Kristian Ferrell
The Air Canada Centre (ACC) is one of 11 arenas that serve as a home ground for both NBA and NHL teams. After the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated from the NHL playoffs, the ACC conversion crew had only seven hours to transform the hockey rink into a basketball court for the Raptors' playoff game. The process involves removing the protective netting and glass from the goal zone, tearing down the boards, covering the ice with plywood and basketball court pieces, and setting up the basketball goals and courtside seats. The hockey seating is collapsed and wheeled away, revealing a loading door for the basketball court to enter. The entire process is a complex operation, executed with precision by the dedicated ACC crew.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time taken for conversion | 7 hours |
| Number of pieces of glass around the ice rink | 150+ |
| Number of pieces of plywood to cover the ice | 500+ |
| Number of pieces that make up the basketball court | 200+ |
| Size of each piece of the basketball court | 4 x 8 feet |
| Number of crew members to lift each piece of the basketball court | 4 |
| Number of seats for the hockey game | 18,800 |
| Number of seats for the basketball game | 19,800 |
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What You'll Learn
Hockey rink glass is removed and stored
The conversion of a hockey rink to a basketball court is a complex and detailed process that involves several steps. One of the critical tasks is removing and storing the hockey rink glass, which serves multiple purposes, including protecting spectators, keeping the puck in play, and insulating the arena. Here is a detailed description of how the hockey rink glass is removed and stored during the transformation:
Removing the Hockey Rink Glass:
The process of removing the hockey rink glass begins after the hockey game has concluded. The glass, which can be made of tempered glass or acrylic, is carefully taken out of the boards. Each slab of glass is delicately placed on a standing dolly to be forklifted and transported for storage. The glass removal process is meticulous, ensuring that each piece is handled safely and securely.
Storing the Hockey Rink Glass:
The removed glass slabs are then stored in a designated area within the stadium or arena. The glass panels are typically labelled or numbered to facilitate easy retrieval for the next hockey event. The storage area is organised and secure, ensuring that the glass remains intact and protected until it needs to be reinstalled for the next hockey game.
Transforming the Space:
Once the glass has been removed and stored, the arena undergoes further transformations. The hockey seating is collapsed and wheeled away, revealing the loading door through which the basketball court components will enter. The hockey boards are disguised with black drapery, and the ice surface is covered with plastic decking tiles to prepare for the basketball court setup.
Installing the Basketball Court:
After the glass and other hockey-specific elements have been removed and stored, the basketball court installation begins. The hardwood planks and court-side seating are brought in, and the basketball court is assembled. The telescopic seating in the arena is adjusted to accommodate the smaller basketball court dimensions, bringing the seats closer to the playing area.
Completing the Conversion:
Finally, the cleaning crews work throughout the stadium, ensuring that the facility is prepared for the upcoming basketball game. The conversion process is typically completed within a tight timeframe, often overnight, to ensure that the basketball game can take place as scheduled.
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Hockey seating is folded and wheeled away
The Air Canada Centre (ACC) is a large stadium that can host both hockey and basketball games. The process of converting the stadium from a hockey rink to a basketball court involves a significant amount of work, and it has to be done quickly, often overnight.
The hockey seating in the lower bowl, located behind the hockey nets, is folded and wheeled away to transform the space for basketball. This process involves flipping the seats down into the floor and then collapsing them in large sections, similar to the stands in a school gym. These large sections are then wheeled away, revealing a loading door in the west end. The basketball court will be constructed in this area, with planks of hardwood and court-side seating brought in through this door.
The basketball court is smaller than the hockey rink, so the seating configuration changes to accommodate this. The seats in the east and west areas are telescopic and can be adjusted to fit the new court dimensions. The basketball court is built while the west end is being prepared, and the seating in the east area is moved closer to the hardwood than it would be for a hockey game.
The conversion process also involves removing and storing all hockey-related equipment, including the boards, glass, and benches. The glass, for example, is carefully placed on standing dollies and then forklifted into the wings. The hockey benches and corner segments of the boards are also removed in chunks. The side hockey boards remain but are covered in black drapery and become less noticeable once court-side seating is placed in front of them.
The transformation of the ACC from a hockey rink to a basketball court is a complex and meticulous operation. It involves dismantling and storing hockey equipment, adjusting seating configurations, and constructing a new basketball court, all within a tight timeframe. The efficient coordination of these tasks ensures that the stadium can accommodate different sports and provide an optimal experience for athletes and fans alike.
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The ice is covered with plywood and decking tiles
The conversion of a hockey rink to a basketball court involves a complex process that must be executed efficiently and accurately. One of the most crucial steps in this transformation is covering the ice with plywood and decking tiles. This step ensures that the ice surface is protected and insulated, facilitating the seamless switch from hockey to basketball within a short timeframe.
To begin, the ice surface is prepared by giving it a light flood using a Zamboni machine. This initial layer of water helps the decking tiles adhere better to the ice. The ice is then covered with special insulated plywood, which serves multiple purposes. Firstly, the plywood provides a layer of insulation, enabling the basketball court to remain warm while keeping the ice underneath cool. This temperature control is essential for maintaining suitable conditions for both sports.
The insulated plywood is carefully laid out to cover the entire ice surface, creating a temporary foundation for the basketball court. The plywood is heavy, weighing upwards of 25 tons in total, which ensures that the basketball court remains firmly in place during gameplay. Each piece of plywood is carefully placed and secured to form a stable base.
Once the plywood is in place, the basketball court surface is constructed. Hardwood pieces are assembled atop the plywood, forming the basketball court floor. This process involves piecing together hundreds of sections of hardwood, each weighing between 175 and 190 pounds. The precise assembly of these hardwood components creates a smooth and seamless playing surface for basketball.
The use of plywood and decking tiles in this process is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of stadium workers. By utilising these materials, they are able to quickly transform the arena from a hockey rink to a basketball court, accommodating the different requirements of each sport. The plywood and decking tiles play a pivotal role in this conversion process, allowing for efficient and effective transformations that meet the demands of professional sports leagues.
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Basketball court is assembled with parquet pieces
The process of converting the Air Canada Centre (ACC) from a hockey rink to a basketball court is a complex and fascinating one. It involves a lot of work and coordination from the ACC conversion crew, who have to tear down the boards, cover the ice, and transform the entire arena in just a few hours.
The basketball court is assembled with parquet pieces, a type of wood coating that is commonly used for indoor basketball courts. Parquet floors are made of maple or oak and are designed to be non-slip to reduce the risk of injury and allow the ball to bounce and slide easily.
The Boston Celtics are known for their iconic parquet floor, which was first assembled in 1946 due to a lumber shortage. The original owner of the Celtics, Walter Brown, had to use scraps of wood from lumber yards to construct the floor, which ended up forming a unique parquet design. The floor was made up of 247 5-foot by 5-foot square panels held together by wood planks, brass screws, and 988 bolts, and it lasted for 53 years before being replaced in 1999.
Parquet floors are considered high-quality and are commonly used for professional basketball matches. However, they are also the most expensive type of flooring for indoor basketball courts. Other types of flooring used for basketball courts include acrylic, tartan, and polyurethane. Acrylic floors are popular for neighbourhood courts and schools due to their low cost and easy installation, while tartan and polyurethane floors are often used outdoors due to their durability.
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Basketball goals are laid out and courtside seats set up
The process of converting a hockey rink to a basketball court is a complex and intricate operation. The Air Canada Centre (ACC) conversion crew has to work overnight to ensure the venue is ready for the basketball game the next day.
The first step is to remove all traces of the hockey game. This includes taking down the boards and covering the ice. The hockey glass is carefully removed and placed on a standing dolly to be forklifted away. The hockey nets and benches are also removed, and the side boards are disguised with black drapery. The hockey seating behind the nets is collapsed and wheeled away, revealing a loading door in the west end, where the basketball court and courtside seats will be brought in.
The basketball goals and courtside seats are then laid out. The goals refer to the orange rim mounted to the backboard, but the term is also used to refer to the complete basketball system, including the hoop, net, and backboard, as well as the support structure. The basketball court is built from planks of hardwood, and the goals are set up at each end. The courtside seats are then arranged, bringing the fans closer to the action than in a hockey game.
Courtside seats are highly sought-after by basketball fans as they offer an unparalleled viewing experience. These premium seats are located right on the hardwood, just an arm's length away from the players. Courtside tickets are not cheap, ranging from a few hundred dollars to six figures, depending on the game and the arena. For example, courtside seats at Madison Square Garden or in Los Angeles can cost around $3,000 to $5,000 per ticket.
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Frequently asked questions
The conversion crew can transform the ACC from a hockey rink to a basketball court in just seven hours.
The ice is covered with more than 500 pieces of insulated plywood, which keep the ice cold.
The hockey seating is folded up and pushed back to allow for additional space for the basketball court to be installed.
