Sears Centre replacing court for Windy City Bulls
A slightly-used basketball court will be adorned with the Windy City Bulls logo, and installed at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates by the time the NBA Development League team begins play in November.
Hoffman Estates officials recommended Monday to spend $63,200 on the court, to replace the decade-old one currently at the Sears Centre.
Trustees are going in a different direction than their original plan to refurbish the old court for $15,000 this year and replace it in two years.
The Windy City Bulls have pledged $12,000 to have their logo painted on the court this year - but if the court was replaced in two years the Sears Centre would have to pay to repaint, Sears Centre General Manager Ben Gibbs said.
What's more, Horner Sports Flooring Co. of Dollar Bay, Michigan offered the Sears Centre a $10,000 credit for the old court - which is reflected in the final $63,200 price.
The old court will likely find new life in a community center or similar venue where it won't have to be installed and removed on a regular basis, Gibbs said.
The replacement court was specially built for the NBA World Games in Shanghai, and then sold back to Horner Sports Flooring with only about four games having been played on it.
Gibbs added the new court will be easier to install - taking away about 90 minutes of labor every time it is set up.
"There's an upside to having good equipment," he said.
Practical and financial reasons aside, the new court will make a better first impression on visitors coming to the Sears Centre to see the Windy City Bulls play 24 home games a season, Gibbs said.
The replacement court is expected to arrive in late summer.
Hoffman Estates owns the Sears Centre. The village board will formally vote on the recommended purchase on Monday, March 21.