17 January 2022
During basketball games, you may have seen crowds of fans sit beneath the playing surface all around the court. The Final Four games are an example of this; the court in the Final Four is not on the ground. In fact, a basketball game might be played on a football-like pitch without elevating the court. However, elevating the court increases sightlines.
Players may obstruct some people’s views on the benches or media at the scorer’s table, so having everyone below the court makes it simpler for others to observe.
As a result of this, because the slope is so moderate, everyone who stands up, whether to applaud or leave for a drink, sets off a reverse-domino effect behind them. By elevating the height of the playing court by 27 inches, the NCAA is getting creative with a new aesthetic for its games.
Instead of placing the court in a corner, it is placed at a 50-yard line of a football field. This significantly improves the fan experience by opening up the entire arena. The fact that the court is elevated provides a fantastic view from the top floors. An elevated court, which sits 27 inches off the ground in the Final Four, serves artistic and practical purposes (Rico 2021). There’s no denying that organizing a basketball game on a 45,000-square-foot facility meant for a football pitch is a significant challenge.
Seat rows, like at the Georgia Dome and other massive venues, aren’t meant to slope to what would be the 35-yard mark on each side of the pitch. While conventional dome court setups force the NCAA to use just half of the stadium (as was the case last year in the Georgia Dome for the regional final), the elevated court allows the NCAA to place the court in the middle of the auditorium and sell extra tickets.
The Big Question
However, this change has elicited a mixed response. The change is controversial among players and coaches, but NCAA officials support it because of the fans’ new outlook. It’s a match between fans and players. The new appearance is a hit with fans and officials, but some players aren’t so thrilled about this.
There is speculation that an elevated court may cause injury to players due to mishaps while playing (Park 2020). It’s tough to establish whether the elevated courts genuinely assist players in staying safe.
In principle;
· It restricts individuals on the court, reducing the number of obstacles for players to encounter.
· During the game, players engage in a wide range of physical activities.
Although no player has ever been seriously injured after falling off the floor, certainly, pursuing a lost ball near the sideline on an elevated floor increases the risk of an accident.
A Positive Outcome
NCAA Tournament organizers appear to have listened to the players’ concerns, as a ten-foot carpet portion has been added to the raised court to slow down any players who may roll across it. The NCAA considers attendance figures so that this adjustment will have an impact. Isn’t it true that the more fans there are, the better?
· The highest attendance record for a basketball game is 78,129, set in 2003 when Kentucky defeated Michigan State. Analysts don’t expect that type of turnout, but they predict a 20% rise in attendance over last year, bringing the total to roughly 250,000 people.
Remarkable Moments
It isn’t easy to comprehend how great this experience is until you’ve attended a Final Four. The sightlines, ambiance, and seats are all unlike anything else you’ll see at a basketball event. An elevated basketball court at a stadium like Lucas Oil Stadium may be the last place you’d expect to see one, and it may not be where basketball should be played, but it’s a sight to behold (Kumar 2020). Around 100,000 fans watch a basketball game at the stadium, which is large enough to be seen from the city skyline. At the same time, it’s bizarre, fantastic, and surreal.
Conclusion
When you’re on the court looking up at the stands, there are a lot of arenas that have a certain aura about them, but nothing compares to the vastness or surrealist of an elevated basketball court in this situation. We’ve become accustomed to seeing these athletes compete in front of 15,000-20,000 fans, but it’s nearly mind-boggling when the fans and venue are quadrupled.
