Have you ever questioned why TD Garden changed its shiny basketball court to an ice hockey rink? It’s an enchantment. However, the process is interesting as it is carried out by very talented people. The Celtics basketball team and the Bruins hockey team both call TD Garden in Boston their home. This means that the venue frequently has to be converted from a basketball court to a hockey arena and vice versa. In this blog post, we want to take a simple look at how does TD garden change floors It is not just about laying some wood or ice; there is much more involved in it, and it is quite fascinating to learn about it as well. Therefore, let’s dive into the changing floors world and find out the secrets of TD Garden in doing so!
How Does TD Garden Change Floors?
Let’s break down how TD Garden handles one of the most interesting challenges in the sports world: transitioning from basketball to hockey and vice versa. It’s an intricate dance that requires a ton of teamwork and precision.
Get ready
First, they have to know when they need to switch the floor. They check their schedule ahead of time so they can get all the tools and people they need in order to make it happen.
Clean up
In order to lay out a new court, you must first remove the old one. After a basketball game, they pick up all the basketball stuff; after hockey, they melt the ice stage one.
Take apart another floor
- Basketball to Hockey: They don’t just rip out this wooden puzzle all at once — it’s taken apart piece by piece.
- Hockey to Basketball: If there is ice on the ground already, then we save your back by covering it up with insulation boards and plywood sheets; if not, we melt what’s left and clean it up.
Lay down a new ice rink
If you’ve ever seen those dirt-to-vase animations before, think of this as one of those but sped up:
- First things first: We cool down the concrete using our big machine (no longer than two hours, though)
- Now we spray water on top of the cold concrete layer by layer until we feel comfortable walking onto it without breaking through (four inches)
- Make sure each line is straight with white paint, or you will see us again during overtime.
- Give it another four inches because I’m paranoid.
Floor is lava
This isn’t a trick question — just let me finish:
We have a giant heating system under our ice rink, so sometimes, when we’re feeling lazy, we’ll tell you that “it’s like Minecraft. You can just hop and break it down.”
Hoops
Like the rink, if they’re not already gone, they walk into the storage room and bring them out.
Decorate
- Hockey: Put up the boards around the ice, put the nets in each net, or we might get fired (I’m not kidding); make sure each line is straight with white paint, or else you will see us again during overtime (yes I know I said this before).
- Basketball: Grab your broom and go across the floor three times.
Ready for game time
No matter how long everything takes, TD Garden always gets it done. Fans may think that all of their beloved teams do this for the love of sports — but no matter what anyone says, it’s only because they’re afraid of letting us down.
After all of these steps are completed, TD Garden is transformed to play a completely different sport while fans come in hoping to see a completely different thing. It truly is amazing how much work goes on behind the scenes to ensure everyone has a good time, as well as make sure that there is always some kind of event going on.
Final Words
Transitioning TD Garden from a basketball court to an ice hockey rink and back again is a process that takes countless hours of skill, precision, and hard work. The transformation requires cooling concrete, placing or removing wooden planks, and crafting the perfect surface for the athletes. It’s not just about changing the floor; it’s about creating the environment for another great game to be played in “The Jungle.” After this project is done, we’ll be able to say TD Garden has seen it all — whether it was Ray Allen breaking threes or Zdeno Chara throwing hands.
