You’ve never seen a basketball court like this. German company ASB GlassFloor has been making temporary floors for sports teams for the last decade. These floors, populated with millions of LEDs, would lay overtop of traditional wooden courts for special events. This time, however, ASB GlassFloor has created a basketball court meant to last–literally from the ground up. The company has announced that their floor has been permanently installed at BMW Park arena in Munich, the home court of the FC Bayern Basketball team.
ASB GlassFloor’s partnership with FC Bayern is initially set to last through 2030, though the company says that their new floor is built to last 70 years. LEDs are embedded under safety glass that the company says is more elastic than a traditional hardwood floor, creating a comfortable, safe playing environment for athletes. A ceramic dot treatment etched onto the glass provides a grippy surface while preventing friction burns when players fall.
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The ASB GlassFloor can be overlaid with the traditional markings of a basketball court, but can also play any number of animations to entertain fans, showcase player stats in real time, or function as a huge piece of digital signage for sponsors. The company says the court can event utilize AI during practice sessions, allowing the coach to animate and draw optimal passing or defensive positions for players on the court.
According to ASB GlassFloor, “the ASB GlassFloor products are certified for the highest level of competitions by the International
Basketball Federation, International Handball Federation, International Volleyball Federation, and
exceed all performance criteria such as absorption, ball rebound, slip resistance, friction test.”
