Ayrton Oneill
The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is a multi-purpose indoor arena that hosts a variety of events, including basketball and hockey games. The Center is home to the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The process of converting the arena's floor from basketball to hockey involves a complex procedure carried out by a dedicated changeover crew. This transformation includes covering the ice with protective sheets, removing hockey glass, installing nets, and assembling the basketball court, all within a matter of hours. The Center's ability to accommodate different sports showcases its versatility and contributes to its reputation as one of the busiest arenas in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Address | 3601 South Broad Street |
| Year opened | 1996 |
| Teams | Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Wings (NLL) |
| Seating capacity | 21,000 for NBA/NCAA basketball, 19,173 for NHL hockey/NLL lacrosse |
| Suites and seats | 126 luxury suites, 1,880 club-box seats |
| Changeover time | 2 hours and 10 minutes |
| Changeover crew | 35 members |
| Ice covering | 550 sheets of Ice Pro |
| Hockey glass | 156 sheets |
| Nets | 2 nets, each 120'x20' |
| Basketball court pieces | 225 |
| Basketball court screws | 900 |
| Basketball record attendance | 21,305 |
| Hockey record attendance | 20,327 |
| Hotels nearby | Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia, Holiday Inn Philadelphia Stadium Area, Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, DoubleTree Philadelphia Center City |
| Parking | Lots A, D, F, and G for general parking; Lots B, E, and H for prepaid parking; Lot C for premium seat holders |
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What You'll Learn
The Wells Fargo Center has three basketball courts
The Wells Fargo Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is one of the busiest arenas in the world and is home to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The Wells Fargo Center has three different basketball courts, each broken down into more than 250 panels. The three basketball courts are the main Sixers court, the City Edition Sixers court, and the Villanova court. The courts are about three inches thick and sit on blocking so they are not directly on the cold floor. The Wells Fargo Center has massive air conditioning units that regulate the temperature above the court to prevent condensation. The changeover crew installs each panel of the court, which takes about two hours and ten minutes. The basketball bowl floor is much smaller than the hockey setup in terms of square footage. The changeover crew brings down risers over dashers, lays down courtside decking, and sets up chairs. The Wells Fargo Center alters its seating map for concerts, but it is still a controlled chaos situation when the crew is working.
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Transitioning from basketball to hockey is easier
The transition from basketball to hockey involves removing the basketball court to reveal the ice rink underneath. The basketball court is made up of over 250 panels, which are about three inches thick and sit atop blocking so that they aren't directly on the cold floor. The ice rink, on the other hand, is made only once a year and is a multi-day process. It involves a room full of refrigeration equipment that connects to a massive pipe system running underneath the concrete floor.
The square footage of the basketball bowl is much smaller than that of the hockey setup. The changeover crew brings down risers over dashers, lays down courtside decking, and sets up chairs. The centre line, in particular, has to be completely perfect, as any deviation is easily noticeable. The transition from basketball to hockey also involves less equipment and fewer steps.
The Wells Fargo Center transitions from basketball to hockey for doubleheader events about eight to 15 times a year. The process usually takes about two hours and ten minutes and involves a 35-member crew. They remove the basketball court, cover the ice with 550 sheets of Ice Pro, remove 156 sheets of hockey glass, install two 120'x20' nets, and build the basketball court with 900 screws.
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The basketball bowl floor is smaller than the hockey setup
The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is a multi-purpose indoor arena that hosts both basketball and hockey games. The basketball bowl floor is smaller than the hockey rink setup, and the transition from basketball to hockey is simpler than the other way around. The process of converting the basketball court to a hockey rink involves removing the basketball court to reveal the ice underneath. The Wells Fargo Center's basketball court is broken down into more than 250 panels that are about three inches thick. The changeover crew removes the panels and deals with the risers, dashers, courtside decking, and chairs.
The process of converting the arena from basketball to hockey also involves covering the ice with 550 sheets of Ice Pro and removing 156 sheets of hockey glass. The crew then installs two 120'x20' nets and builds a 225-piece basketball court with 900 screws. This process takes around two hours and ten minutes. The center line of the basketball court must be perfect, as any imperfections are easily noticeable. The Wells Fargo Center has a "center of the bowl out" mentality, emphasising the importance of getting the center of the basketball court right.
To prevent condensation issues caused by the ice underneath, the Wells Fargo Center uses massive air conditioning units to regulate the temperature above the court. Additionally, coolant pipes under the ice help maintain the temperature and prevent melting. The transition from basketball to hockey involves a controlled chaos approach, with electricians and technicians working simultaneously to set up the necessary equipment.
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The changeover crew brings down risers over dashers
The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is a multi-purpose indoor arena that serves as the home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The Center is one of the busiest arenas in the world and hosts a variety of events, from NHL to NBA championships.
The Center's crew is responsible for the transition of the arena's floor from basketball to hockey and vice versa. The process involves removing the basketball court to reveal the ice rink underneath or building the court on top of the ice. This transformation is often described as "controlled chaos" and takes around two hours and ten minutes to complete.
The changeover crew plays a crucial role in this process. They begin by bringing down risers over dashers, which is a crucial step to ensure the center line is perfect. Even a slight deviation from the exact measurements can be noticeable, impacting the placement of rugs and chairs.
After addressing the risers and dashers, the crew lays down courtside decking and sets up chairs. They also install each panel of the basketball court, which is broken down into more than 250 panels across three different courts: the main Sixers court, the City Edition Sixers court, and the Villanova court. These courts are about three inches thick and are raised slightly to prevent direct contact with the cold floor.
The Wells Fargo Center utilizes massive air conditioning units to regulate the temperature above the court and prevent condensation due to the cold sheet of ice beneath. Once the court installation is complete, electricians and technicians move in to set up the necessary equipment, including maneuvering colorful wires and devices.
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It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes to change the floor
The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is a multi-purpose indoor arena that hosts a variety of events, from basketball to ice hockey games. The Center is home to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). With a seating capacity of 21,000 for NBA and NCAA basketball games and 19,173 for NHL hockey, the Center is one of the busiest arenas in the world.
Changing the floor from basketball to hockey or vice versa is a complex and time-consuming process. It takes a dedicated crew of 35 people about 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete the transition. The process involves multiple steps and careful coordination to ensure a successful transformation.
Firstly, the crew covers the ice with 550 sheets of Ice Pro, a specialised material that helps protect the ice from damage and temperature changes. This step is crucial as it ensures the ice remains intact and in optimal condition for future hockey games.
Next, the crew removes 156 sheets of hockey glass that surround the rink. This step requires careful handling as the glass panels are heavy and need to be safely stored until they are reinstalled for the next hockey event.
Once the ice is covered and the glass removed, the crew installs two large nets measuring 120'x20' each. These nets serve as barriers to separate the playing area from the audience and help ensure the safety of both the players and spectators.
The final and most intricate step is the assembly of the basketball court. The court consists of 225 pieces that must be carefully put together like a puzzle. Each piece is secured with 900 screws to create a stable and level playing surface. The court is then inspected to ensure it meets the precise standards required for professional basketball games.
The transformation of the floor from basketball to hockey or vice versa at the Wells Fargo Center is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the crew. Their efficient and meticulous work ensures that the arena can seamlessly host a variety of events, providing an exceptional experience for both athletes and spectators alike.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes to change the Wells Fargo Center floor from basketball to NHL.
The changeover crew covers the ice with 550 sheets of Ice Pro, removes 156 sheets of hockey glass, installs two 120’x20’ nets, and builds a 225-piece basketball court with 900 screws.
It is easier to transition from basketball to NHL as the crew just needs to remove the court to reveal the ice underneath.
The Wells Fargo Center floor is much smaller for basketball than for NHL from a square-footage perspective. The basketball floor has a capacity of 21,000, while the NHL floor has a capacity of 19,173.
