Source: Connor Sports
Court Size:
The 2017 Men’s Final Four Official Court from Connor Sports is a QuickLock portable manufactured from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified Northern Hard Maple first-grade flooring and is 70’ X 140’ and totals 9,800 square feet using 397 4’ x 7’ panels weighing approximately 188 pounds each or 14 tons in total. The 2017 Women’s Final Court is 60’ X 120’ and totals 7,200 square feet using 262 panels weighing a total of 10.3 tons.
Court Manufacturing:
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The Official Court(s) for the 2017 Men’s and Women’s Final Four Sugar maple trees harvested from the The Nature Conservancy’s sustainably managed 24,000-acre Two Hearted River Forest Reserve. Approximately 500 trees were harvested from 35 acres, leaving roughly 6,500 trees standing. Open areas allow the forest to diversify, becoming healthier, and the remaining trees continue to provide a host of benefits to both people and nature.
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The maple for the 2017 courts was single-sourced from The Nature Conservancy’s Two Hearted River Forest Reserve. Connor and The Conservancy partnered to host an educational event in November 2016 focused on sustainable forestry and the timber industry for the Tahquamenon Area School District in Newberry, MI, including a ceremonial tree felling at the school district’s forest, including that important log in this project
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This timber was harvested by Gene Holbrook & Sons, a multi-generational operation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Gene operates the business with the help of his two sons.
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Connor Sports purchases rough first-grade maple lumber from the supplier
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Rough cut maple arrives at Connor Sports Michigan manufacturing mill located in tiny Amasa, MI (population 250)
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Maple is cut to widths of 2 and ¼ inches. It is planed and defects are cut from the wood by “knot sawyers” at the Connor mill. Tongue and groove is put in place by a “side-matcher”
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The basketball court is made portable by assembling it into 4’ X 7’ panels
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Patented Connor Sports sub-flooring including recycled plastic materials is put in place to provide the right balance of resilience and shock absorption to assure optimum performance and player safety
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Portable sections are stacked under stringently controlled temperature and humidity
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Once the panels are completed, they are stacked, banded and sent to the Connor finishing partner where it is sanded, sealed, painted and finished. The court is then stacked to be shipped to the arena
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The court is assembled by Connor Sports technicians and laborers in an approximate four-to-six hour process
Environmental Responsibility
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All the maple hardwood used in this year’s Men’s and Women’s Final Four courts is from The Nature Conservancy’s Two Hearted River Forest Reserve in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is FSC-certified
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In 2009 an independent environmental engineering firm audited and designated Connor Sports Sports a “Zero Waste Company.”
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As a member of the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, Connor Sports adheres to the strict grading and quality standards of that organization.
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Maple hardwood used in the courts is from a renewable resource, with the U.S. growing six times more hardwood than is harvested each year.
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Connor Sports recycles 99% of its waste material and offers wood that is Forest Stewardship Council-certified. The FSC mark represents products from well-managed forests.
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Connor Sports was the first MFMA member to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance, and is the only independently certified Zero Waste sports flooring manufacturer
About Connor Sports
Founded in 1872, Connor Sports® is the leader in hardwood sports surfaces and is a preferred provider to the NCAA, NBA, FIBA and other organizations. Connor Sports has a proven commitment to sustainability with an excellent environmental record in responsible forestry including use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials and is the only flooring company with an Environmental Product Declaration. The company’s manufacturing facility in Amasa, MI is independently-audited and compliant with ISO 14001 standards. Connor Sports products also include leading vulcanized rubber sports surfaces. Connor Sports is a part of a Gerflor®company. Gerflor’s cutting-edge technology, history of innovation and design-forward products as an international leader in the flooring industry provides Connor Sports with global scope and enhanced research and technology. The Gerflor portfolio also includes Sport Court® and Taraflex® brands. Connor Sports is on the web at www.connorsports.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/connorsports and on Twitter @Connor Sports.
