The university has purchased the floor used in Iowa's Elite Eight contest to build a new playing surface for the 2026-27 season.
After making a memorable run to the Elite Eight, Iowa men's basketball is rewarding itself with a new playing surface at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the 2026-27 men's and women's basketball seasons.
According to a press release from HawkeyeSports, the current floor that was built in 2016 has reached the common 10-year endpoint, and it gives the 43-year old arena a much-needed visual change.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena has featured a parquet floor since its opening in 1983, but the new design will be a modern, single-surface design. It will be similar to the current floor, which features the TigerHawk at midcourt and the Iowa Hawkeyes wordmark on both baselines, while also featuring new design elements.
Connor Sports, a longtime flooring provider for the NCAA men's and women's tournaments, will be in charge of crafting the new maple hardwood. The floor used in this project is the same floor the Hawkeyes played on during their Elite Eight game against Illinois at Houston's Toyota Center.
The old floor will be created into memorabilia for Hawkeye fans.
NEW CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA COURT FINISHING APPROXIMATE TIMELINE
May 18-21– Floor Arrives/Install
May 22-25 – Sanding/Floor Painting Prep/Layout
May 26-June 6 – Painting/Sealing/Drying