With all the visible construction currently taking place on campus, the makeover given to Newman Arena has largely gone unnoticed.
While its more famous cousin, Lynah Rink, received a complete overhaul, Newman’s basketball floor was torn out and replaced over the summer.
On January 31st, a sprinkler pipe in Newman burst, flooding the floor and creating a headache for the Cornell athletic maintenance staff.
“The floor was covered with water,” said Pat Graham, the Facilities Supervisor for Big Red athletics.
However, the incident did not manage to disturb the remainder of the 1999-2000 basketball schedule.
“We were able to get through the season,” Graham added.
But as soon as all competition at Newman came to a close last season, the pipe was fixed and the floor ripped out to make way for an updated version.
“[The floor] is the newest one out there,” Graham said.
Made by Robbins, the floor is of the biocushion variety fashioned with rubber “feet” beneath it to provide extra support.
“It’s the cadillac of [the Robbins] line,” Associate Director of athletics, Bob Chaddock, said.
Newman won’t have to waIT long for its first action. The volleyball team hosts the Cornell Invitational on the weekend of September 15th, and will no doubt give the new floor a very thorough baptism.
Archived article by Shiva Nagaraj