From Tree to Tipoff
With no Final Four to play, the process of harvesting and producing this year's court had to be halted early, but the nearly five-month journey that trees take to become a Final Four court is worth another look.
Photography by Ross Dettman
Originally published 3/29/17
Harvesting
Foresters selected 500 sugar maples from a 24,000-acre Michigan forest to convert into the 2017 Final Four court in Glendale, Arizona. The trees were sustainably harvested and chopped into as many 8-foot pieces as possible, using a tanklike machine with rollers and chainsaws.
Making the Final Four Court, Stage 1: Harvesting
In a 24,000-acre forest, foresters select 500 sugar maples. With a tank-like machine with rollers and chainsaws, the trees are sustainably harvested and chopped into as many 8-foot pieces as possible.
Timber breakdown
- 500 Trees Harvested
- 418 Panels of Wood
- 10 Miles of Boards
Creating the Floor Panels
In a Michigan mill, trees were debarked, cut to planks and dried. To create the strongest floor, boards were staggered, as if building an oversized floor at a home.
Making the Final Four Court, Stage 2: Creating the floor panels
In a Michigan mill, trees are debarked, cut to planks and dried. To create the strongest floor, boards are staggered, like building an oversized hardwood floor at a home.
Labor and time spent
- 125 Workers
- 144Days
- 207,360 Minutes
Layout, Painting & Staining
Planks shipped to Idaho were sanded and measured. The floor became a giant paint-by-numbers picture. Every inch was stained and painted, using NCAA graphics as stencils.
Making the Final Four Court, Stage 3: Layout, staining and painting
Planks are shipped to Idaho, sanded and measured. The floor becomes a giant paint-by-numbers picture. Every inch is stained and, using NCAA graphics as stencils, the floor is painted.
Design specifications
- 9,800 Sq Ft of floor
- 14Colors
- 13.25 gallons of stain
- 4.5Gallons of Paint
- 80.5Gallons of finish
Installation
The floor arrived at University of Phoenix Stadium on two 18-wheelers. It was assembled using a pin-and-hole system, then altered to accommodate the sidelines and baselines.
Making the Final Four Court, Stage 4: Installation
Arriving on two 18-wheelers, the floor is assembled in Glendale using a pin-and-hole system. The floor is then altered to accommodate the sidelines and baselines. Then it's time for basketball.
Travel log
Tipoff
The Final Four court's first game was a Gonzaga win over South Carolina. The Bulldogs finished as tournament runners-up to North Carolina.
Setup and outcome
- 39.3 Tons hauled
- 5Hours to Install
- 3Games played
