Chris Thornton is enthusiastic about the future of basketball played on futuristic surfaces – specifically those made of glass. Thornton is the managing director of ASB GlassFloor’s Americas division, a company based in Germany that specializes in creating courts from layers of fused safety glass, which encase LED panels. These innovative courts provide a highly customizable visual experience with options for personalized playing lines, logos, colors, animated graphics, and advertisements, all adaptable for various sports.
In a sport where traditional wooden courts still dominate, Thornton sees potential for glass courts, which are gaining traction in the NBA and on the global stage as a technology-driven replacement. “I liken where we are to when the iPhone was first introduced,” Thornton explained. “The hardware design has evolved over time, but the original iPhone was primarily for calls, texts, and playing music. Nowadays, it manages your entire life and facilitates global communication. I foresee something similar happening here.”
The idea of basketball players moving energetically across glass floors might seem unusual at first. However, Thornton envisions a future where ASB GlassFloor makes such courts a reality, thanks to technology that ensures their safety and versatility. These courts offer visually stunning displays that users can modify quickly and easily using a smartphone or tablet app.
According to Thornton, the glass surface provides more flexibility than wood due to its spring-action design with aluminum and steel support beneath the LED panels. The glass is covered with a ceramic coating that features etched dots for grip, eliminating “dead spots” and other inconsistencies found in wooden courts.
This combination also potentially enhances athlete safety by making it easier to spot areas needing maintenance, such as sweat puddles. “There’s an overwhelming notion that glass courts are fragile and unsafe,” Thornton remarked. “But that’s not the case.”
The visual component is a key selling point for these courts. Arena managers could refresh a court’s appearance without the need for ample storage space required by multiple designs on hardwood. Alternatively, coaches could deploy on-court visual aids for practice sessions. If desired, courts can even mimic the classic aesthetic of wood to uphold tradition.
The challenge lies in the cost, as these technological marvels are more expensive than traditional wooden courts. While Thornton refrained from disclosing exact figures, he mentioned discussions with college teams and leagues, suggesting leasing as an option.
Jason Gasperich, technical director at Connor Sports – known for crafting hardwood courts for major NCAA tournaments – acknowledged the higher expense. Of the approximately 800 courts his company builds each year, around 750 end up in schools that might not have the budget for digital courts. Nonetheless, Gasperich praised the technology, emphasizing its unique applications unattainable with a classic wood floor.
Already, glass LED courts are installed in the home arenas of Bayern Munich in Germany and Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, and they’ve been spotlighted in events by FIBA. In the United States, the University of Kentucky utilized one for its “Big Blue Madness” event.
Men’s basketball coach Mark Pope expressed enthusiasm about the floor’s versatility, while player Cassidy Rowe noted its similar functionality to traditional courts despite its unique attributes.
The NBA showcased the courts during the 2024 All-Star weekend events in Indianapolis. By December, a training facility with one of these courts was established in Orlando, providing NBA teams a chance to experience and evaluate the glass court.
Thornton shared that the NBA invested in ASB GlassFloor’s Americas division, with over 100 players and coaches having tried it out. “As we integrate with data providers for the NCAA and NBA, we’ll continue enhancing what we offer on an ASB GlassFloor,” Thornton said. “Our focus has been achieving a comfortable surface for athletes, and we’ve accomplished that.”