Ahead of today’s match Panathinaikou AKTOR in the renovated OAKA, o Giannis Gikas spoke on EEC web radio about the impressive glass floor that was installed in the “green” stadium.
The Managing Director of Globalsat Group, the company that undertook this project, referred to, among others, viewing experience of the athletes, but also of the fans, revealing many of the possibilities that the “glass floor” has!
His statements in detail:
For the application of the glass floor at OAKA: “An enormous feat has been accomplished to make this “miracle” happen. If you consider that until mid-June there were matches and now in mid-October the venue has completely changed, it is a huge feat.
Some details may be pending, but within the next 20 days, until the next home match, they too will have been settled. Every hour was useful. Now, in order to hold matches, the glass floor is needed, which is ready”.
For the work required to implement the glass floor: “Additional work was carried out by the company that manages the venue on behalf of Panathinaikos, together with KAE Panathinaikos, so that the cooling solution can be implemented and the glass floor can be properly installed without spoiling the view for the fans in the court seats.
Extra works were required, which obviously increased the cost of the solution. However, it was necessary for it to be sustainable and not spoil the viewer’s experience.”
For the time it took to design and bring the glass floor to Greece: “And here a small feat has been accomplished. The agreement “closed” in early – mid July. The glass floors owned by the company that produces them were all reserved, because it rents them out for various events, such as the friendly held in honor of Drazen Petrovic. Therefore, it had to be made from scratch. Therefore, it started on July 19 and was delivered on October 9.”
For the possibilities that the glass floor gives to athletes: “In the 1980s we had the plastic pitches on the parquet, now the time has come to go to the next step, the glass floor. This offers three levels of new experiences.
First, we start with the most basic, that it is for the same athletes and the game. It offers a safer working environment, because it has 2.5 times more elasticity than parquet, which leads to much reduced vibrations for the athlete’s whole body. In terms of benefits to the athletes, it ensures their safety.
Above the special led screens, there is a special material which is elastic and offers a reduction of up to 50% of injuries to the players’ feet.
The third is that it has no gaps, which we have seen in some stadium floors. Of course, we also get rid of stickers. Yesterday (09/10), Lorenzo Brown, as he entered for the first time to see the glass floor, his first comment was “perfect no stickers”. Athletes are not only at no risk, but it helps them even more in their performance and health.”
For the possibilities that the glass floor gives to the spectators of the games: “For the viewers the experience is truly unique, this material is very televised. For the spectators of the stadium, the experience completely changes, because they can see different actions while there is no match, from videos, player statistics, promotional advertising projections, actions of Panathinaikos. It completely changes the viewing experience for the TV viewer or the sports fan who is on the field.”
For the possibilities that the glass floor gives to the team: “It gives incredible visibility to sponsors, and therefore the potential for increased revenue. Imagine that a sticker is there for the whole match and then you peel it off and stick something else, while the glass floor can be changed at half-time or time-out.
You can have many more advertisers. You can also have it in “dead” intervals of the match to display advertising campaigns. It gives the possibility to be used in other events.
In addition to basketball matches, it can be used for volleyball, tennis, futsal and handball matches. It has been designed to have the dimensions required to cover such events. In addition to sporting events, it is also widely used in corporate events and educational programs. It gives a lot of potential for extra revenue to the team that has implemented it on their pitch.
Finally, it also changes the way of training. Until now the players and coaches were locked in a room and watched videos, while now they can watch them from the glass floor. Can the coach show the systems right on the glass floor.
I am sure that in the coming months and matches what we will see will have nothing to do with what we will see today (10/10), which also has nothing to do with what we have seen so far. We may see something new in every match.”
For the moments in the match where the glass floor might show something: “Both FIBA ​​and the Euroleague have defined at what moments during the game the glass floor can change and show something else.
While the match is being played, it is not allowed to change anything on the glass floor. Unless it’s like the All-Star Game in America, which were exhibition games.
It is not allowed by the Euroleague and FIBA ​​in official matches. The only thing it might allow is when shots are fired on one racket, the other one shows something. The reason it’s not allowed is so it doesn’t disorient or distract the players.”
Regarding whether the glass floor is heated: “It’s heated and cooled already. In the first few days after it was announced, I was reading some comments saying that it would raise the temperature and the players would get hot, melt their shoes and stuff like that. Obviously none of this is true.
There is a special cooling system to keep a constant temperature and, if necessary due to the coldness of the venue, to be able to release some underfloor heating”.
For the retro-reminiscent floor color: “This is a decision of the people of KAE Panathinaikos and they can change it during the match from one half to the other or from match to match. These are the possibilities that the glass floor gives.”
For VIP Lounges: “The “ceiling” in all that has been done is defined by Mr. Giannakopoulos. It is above the organization what he envisions and has built in such a short period of time, having completely changed the entire experience of the venue visitor.
Following the orders and vision of Mr. Giannakopoulos, as well as the instructions of the OEM, we supportively provide all the technological equipment, obviously the naming and support as sponsors, so that the whole plan that exists is implemented. The same space was renovated, it became even nicer. An even better job has been done.
I didn’t think the Lounge could get any better, but the people who designed and implemented it have done another “miracle”. It resembles more five-star hotels than sports venues.
The outdoor area has also been built, the existing balcony has also become very beautiful. It’s a really impressive space. It’s a very nice experience after the match when someone, instead of leaving, sits with his friends, has a drink, chats, relaxes. It’s a unique experience.”
Source: Sport Fm
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