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Fans who tune into this year’s Big 12 basketball tournament will get to witness games that will be played on a digital court that will be replacing the traditional hardwood at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. However, people who pay to sit courtside won’t be able to take advantage of a perk that’s being axed over concerns about the surface’s ability to handle excess moisture.
Wood has served as the default surface for basketball games ever since James Naismith invented the sport in a gym in Springfield, Massachussets all the way back in 1891. Plenty of people have honed their skills on asphalt while playing outdoors (as well as many Mormons who grew up playing on carpet), but timber has long been the standard when it comes to competitive play.
In 2023, FIBA made the fairly bold decision to switch things up with an LED court that was created in conjunction with ASB GlassFloor and debuted at the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Madrid.
That German company has expanded its horizons while partnering with the Big 12 to whip up a similar setup for this year’s basketball tournament, which has led to organizers introducing an interesting policy for the spectators who are sitting closest to the action.
Fans at the Big 12 tournament won’t be able to take advantage of courtside drink service because the digital floor isn’t waterproof
I’m still waiting for the day when I land courtside seats at a basketball game at the pro or college level, but if you’re lucky enough to check that box, you’ll usually be able to take advantage of some amenities on top of the virtually unparalleled view that you’re treated to.
Many venues have dedicated staff members who wait on fans who can place orders to have drinks delivered directly to their seats instead of having to abandon it and rub shoulders with the commoners in the concourse. However, that system has spawned more than a few incidents over the years where play had to be stopped due to a sizeable spillage.
According to Heartland College Sports, the powers that be at the T-Mobile Center have taken that option off the table at the Big 12 tournament due to the digital court, as there are concerns “spilled liquid could damage or interfere with the court’s electronic components.”
You would think that the playing surface that’s used for a game where players tend to sweat profusely would not have the potential to be impacted by moisture issues, but it seems like the concern primarily stems from a large amount of liquid ending up on the floor near vulnerable parts of the court as opposed to incidental droplets falling onto it.
It does seem like fans will be allowed to have beverages purchased from other places in the arena (according to Josh Furlong, they were initially banned outright before officials at the arena caved to the protests they should have seen coming). However, it still feels like we’re just one loose ball scramble away from a potential issue (it reportedly only takes 10 minutes to replace a damaged panel, but that’s still a pretty significant delay in the middle of a game).
That isn’t the only potential problem that’s arisen, as some people who’ve checked out the women’s games that are currently underway have voiced concerns with the visibility of the half-court line. However, that seems like a much more straightforward fix given the digital nature.
Here’s to hoping drinks end up being a non-issue when everything is said and done.