The professionalisation of live events makes a profitable arena operation in Germany almost impossible. Does the digital playing field offer the solution?
The longing for a modern multifunctional arena is great in many cities, but implementation is very challenging. The demands on hall operators are enormous, with profitability being the biggest sticking point. Competitions down to the 3rd division must sometimes be staged to be TV-friendly. For each sport, an appropriate surface must be available. Concerts or other events, on the other hand, require a completely different surface. The various portable floors are expensive, and the conversion times are labour-intensive and lengthy. However, there is now a solution for this: the digital sports floor made of glass, developed by the German company ASB GlassFloor.
More and more municipalities and private investors are opting for the innovative floor of the Bavarian company from Stein an der Traun when building a sports hall. No wonder, as the glass technology offers many advantages and ensures significantly easier refinancing of the entire project, even in municipal construction.
Sustainability, digitalisation, completely new training and marketing opportunities, as well as enormous flexibility in the design of the entire floor area, provide hall operators with plenty of arguments to choose the so-called “ASB MultiSports”, which also offers great added value for athletes due to its joint-friendly properties.
LED lines can be switched on and off at the touch of a button
The floor is more expensive to purchase than a conventional hall floor, but this additional investment quickly pays off. The special feature: the lines are no longer permanently marked on the floor, but are located as LED lines beneath the glass surface. This way, various sports fields such as basketball, hockey, handball, badminton, and volleyball can be displayed at the touch of a button, or many small training fields. Only the lines that are actually needed are displayed, putting an end to the large tangle of lines.
When halls often have to combine school sports, professional training, sports events, and cultural events, this flexibility brings a decisive advantage. An ASB GlassFloor lasts over 70 years and can easily host futsal training in the morning, a handball league game in the afternoon, and a concert in the evening. In between, the lines are simply adjusted via touchscreen, and if necessary, the floor is given a quick wipe. Due to its easy-to-maintain and robust nature, the floor is ideal for events of all kinds. After all, it is mainly made of glass and aluminium. Walking on it with street shoes is no problem. And by the way, the glass floor is also a real eye-catcher.
Christof Babinsky, Managing Director of ASB GlassFloor, explains: “When we launched the product, we had municipal projects and the German market in mind but thought that our premium product wouldn’t fit into the budgets of these projects. Today, it’s clear that an ASB GlassFloor costs significantly less than several mobile sports floors. More importantly, however, is the time saved by our customers. The elimination of conversion times allows for more events. An ASB GlassFloor causes 1 to 2 percent more costs on the overall project, but at the same time, it results in a 20 to 30 percent increase in venue utilisation.”
Completely new refinancing opportunities
With an expected lifespan of 70 years, lower maintenance and cleaning costs, and unrestricted use in all disabled sports options, which often enable operators to access additional funding, decision-makers are increasingly opting for ASB GlassFloor. Moreover, new advertising and animation opportunities further facilitate refinancing.
The range of project sizes is varied. In 2020, the OYM Performance Center, the world’s most modern training centre, was completed in Cham, Switzerland. The BallsportARENA in Dresden has had the glass floor for several years and continues to captivate visitors with its versatile usability. Even a small inclusive school in France relies on the qualities of the “ASB MultiSports”, which provides a clear environment for autistic athletes through individual line configurations, offering tremendous added value.
The certified sports floor is FIBA, ITF, and IHF accredited, approved for the Handball Bundesliga, and complies with European standard EN 14 904:2006 for area-elastic sports floors. Due to its elasticity and properties, including ceramic dots burnt onto the glass surface, it provides perfect conditions for athlete health. The risk of injury from friction burns after a fall is also significantly lower.
Full-LED variant can secure Olympic relevance for sports
The glass floor is also available in a full-LED variant, where the entire surface is underlaid with LEDs, transforming the playing field into a giant screen. For the first time, sports, entertainment, and advertising are interwoven in the focus of the audience. Classic TV commercials, image films, or trailers for the next sports highlight can be played directly on the playing field.
In the struggle for the vital Olympic relevance, this model offers many sports the unique opportunity to position themselves for the future. “The star is the floor,” headlined the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” when the glass floor made its big stage debut at the Volleyball Supercup 2019.
The trick: both variants can be combined. Those who think sustainably and profit-oriented can no longer ignore the ASB GlassFloor when planning an arena and secure the enthusiasm of spectators and athletes along the way.