Andrew Pace
TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, is home to both the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL. The venue regularly switches between a basketball court and an ice rink, with the process taking around three hours with a crew of 40 people. In a time crunch, a crew of 60 can complete the changeover in less than two hours. The process involves covering the ice with preserving mats, assembling the basketball hardwood on top, and adjusting the hoops, which flex up and down. The transformation is so seamless that there have been instances of both teams having home games on the same day, just hours apart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time taken for conversion | 2-3 hours |
| Crew size | 40 people |
| Crew name | Bull Gang |
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What You'll Learn
The Bull Gang crew
The process of converting the TD Garden from a basketball court to a hockey rink involves several steps. First, the Bull Gang crew covers the ice with preserving mats to protect it. Next, they bring out and assemble the basketball hardwood, which is broken into even pieces and puzzled together to form the standard NBA floor size of 94 feet by 50 feet, plus boundaries. The hoops are then wheeled into place at both ends of the court. This process typically takes around three hours with a crew of 40 people, but a larger crew of 60 can complete the changeover in less than two hours if necessary.
When converting from a basketball court to a hockey rink, the Bull Gang crew places a cover over the basketball floor to protect it. They then begin the process of making the ice, painting it white, and adding the lines. This process can be seen in a time-lapse video posted by the official TD Garden Instagram account, showcasing the crew's impressive efficiency in handling a challenging task.
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Covering the ice
The TD Garden crew, known as the "Bull Gang," are experts in this transformation process. They begin by placing a cover over the ice to protect it from the basketball setup that will follow. This step is essential to preserve the ice and ensure it remains in good condition for future hockey games.
The Bull Gang crew works with impressive efficiency and speed. They can complete the entire conversion process, including covering the ice, in as little as two hours. This quick turnaround time enables the TD Garden to host back-to-back playoff games for both the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins, accommodating the different requirements of each sport.
The process of covering the ice involves using specialised preserving mats. These mats are carefully laid over the ice surface to create a protective barrier. The mats are designed to preserve the ice and prevent any damage or melting during the basketball court setup.
Once the ice is covered and protected, the crew can then begin assembling the basketball court. The hardwood basketball floor is brought out and carefully laid over the covered ice. The court is divided into even pieces, like a puzzle, and assembled to form the standard 94 feet by 50 feet NBA court dimensions, complete with boundaries.
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Laying the basketball court
The process of converting a hockey rink to a basketball court is a complex task that requires a large crew and advanced technology. The TD Garden in Boston, shared by the Bruins and the Celtics, is a classic example of this transition.
To begin the transformation, the walls and glass panels surrounding the hockey rink are dismantled. This step is crucial to create the necessary space for the basketball court and provide unobstructed views for the spectators. Once the rink is cleared, the next phase involves laying down large pieces of insulated plywood over the ice. This specialised plywood serves a dual purpose: it helps maintain the ice below at a cool temperature while also ensuring that the basketball court above remains warm, preventing condensation issues.
The basketball court is then meticulously assembled on top of the plywood. Each piece of the court is carefully placed like a puzzle, ensuring a secure and level playing surface. The court is typically divided into even sections, which are then pieced together to form the standard NBA court dimensions of 94 feet by 50 feet, with additional space for boundaries. The Boston Celtics' court, for instance, consists of 285 pieces, each weighing 186 pounds, resulting in a total court weight of 26.5 tons!
The hoops are an essential component of the basketball court, and they are designed to be flexible and adjustable. They can be raised or lowered to the appropriate height and are wheeled into position at both ends of the court. The hoops can also be moved away from the playing area when not in use.
The entire process of converting the ice hockey rink to a basketball court requires a significant amount of manpower and coordination. Depending on the available workforce and technology, it can take dozens of workers as little as 90 minutes or just a few workers an entire day to complete the transition. However, with a larger crew and efficient procedures, the time can be reduced even further. For example, at the TD Garden, a crew of 40 people can accomplish the changeover in roughly three hours, while a crew of 60 can shorten the time to less than two hours.
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Time taken: 2-3 hours
Converting TD Gardens from a basketball court to a hockey rink, or vice versa, is no small feat. Yet, the "Bull Gang", the team responsible for the conversion, can complete the process in as little as 2 to 3 hours.
The speed of the process is crucial when both the Boston Celtics and the Bruins have home games on the same day, sometimes with only a few hours between them. In one instance, the Bruins played an afternoon game, after which the crew quickly converted the arena for a Celtics basketball game that same evening.
The conversion process begins with covering the ice to protect it. Then, the basketball hardwood is brought out and assembled by puzzling together the court's standard 94 feet by 50 feet (plus boundaries) pieces. The hoops are then wheeled into place at both ends. The basketball court requires a larger area than the ice rink, so the extra space is used to accommodate additional seats, ramps, and scoring tables.
To convert the basketball court back to an ice rink, the Bull Gang first removes the basketball court. They then paint the ice white, add lines, and make any necessary adjustments to the ice surface. This process can be completed in under 2 hours with a crew of 60 people or around 3 hours with a crew of 40.
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Regular process
TD Garden in Boston is home to both the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL. The venue regularly switches between a hockey rink and a basketball court, depending on the team's schedule. This process of conversion is known as the "Bull Gang".
The Bull Gang crew first covers the ice with preserving mats to protect it. Then, they bring out the basketball hardwood and assemble it over the ice. The basketball court is broken into even pieces and puzzled together to form the standard 94 feet by 50 feet NBA floor. The hoops are then wheeled into stations at both ends of the court. The entire process takes roughly three hours with a crew of 40 people. However, with a time crunch and a larger crew of 60, the conversion can be done in less than two hours.
During the basketball season, the Bull Gang crew places a cover over the ice and lays down the parquet floor in the middle of the arena. At the beginning of the hockey season, they make the ice, paint it white, and add the lines. They also maintain the ice throughout the hockey season.
There are a few circumstances each year where both the Bruins and Celtics have home games on the same day. With efficient planning and a quick crew, TD Garden can successfully host both games on the same day. For example, with a Bruins game ending at 4 pm and a Celtics game starting at 7:30 pm, the crew has just over three hours to complete the changeover.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes a crew of 40 people roughly three hours to convert TD Gardens from basketball to hockey. A crew of 60 people can get the time down to less than two hours.
The Bull Gang is the team responsible for converting TD Gardens from basketball to hockey and vice versa.
The ice is covered by preserving mats. The basketball hardwood is then brought out and assembled over the top. The court is broken into even pieces and puzzled into its standard 94 feet by 50 feet (plus boundaries) NBA floor.
