NPAC unveiling new arena floor Monday

David Spellman pushes the striping machine in Chadron State College's Nelson Physical Activity Center on Wednesday. The arena, with its new synthetic flooring, will be open to the public Monday. (Photo by Justin Haag)
David Spellman pushes the striping machine in Chadron State College's Nelson Physical Activity Center on Wednesday. The arena, with its new synthetic flooring, will be open to the public Monday. (Photo by Justin Haag)

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The arena of Chadron State College’s Nelson Physical Activity Center will be opened to the public Monday morning, giving facility users a look at the new synthetic surface which has been under construction for much of the summer.

 The former floor, which had a rough texture throughout, has been replaced with a multi-textured surface. The courts of the arena now have a smooth surface while the running track remains coarse to provide optimal traction for running events. The new floor also features a bold red and gray design as opposed to the former tan color scheme.

Painters are finishing the intricate stripes and other marks for the surface this week. The arena will be opened Monday morning after the paint is given time to dry throughout the weekend.

Chris Green, NPAC coordinator, encourages the public to stop and see the new surface when it opens at 8 a.m., or to visit later that day. He said the new surface is a measurable improvement.

“This new floor will be really popular with NPAC users,” Green said. “It looks great, and its texture will work a lot better for the wide variety of activities in the arena.”

Ryan Baily, CSC track and field coach, agrees and calls it an asset for the team.

“Honestly, I would say that our floor is currently the best in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and will benefit the track and field, and cross country teams immensely – especially when recruiting,” Baily said. “The surface will also benefit the campus and community. We appreciate everyone involved in making this happen. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

The floor, which was installed by Beynon Sports Surfaces, cost about $350,000. About 14 percent of the project was paid for from student fees. Money from the college’s cash fund, NPAC equipment fund and wellness account comprised the rest.

-Justin Haag

Category: Campus Announcements, Campus News, Historical