Helena Frye
Transforming a stadium from basketball to hockey is no easy feat. Arenas like the T-Mobile Arena and the Staples Center have had to transform from hosting a basketball game to a hockey game overnight or within a few days. This process typically involves removing the walls and glass panels of the rink, laying out insulated plywood to cover the ice, and piecing together the hardwood basketball floor on top. The process is reversed to transform the stadium back into a hockey rink. The ice is not removed but remains frozen underneath the basketball court, maintained by temperature control mechanisms and chillers.
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What You'll Learn
The ice rink is covered with an insulating surface
Transforming a stadium from basketball to hockey involves a fascinating process that requires hundreds of workers and hours of work. One of the critical steps in this transformation is covering the ice rink with an insulating surface. This step ensures the ice rink's functionality and protects the ice surface from damage during non-hockey events.
One popular product used for insulating ice rink flooring is Terracover Ice®, which offers superior thermal insulation. Its panels are made of foamed polyurethane and feature overlapping top surfaces, eliminating gaps that could let cold air escape or cause ice to melt. Terracover Ice® is also known for its ease and speed of installation and removal, requiring no specialised equipment. It takes only about an hour and a half to mount or demount, making it a convenient choice for arenas that need to be multi-functional.
Another option for insulating an ice rink is to use expanded polystyrene (EPS) sheets. EPS provides effective insulation and is often used in rink conversion projects where cost efficiency is a priority. In one example, a group of volunteers in Marietta, Georgia, converted an old hockey rink into a curling facility using EPS sheets for insulation. They removed the original red Georgia clay base and replaced it with sand, creating a more suitable base layer for the EPS sheets to rest on.
PlastiSpan insulation is another commercial solution for insulating ice rinks. This product is placed under the floor slabs of artificial ice rinks to regulate temperatures and reduce the time and energy required to create or remove the ice surface. By installing PlastiSpan insulation board that meets CAN/ULC-S701, Type 1 standards, arena operators can maintain the ice while reducing energy costs.
The process of covering the ice rink with an insulating surface is a crucial step in converting a stadium from basketball to hockey. It allows for the preservation of ice quality and enables arenas to host a variety of events, from hockey games to concerts and exhibitions, all while maintaining optimal ice conditions.
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Wooden panels are placed over the insulating surface
Transforming a stadium from basketball to hockey involves a fascinating process that requires a lot of work and time. In some cases, the ice rink may be covered by a basketball court, and the transformation involves removing the court to reveal the ice rink underneath. However, in other cases, a temporary ice rink may need to be created, which involves a different process.
To create a temporary ice rink, an insulating surface is first laid down. This could be done using Plasti-Fab PlastiSpan insulation boards, which are placed under the floor slabs to control the temperature and reduce energy costs. Another option is to use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam sheets, which are laid down after preparing the ground with sand and a vapour barrier.
Once the insulating surface is in place, wooden panels are placed over it. Homasote Ice Deck™ is a moisture-resistant structural panel designed for this purpose. It is made from Homasote 440 Sound Barrier, which provides efficient sound control and helps protect both the surface underneath and the one placed on top. The panels are lightweight, easy to handle, and can be cut without chipping or splitting. They also have a non-stick coating that makes them easy to remove.
With the wooden panels in place, the arena is now ready for a basketball game or other activities. This process allows for greater flexibility in scheduling events and can help increase revenue for the facility. The transformation of a stadium from basketball to hockey involves careful planning and execution, ensuring that the space is utilised efficiently and effectively.
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Basketball court walls and glass panels are installed
Transforming a basketball court into a hockey rink involves several steps, one of the most important being the installation of walls and glass panels. This process is intricate and requires careful planning and execution. Here is a detailed breakdown of the process:
Planning and Preparation:
Before installing the walls and glass panels, the layout of the basketball court needs to be altered to accommodate the hockey rink dimensions. This involves measuring and marking the new boundaries, which are typically smaller than a basketball court. The surface is then prepared, ensuring it is level and smooth. Any necessary repairs or adjustments are made at this stage to create a solid foundation for the walls and glass panels.
Wall Installation:
The installation of walls defines the perimeter of the hockey rink and creates a barrier between the playing area and the spectators. These walls, often called "dasher boards," are typically made of wood or synthetic materials and are designed to withstand the impact of hockey games. The walls are carefully measured and cut to fit the rink's contours, ensuring a precise fit. The installation process involves securing the wall panels together and anchoring them firmly to the ground.
Glass Panel Selection:
Two types of shielding are typically used in hockey rink glass panels: tempered glass and acrylic (also known as Plexiglass). Tempered glass is created through a process of successive heating and cooling, resulting in strengthened glass that can withstand high-impact collisions. Acrylic or Plexiglass, on the other hand, is a type of plastic that offers superior impact absorption compared to tempered glass. The choice between tempered glass and acrylic depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the arena.
Glass Panel Installation:
Once the walls are in place, the glass panels are installed. These panels are typically 5/8-inch thick and are designed to withstand the intense activity of a hockey game. The panels are custom-cut to fit the specific dimensions of the rink and are securely mounted onto the dasher boards. This installation process involves cutting, shaping, drilling, edgework, polishing, and hardware integrations to ensure a safe and secure barrier. The glass panels provide unobstructed views for spectators while protecting them from flying pucks and physical interactions with players.
The installation of walls and glass panels is a complex and labor-intensive process, requiring a skilled team of workers. It is a crucial step in transforming a basketball court into a safe and functional hockey rink, ensuring the comfort and security of players and spectators alike.
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The basketball court is removed to prepare for a hockey game
Preparing a stadium for a hockey game after a basketball game involves a complex process that typically takes anywhere from 90 minutes to a full day to complete. The transformation typically involves hundreds of workers and requires careful coordination and efficient execution.
To begin the process of removing the basketball court, the walls and glass panels surrounding the court are taken down. This step is crucial to opening up the space and making room for the larger hockey playing surface, which measures 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, compared to the basketball court's dimensions of 94 feet by 50 feet.
Once the walls and panels are removed, the basketball court itself needs to be disassembled. This typically involves carefully lifting and removing the hardwood floor panels that make up the basketball court. Each of these panels can weigh between 175 and 190 pounds, and there may be upwards of 300 pieces, resulting in a total weight of more than 25 tons.
After the basketball court is removed, the next step is to prepare the underlying surface for the hockey rink. This typically involves covering the entire area with special insulated plywood. This plywood layer serves a critical dual purpose: it helps to maintain the temperature differential required for the next steps while also providing a smooth and level surface.
With the plywood layer in place, the transformation team can begin creating the hockey rink. This involves flooding the area with thousands of gallons of deionized water, which is then frozen to create the ice surface required for hockey. This freezing process is typically achieved through the use of an underlying concrete slab embedded with temperature control mechanisms, such as miles of pipes filled with brine water (an antifreeze agent), maintained at extremely low temperatures.
By following these carefully planned and executed steps, the stadium staff can efficiently transform the venue from hosting a basketball game to being ready for a hockey game, ensuring that both sports can be played safely and enjoyably in the same arena. Stadiums across the country, including the Staples Center in Los Angeles, have successfully executed this transformation.
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The transformation process can take up to a full day
Transforming a stadium from a basketball court to a hockey rink can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking up to a full day to complete. Arenas like the Staples Center in Los Angeles have undergone this transition process numerous times, especially when their basketball and hockey teams have overlapping playoff games.
The transformation process involves several steps and requires a large crew to execute efficiently. To convert the basketball court to a hockey rink, the walls and glass panels around the court must first be removed. Then, a layer of special insulated plywood is laid out across the entire ice surface. This plywood is essential to maintaining the temperature difference between the basketball court and the ice below, preventing the ice from melting.
The basketball court itself is made up of hundreds of pieces of hardwood, each weighing between 175 and 190 pounds. Assembling and disassembling this court can be a time-consuming task, requiring precise placement and fitting of each wooden panel. The heavy weight of the court, totalling more than 25 tons, ensures that it stays in place without sliding on the ice during basketball games.
Underneath the ice surface is a concrete slab embedded with temperature control mechanisms. This slab is kept at a freezing temperature, usually around 16 degrees Fahrenheit, to maintain the integrity of the ice. The ice itself is not removed during the transition process but is instead covered by the insulating plywood and basketball court above. This process ensures that the transformation can be reversed efficiently, allowing for multiple transitions between sports seasons.
While the transformation process can be lengthy, some arenas have managed to reduce the transition time significantly. For example, the American Airlines Center in Dallas can transform from an NBA basketball arena to an NHL hockey rink in under two hours. The efficiency of the transformation largely depends on the crew size and their familiarity with the process.
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Frequently asked questions
Depending on the system used and crew size, the transformation time can take anywhere from 90 minutes to an entire day.
First, the walls and glass panels are removed, then special insulated plywood is laid out over the ice surface. The basketball floor, made of hardwood, is then pieced together on top of the plywood. The process is reversed to transform the stadium back into a basketball court.
The ice rink is not removed during the conversion. Instead, it is covered with an insulating surface, and the wooden panels of the basketball court are placed over it. The basketball players stand 2-3 inches above the ice.
