Distinctive floors seem to be the new trend in college basketball for brand recognition, and the University of Central Florida is following suit.
UCF unveiled its new hardwood floor design for CFE Arena that features a “blacktop” style, emulating an outdoor playing surface. The school had been working on the project for months but had failed multiple times to find the correct color stain that matched its computer designs. However, the program continued to work with Connor Sports Flooring and eventually found a match.
“The court is part of our branding,” UCF men’s basketball head coach Donnie Jones said. “When you turn on the TV, you will know when UCF is playing. We are moving into a new league and will have new opportunities for exposure and the timing is right for a new floor, as well.”
UCF is following the likes of universities such as Oregon, Long Beach State and George Washington in creating unique hardwood designs that establish an identifiable brand. The new court design is certainly generating buzz in the Orlando region, and Jones hopes the new court will assist in the development of the program.
“Having this court in here, it’s just the beginning of the steps we need to take in building a great program,” Jones said. ” I think having this as an emblem and a mark is something kids like, recruits like, fans like. It’s something you can point to.”
Check out a time lapse video of the court’s installation in the video below.
