Amanda Knapp
The Staples Center in Los Angeles is home to two basketball teams, the Lakers and the Clippers, and one hockey team, the Kings. The basketball court is overlaid on top of the hockey rink, which is always there. To transition from a basketball game to a hockey game, the crew removes the overlay sheets, replaces the corner dasher boards, and places Plexiglas on the dashboards. The ice itself is cleaned by a Zamboni. The basketball court is laid on top of specialized mats that help keep the temperature low, and the ice frozen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles |
| Hosted Teams | Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Kings |
| Temperature | 75 degrees for Lakers/Clippers games, 65 degrees for Kings games |
| Ice Removal Process | Insulated layer on ice, basketball floor laid on top |
| Non-stationary seats removed, overlay sheets removed, corner dasher boards replaced, Plexiglas placed and cleaned, ice cleaned | |
| Time Taken | 90 minutes to a day depending on workforce and technology |
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What You'll Learn
The ice rink is always there
The Staples Center crew can transition between sports in around 90 minutes to 2 hours, a process that involves removing the basketball court and replacing the corner dasher boards and Plexiglas. The ice is then cleaned by a Zamboni. The speed of this process is helped by the fact that the ice rink remains in place for the duration of the hockey season. The basketball court is laid on top of the ice, so there is no need to create a new rink for each game. This also means that the ice does not need to be removed and re-installed, which would be a costly and time-consuming process.
The temperature inside the Staples Center is typically 75 degrees Fahrenheit for a Lakers or Clippers game, and 65 degrees Fahrenheit for a Kings game. The arena also hosts concerts and other events, which may require the ice to be removed entirely. In these cases, the refrigeration plant is turned off, and the ice is allowed to melt into a pit. After the event, the plant is turned back on, and a new layer of ice is built up.
The Staples Center is not the only arena that hosts both basketball and hockey teams, and this transition occurs in venues across the country. However, the process is still a complicated one, requiring dozens of workers and a range of specialised equipment.
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The basketball court is overlaid on top
The Staples Center in Los Angeles is home to two professional basketball teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers, as well as the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team. This means that the arena has to transition between a basketball court and an ice hockey rink, and it has to be done quickly.
The ice itself is maintained by keeping it frozen throughout the season. The ice sits on top of a chilled concrete slab, which has pipes running through it. A very cold liquid, such as antifreeze, is pumped through the pipes, keeping the concrete slab and the ice on top of it frozen. This system is used in large arenas and local skating rinks alike.
The Staples Center has two storage areas, which help to speed up the transition process by allowing all the necessary equipment to enter and leave the floor from separate passageways. The temperature inside the arena is also adjusted depending on the sport, with a typical temperature of 75 degrees for a Lakers or Clippers game, and 65 degrees for an LA Kings game.
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The ice is insulated
The ice rink at the Staples Center is used for ice hockey and is maintained underneath the basketball court, which is laid on top of it. The ice is insulated by chilled concrete slabs that keep the water frozen. The basketball court is made up of overlay sheets laid on top of the ice, with insulated tiles underneath. This allows the ice to remain frozen and in place while basketball games are played. The basketball court is simply laid on top of the ice, which is always present, and the necessary adjustments are made for basketball games.
The ice itself is not removed, but the overlay sheets of the basketball court are taken up, and the dasher boards are replaced with folding chairs and bleachers. The ice is kept frozen through insulation and a specialised system that keeps the temperature low. The concrete slab beneath the ice is chilled, and the ice remains in place, with the basketball court laid directly on top. This means that the ice does not need to be removed or re-installed, which is an expensive and time-consuming process.
The Staples Center is home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers basketball teams, as well as the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team. The arena must be quickly converted between a basketball court and an ice rink to accommodate the different teams' schedules. The basketball court is laid on top of the ice, and the ice is insulated to maintain its temperature. The conversion process involves removing the basketball court overlay sheets and reconfiguring the arena for ice hockey.
The ice rink is cleaned and prepared for use, while the basketball court is stored until it is needed again. The insulated tiles help maintain the temperature of the ice rink while the basketball court is in use, and they also provide a stable base for the basketball court. The basketball court is made of wood and is laid directly on top of the insulated tiles, creating a smooth and level playing surface for basketball games. The tiles are designed to withstand the weight of the basketball court and provide a flat surface for the court to rest on.
The insulation of the ice is a crucial aspect of the Staples Center's ability to host both basketball and ice hockey events. By keeping the ice in place and insulated, the arena can quickly transition between sports and accommodate the various teams that utilise the space. The insulated tiles are an innovative solution that allows for efficient conversions and ensures that the ice remains frozen and suitable for use during the hockey season. This system has been implemented in various arenas across the country, facilitating the coexistence of professional basketball and ice hockey teams in the same venue.
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The ice is cleaned
The ice rink at the Staples Center is used for ice hockey by the Los Angeles Kings, as well as for basketball games by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. The basketball court is overlaid on top of the hockey rink, which remains in place throughout the basketball season. The basketball court is laid on top of the ice on insulated tiles.
When it's time to switch from basketball to hockey, the crew removes the basketball court overlay sheets, re-wires everything, and replaces the corner dasher boards. Then, the ice itself is cleaned by a Zamboni machine. The entire process can be completed in as little as 90 minutes with a large crew, but it can take a smaller crew a full day.
The ice rink is kept frozen throughout the basketball season by piping very cold liquid, such as antifreeze, through pipes in the concrete slab underneath the ice. This means that the ice doesn't need to be completely removed and replaced when switching between basketball and hockey, which would be a much more time-consuming and expensive process.
However, for certain events that use dirt, such as monster truck or motocross events, the ice surface must be completely removed. In these cases, the refrigeration plant is turned off, and the ice is allowed to melt into a pit. After the event, the plant is turned back on, and a new layer of ice is slowly built up.
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The ice is maintained with refrigeration
The ice at the Staples Center is always present, situated just under the basketball court. The basketball court is laid on top of the ice, which is covered by insulated tiles. This setup allows the venue to quickly transition between hosting basketball games and ice hockey matches.
During the conversion from basketball court to ice rink, the basketball court is removed in sections, exposing the ice surface beneath. The corner dasher boards are replaced, and Plexiglas is installed and cleaned. The ice is then cleaned and prepared for use.
The Staples Center is home to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers basketball teams, as well as the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team. This unique arrangement requires careful scheduling and efficient transition processes to accommodate all three teams' seasons and playoffs.
The ability to maintain the ice with refrigeration and quickly transition between basketball and hockey configurations is essential for the Staples Center to host multiple professional sports teams successfully. The use of insulated tiles and specialized mats helps keep the ice frozen while accommodating the various sporting events and concerts held at the venue.
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Frequently asked questions
The ice is always there under the basketball court, so it is not removed. The basketball court is laid on top of the ice, which is kept frozen by a chilled concrete slab with pipes running through it that pump cold liquid. To convert the basketball court to an ice rink, the basketball court is removed in pieces, exposing the ice surface.
The conversion process can take as little as 90 minutes with a large crew, or a small crew an entire day.
The ice is kept frozen by a chilled concrete slab with pipes running through it that pump cold liquid, such as antifreeze.
The typical temperature inside the Staples Center for a Lakers or Clippers basketball game is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and 65 degrees Fahrenheit for an LA Kings hockey game.
Certain events, such as those that use dirt, require the entire ice surface to be removed. To do this, the refrigeration plant is turned off, the ice is allowed to melt, and it is plowed into a melting pit.
