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It's been 20 years since the Arena has seen a new court and come March 7, a new design will become reality, just in time for the Summit League Basketball Championships.
"Courts are done differently all over the place but this one is certainly consistent with the modern look you would find in any big time facility for big time basketball but ours is with stain and not with paint which makes it unique as well," SF Community Development Director Darrin Smith said.
The new floor was purchased by the City of Sioux Falls for just under $100,000. According to Sports Authority Executive Director Wes Hall, it was a must-have because of a new rule from the NCAA.
"In order to increase player safety, they just instituted a rule that the floor can no longer be decaled and had to have things painted or stained onto the floor. That is why we had to make this decision to have this done going forward with the Summit League Tournament to keep the Tournament here in town," Hall said.
The tourney is scheduled to stay in Sioux Falls through 2017 with a five-year option after that. The new floor will make its way over to the Denny Sanford Premier Center along with the Championships in 2015. And thanks to new technology, the Zipper Court made by Connor Sports Flooring will be easier to move.
"You can put the middle down and work both sides of the court for installation and removal at the same time. It will double our speed for turnaround. Hopefully when this court moves over to the new event center it will allow us to do two sporting events in one day," SMG General Manager Terry Torkildson said.
The Summit League Basketball Championships take place March 9-12. The Tourney is on pace to once again shatter attendance records.
