### United Center's Rapid Arena Conversion Process Explained

The Chicago United Center conversion crew expertly transforms the arena from hockey to basketball in just two and a half hours.

### The Complex Conversion Process of the United Center: From Hockey to Basketball in Just 2.5 Hours
* 🏒 The Chicago Blackhawks faced the Detroit Red Wings and lost **4-1**, prompting a swift conversion of the United Center for the Chicago Bulls' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves **less than 22 hours later**.
* 🔧 A dedicated conversion crew of around 50 people, both full-time and part-time, begins the transformation by **removing hockey glass and rolling up rubber mats** to ensure **safe access for ice crews**.
* 🧼 Cleaning crews prioritize the **far ends of the rink** while preparing for seating adjustments, as they need to **remove seats covering access tunnels for equipment**.
* ❄ ️ Within 25 minutes post-game, the last pieces of glass are down, and the Zamboni resurfaces the ice, which is **crucial for maintaining NHL-quality conditions** even during basketball events.
* 🏀 The seating configuration changes drastically, with **1,200 additional seats installed**, and telescopic platforms allow for **quick adjustments between hockey and basketball layouts**.
* 📏 Precise measurements are taken for the basketball court, which is stored in a **temperature-controlled room**, ensuring each piece is **assembled correctly to avoid misalignment**.
* 🎉 The entire conversion process, from removing the last glass pane to placing the final seat, takes approximately **2 hours and 30 minutes**, showcasing the team's **efficiency and dedication**.
* 📅 Over the month of November, the United Center will undergo **21 conversions**, illustrating the relentless effort to provide **diverse entertainment options** in Chicago.

How Arenas Transform Overnight

Wendover Productions is all about explaining how our world works. From travel, to economics, to geography, to marketing and more, every video will leave you with a little better understanding of our world. New videos go out every other Tuesday.

Wendover Productions

Rapid Conversion of United Center from Hockey Rink to Basketball Court

Blackhawks game ends, immediately followed by Bulls game.

Broadcast crew removes cameras; ice mats rolled up.

Conversion crew (50 people) begins work; glass removal using suction cups.

Glass removal is quick, limited by storage speed.

Cleaning crews prioritize far-end sections, starting from the west side due to forklift access limitations.

Ice Resurfacing and Preparation for Next Event

Zamboni resurfaces the ice; ice is permanent and reused for all events.

Part of the crew takes a break while others continue working on seating.

Seating Conversion:  Adapting to Different Sport Geometries

Significant geometrical differences between hockey rink and basketball court require extensive seating rearrangement (1200 additional seats installed).

Different player access tunnels and seating configurations for each sport.

Telescopic seating platforms and hovercraft-like lifting platforms used for efficient movement.

Seating sections flipped for basketball configuration.

Final Rink Preparations and Basketball Court Setup

Removal of boards, mopping, and netting retraction.

Organized storage of basketball components.

Risers, small seating sections, and rubber flooring brought out.

Bench conversion, adding seating and increasing revenue.

Insulated plywood flooring installation (530 pieces).

Adapting to Other Events and Scheduling Challenges

Arena hosts various events, requiring different setups.

Long nights due to concert load-out times and practice schedules.

Back-to-back conversions and playoff season uncertainties.

Variations in setups for national broadcasts.

Final Stages of Court Setup and Completion

Measuring and marking for court placement.

Temperature-controlled storage and precise assembly of the court.

Precision is crucial during court assembly.

Seating extension and rubber placement between sections.

Additional seating rows due to shorter court length.

Placement of official tables and advertising boards.

Conclusion and Behind-the-Scenes Information

Conversion takes approximately two hours and thirty minutes.

Frequent conversions throughout November.

Discussion of video production costs and Nebula support.