Summary
Converting the United Center: A Complex Process
The Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings marked the beginning of a rapid transformation of the United Center’s floor from a hockey rink to a basketball court. A crew of around 50 people, including full-time employees and part-timers, worked tirelessly to remove the glass, with color-coded carts rolling through the Zamboni tunnel to collect the glass panels. The entire process moved quickly, with the glass removal taking just a few seconds per piece, and the initial stages of the conversion were completed within 25 minutes of the game ending.
From Hockey to Basketball
As the last fans left the arena, the crew began the process of converting the space from a hockey rink to a basketball court. The Zamboni resurfaced the ice to maintain its quality, as laying down new ice is a time-consuming process and not practical for each game. Meanwhile, other crew members worked on changing the seating geometry, installing 1,200 additional seats that extend closer to the playing surface, and making other subtle changes such as adjusting access tunnels for players and the Zamboni.
The seating configuration near the floor of the arena changes significantly between hockey and basketball games, with telescopic platforms and folding seats allowing for a quick transformation. The seats are retracted and moved away from the wall using lifting platforms that reduce their weight, making it easier for workers to push them around. The seating sections are flipped to face the correct direction for the upcoming game, and other tasks such as removing corner sections of boards, mopping the floor, and retracting netting are completed.
Converting to a Concert Venue
The conversion of a hockey arena to a concert venue involves several steps, starting with filling in the bench access tunnels with platforms and seating, which can add thousands of dollars in revenue. The rink is then covered with 530 pieces of insulated plywood flooring, with each piece cut to fit a precise spot, especially in the curved corners. Once the flooring is in place, small spacers are hammered in to secure it.
The next steps may vary depending on the event, with some concerts using the arena’s in-house setup, while larger acts bring their own staging, requiring the conversion crew to work around their equipment and timeline, often leading to long nights with load-out times of two to four hours before the in-house crew can start their conversion.
A Complex and Time-Consuming Task
The process of converting a rink to a court is a complex and time-consuming task that requires precision and attention to detail. The crew’s work begins early, around 10:00 AM, and can lead to long hours and late nights, especially during playoff season when schedules are unpredictable. The conversion involves measuring and marking the court area, removing the rink glass, and assembling the court pieces in a specific order, with each piece individually numbered to ensure accurate placement.
The crew uses tapes, chalk, and mallets to align the pieces tightly, as any misalignment can compound and affect the overall geometry of the seating area. The court itself is stored in a temperature-controlled room and is the most crucial element of the basketball setup, making precision and care essential in its assembly.
The Final Touches
The transformation of the arena from hockey to basketball mode is a meticulous process, with the flooring and seating being key components. The telescopic seating is extended and rubber pieces are placed between sections to eliminate gaps, while additional rows of seating are fitted in to take advantage of the shorter basketball court. The seating units are carefully placed, and risers are installed to provide an elevated sightline for courtside seats.
The setup also includes the installation of tables for league officials and broadcast staff, digital advertising boards, and the calibration of the hoops to ensure they are level and in the correct position. Finally, the team conducts a series of checks, including testing the rim’s hinges, before making the finishing touches, such as completing the wiring and placing the last few seats.
A Remarkable Feat
The conversion crew completed the arena transformation in two hours and thirty minutes, a remarkable feat that they will repeat multiple times in November, with twenty-one conversions scheduled for the month. The crew’s work is crucial in bringing various forms of entertainment to Chicago, switching between different surfaces such as ice rinks and courts.
Behind the Scenes
The filming of this process was made possible by a higher budget, which was supported by Nebula, a creator-founded streaming service that allows for more expensive projects through a paywall model. This model enables creators to produce exclusive content, including ad-free videos and original shows, such as the series “The Logistics of X”, which is available to subscribers.
Nebula offers a range of high-quality, original content, including documentaries and series that delve into the details of various topics such as ski resorts, search and rescue, and commercial fishing. Additionally, it features documentaries on recent historical conflicts and social phenomena, such as the disproportionate wealth and power held by the Baby Boomer generation. With a growing schedule of releases, including projects from Wendover, the platform is becoming a hub for innovative and independent entertainment.
Nebula provides a stable and predictable income for creators, making it a more attractive ecosystem for them, and offers subscribers a unique and engaging viewing experience, with discounts available for annual plans.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Zamboni | A machine used to resurface ice rinks by scraping off the top layer and applying water to create a smooth surface. | The Zamboni resurfaced the ice to maintain its quality before the conversion to a basketball court. |
| Telescopic platforms | Platforms that can be extended or retracted to change the seating configuration in an arena. | The telescopic platforms were extended to provide additional seating for the basketball game. |
| Insulated plywood flooring | A type of flooring used to cover the ice rink for events such as concerts. | The rink was covered with 530 pieces of insulated plywood flooring for the concert. |
| Load-out | The process of removing equipment and materials from a venue after an event. | The load-out time for the concert was two to four hours before the in-house crew could start their conversion. |
| Paywall model | A business model in which access to content is restricted to subscribers who pay a fee. | Nebula uses a paywall model to support creators and provide exclusive content to subscribers. |
| Creator-founded streaming service | A streaming service founded and operated by content creators. | Nebula is a creator-founded streaming service that allows for more expensive projects through a paywall model. |
| Seating geometry | The arrangement and configuration of seats in a venue. | The seating geometry was changed to accommodate the basketball court. |
| Folding seats | Seats that can be folded up or down to change the seating configuration. | The folding seats were used to create a more intimate setting for the basketball game. |
| Risers | Elevated platforms used to provide a better view for spectators. | Risers were installed to provide an elevated sightline for courtside seats. |
| Calibration | The process of adjusting equipment to ensure it is functioning correctly. | The hoops were calibrated to ensure they were level and in the correct position. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘to make something smaller or less heavy’ in the context of the seating platforms?
A) Extend
B) Retract
C) Reduce
D) Lift
2. What does ‘telescopic’ refer to in the context of the seating platforms?
A) The ability to lift heavy objects
B) The ability to extend or retract
C) The ability to rotate
D) The ability to fold
3. What is the purpose of the ‘Zamboni’ in the context of the hockey rink?
A) To remove the glass panels
B) To resurface the ice
C) To install the basketball court
D) To retract the seating platforms
4. What is ‘insulated plywood flooring’ used for in the context of converting the arena to a concert venue?
A) To cover the hockey rink
B) To install the basketball court
C) To extend the seating platforms
D) To retract the netting
5. What is the name of the creator-founded streaming service that supported the filming of the conversion process?
A) YouTube
B) Netflix
C) Nebula
D) Hulu
Answer Key:
1. C
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. C
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present and Past Simple Tenses to Describe Completed Actions and Habits
Grammar Quiz:
1. The conversion crew ________ the arena transformation in two hours and thirty minutes.
is completing
completed
2. The crew ________ the glass panels from the hockey rink to convert it into a basketball court.
is removing
remove
3. The Zamboni ________ the ice to maintain its quality before the conversion.
is resurfacing
resurfaces
4. The seating configuration near the floor of the arena ________ significantly between hockey and basketball games.
is changing
changes
5. The crew ________ the court area, removing the rink glass, and assembling the court pieces in a specific order.
measures and marks
is measuring and marking
Answer Key:
1. completed
2. remove
3. resurfaces
4. changes
5. measures and marks