Stein a.d. Traun/Madrid, 24.07.23 – From July 21 to 23, Madrid witnessed a world premiere that will profoundly impact the sports world. During the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, starting from the quarter-finals, games were no longer played on traditional parquet flooring but on the ASB GlassFloor, a high-tech video sports floor made of glass. In conjunction with the specially developed application GlassCourt OS, the German company ASB GlassFloor demonstrated a new dimension in presenting a sports event. This new technology opens up opportunities for many sports to position themselves for the future, competing for Olympic relevance and the next generation of sports fans. Players, fans, and FIBA were thrilled with the experience.
Revolutionising Basketball: GlassFloor as an Equal Playing Surface
Establishing a glass floor as an equal playing surface alongside parquet is nothing short of a revolution in the basketball world. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis acknowledged the significance of the moment during the official presentation of ASB GlassFloor. “Today is a proud day for the International Basketball Federation and FIBA, which may also have changed the history of our sport to some extent. Basketball has essentially been played on wood since its invention in 1891 by James Naismith. So, moving away from the sacred wood was not an easy step. These days may have changed the history of the company, but perhaps also to some extent the history of our sport. This moment is historic.”
Jorge Garbajosa, President of FIBA Europe, shared a similar sentiment: “I feel that basketball is changing. I mean, since this tournament, basketball will be different. I would even say that indoor sports will be different. Leagues, international competitions, and national team tournaments will surely take place on this highly attractive glass floor in a few years.”
“Maybe there’s something magical in the floor”
Making this groundbreaking innovation possible is Christof Babinsky, Managing Director of ASB GlassFloor, for which Zagklis personally expressed gratitude. “ASB GlassFloor has not only demonstrated its high technological expertise but also shown that they care about the sporting competition.” For the 37-year-old Babinsky, this aspect is particularly important. “In everything we do, the safety and perception of the athletes are at the center of our actions.”
The feedback from the main protagonists was consistently positive. “I will ask my club to always play on this glass floor. When I fell to my knees, strangely, it didn’t hurt as much as usual. Maybe there’s something magical in the floor, and the design and animations were really cool,” raved French star player Leila Lacan.
FIBA had already approved the use of LED glass floors for Level 1 competitions about a year ago. Now, the basketball world followed through, and after the days in Madrid, it is clear that more basketball events will follow suit. “We want and are already planning the future implementation of this technology,” said Zagklis. Babinsky expressed a similar sentiment, “We have come to basketball to stay.” Understandably, as what ASB GlassFloor presented to the world at the WiZink Center, the home venue of Real Madrid’s basketball team, was breathtaking.
Add Dimensions to the Game with Interactive Innovation
GlassCourt OS is an interactive software solution designed to seamlessly integrate data from various 3rd parties, including player and ball tracking systems, sports and health data platforms, and coaching applications. The software acts as a central hub, capable of processing real-time data and transforming it into visually stunning and informational graphics, displayed directly on the glass sports floor. GlassCourt OS seamlessly integrates and synchronises the ASB GlassFloor with LED boards and video cubes, providing real-time, contextual overlays that inform spectator, athlete or coach. The result is an unprecedented level of engagement and value for athletes, clubs, associations, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans.
“In the coming months and years, we will work on the infrastructure to integrate new advertising methods that connect athletes’ moments with great effects for fans and viewers, to generate more revenue for these events,” said Babinsky.
The combination of GlassCourt OS and ASB GlassFloor presents endless marketing opportunities via the interactive LED canvas. Sponsorship placements can change dynamically, interactive half-time shows can heighten fan engagement and augmented reality can create viral moments. The GlassCourt OS ensures sponsors and advertisers enjoy unparalleled visibility, capturing the attention of both live spectators and TV viewers.
New Training Opportunities through Digital Innovation
The in-game engagement made evident through ASB Glassfloor technology at the FIBA U19 WWC was only a fraction of what the LED court offers. With real-time positional data integrated with court display, coaches will be able to give instant feedback, for example, on opening or closing passing lanes, enhancing basketball training efficiency and potentially accelerating players’ learning curve.
However, amidst all the innovation, the well-being of the athletes were always at the center in Madrid. Due to its elasticity and structure, including the ceramic dots embedded on the glass surface, the ASB GlassFloor provides optimal conditions for the athletes’ health. The risk of injuries due to friction after a fall is significantly reduced, making it an ideal surface also for wheelchair athletes.
Andreas Zagklis (Secretary-General of FIBA): “Today is a proud day for the International Basketball Federation and for FIBA, which may have changed the history of our sport. Basketball has basically been played on wood since its invention in 1891 by James Naismith. The move away from the sacred wood has not been easy for us. We want and are already planning for the future implementation of this technology. ASB GlassFloor has not only demonstrated its high level of technological know-how, but has also shown that they care about sports competition. FIBA especially cares about the feedback from the players. They are the protagonists of our sport and everyone has been very positive about it. Many would not have expected this floor to feel so natural. You have the expectation that it will be different, but it’s not so different. It’s better. I thank our friends at ASB GlassFloor. These days may have changed the history of the company, but perhaps to some extent the history of our sport. This moment is historic.”
Jorge Garbajosa (President of FIBA Europe): “I feel like basketball is changing. I mean, since this tournament, basketball will be different. I would even say that indoor sports will be different. This was a very positive test not only for the fans but also for the players. For me, the future starts today. The future is this tournament. The future has arrived in our sport. The leagues, international competitions and tournaments with national teams will certainly take place on this very attractive glass floor in a few years. And as I said, as a country, as a Spanish federation, we are very proud. I’m pretty sure that in a few years everyone will remember that the first World Cup match was on a glass floor here in Madrid.”
Christ Babinsky (Managing Director of ASB GlassFloor): We have seen our floor perform well before. Still, the feedback from the players, coaches and officials was overwhelming. The collaboration with FIBA was outstanding. The way they introduced the players to the new playing surface, revealed the court to the public and introduced it to member nations was truly impressive. A real partnership.
I am very glad we had the chance to present our first 5×5 basketball event on a global stage and believe we came to basketball to stay. The next months and years we will be working on the infrastructure to integrate new advertising methods tying moments of great athleticism to great effects for fans and spectators in order to bring more income to these events. Our new partnership with GlassCourt OS allows this as well as incredible real time coaching tools and activation events on the interactive ASB GlassFloor.
Everything we do is with the safety and perception of the athlete in the focus of what we do. The feedback from this event shows that this approach works. We are set to change the world of indoor sports and this was a great big step for us. I am proud of the ASB Team in a way that is difficult to put in words.