to secure them in place and avoid slipping or shifting. You can use short strips of wood or another type of pinning mechanism to secure the sheets together.
Finally, once the plywood is laid, you can add additional insulation on top if needed. This process can be adapted for various applications, from sports arenas to attic insulation, by adjusting the scale and specific materials used.
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Building the basketball court
Building a basketball court inside a hockey arena requires careful planning and consideration of the unique needs of both sports. The process typically involves several steps to ensure a smooth transition between the two.
First, the ice hockey rink's walls and glass panels are removed, creating an open space. This step is crucial as it establishes the necessary area for the basketball court and provides unobstructed viewing for the fans.
Next, a temporary subfloor is installed to cover the ice. This subfloor is typically made of interlocking mats composed of materials such as rubber or fiberglass-foam composite. This step is essential for insulating the basketball court and maintaining a suitable temperature for play.
Then, the basketball court surface is assembled. The court consists of hundreds of heavy wooden pieces, each weighing around 180 pounds. These pieces are carefully locked together in a precise pattern, forming a sturdy and level playing surface. The process of assembling the court requires a dedicated crew and can take a couple of hours or longer, depending on the number of workers involved.
Once the basketball court surface is in place, the necessary markings and lines are added to conform to official basketball court dimensions. This ensures that the court meets the requirements for professional basketball games.
Lastly, the seating arrangement may need adjustments to accommodate the transition from hockey to basketball. Basketball seating typically extends closer to the playing area, allowing fans to be right up against the court. This differs from hockey, where seating is set back to accommodate the protective glass walls and penalty boxes.
By following these steps, arenas can efficiently transform their spaces, providing a suitable playing area for both basketball and hockey while also ensuring the comfort and enjoyment of spectators.
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Reversing the process
To begin, the basketball court is disassembled. The basketball court consists of 25 tons of plywood made up of 285-300 wooden pieces that weigh 175-190 pounds each. The basketball floor is then removed, revealing the ice surface below. The ice surface is maintained at 16 degrees Fahrenheit by chillers to freeze upwards of 10,000 gallons of deionized water pumped onto the slab.
After the basketball court has been removed, the glass panels and walls for the hockey rink are installed. This includes the protective glass wall and penalty boxes on both sides of the ice. The seating layout is also adjusted to account for the glass walls, with seats set back slightly from the playing surface.
The final step is to prepare the ice surface. The ice surface is not melted off between games but is instead maintained at a frozen temperature. To convert the court to a rink, the ice surface is flooded with layers of water to create a thick layer of ice. This process can take many hours or even days, depending on the climate and humidity.
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Frequently asked questions
Arenas use insulated plywood or mats made from rubber or fibreglass-foam composite to cover the ice. The basketball court is then assembled on top, using heavy wooden boards that don't slide on the ice. The process can take as little as 90 minutes with a large crew.
Hockey requires a protective glass wall and a penalty box, which basketball does not. Basketball arenas have seating right up to the back of the court, whereas hockey arenas need to set the seating further back to accommodate the glass wall.
Arenas use ice-bearing concrete slabs embedded with pipes filled with brinewater (an antifreeze agent). The slabs are maintained at 16 degrees Fahrenheit by chillers.
