(OMAHA, NE) -- When the Creighton men’s basketball team opens the 2024-25 season on October 26 for its Charity Exhibition game against Purdue, it’ll do so while playing on a new basketball court designed to tell the story of Creighton University and the program’s proud history.
“We wanted to make this court uniquely Creighton,” said Creighton’s McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom. “It was important for us to honor our storied basketball tradition along with our Jesuit values while also injecting a bit of new energy to the design. I hope we struck the right balance.”
The court includes multiple intricate features that merit up-close inspection to gain a full appreciation for the attention to detail in the new Creighton-centric design.
Six numbers will appear on the west sideline, three in front of each bench, to recognize the retired jersey numbers for No. 3 (Doug McDermott), No. 25 (Kyle Korver), No. 30 (Bob Harstad), No. 33 (Bob Portman), No. 35 (Paul Silas) and No. 45 (Bob Gibson).
Within the eye of the Bluejay logo at midcourt will be the number 1916, a nod to Creighton’s first recognized year of intercollegiate basketball.
Just inside the three-point line will be text of seven core Jesuit values, such as “Women and Men For and With Others”. It is believed that Creighton will be the nation’s first Division I team with its school motto included inside its basketball court.
Also inside the three-point line are Heritage logos to honor Creighton’s history.
The new color scheme also features an updated courtside gradient, in addition to a feather pattern inside the three-point line, a nod to Creighton’s Bluejay nickname.
The court was designed by GLGR out of Beaverton, Ore., and produced by Ledford Sports Floors out of Jenks, Okla.
Also new for 2024-25, the athletic department has added 75 additional premium courtside seats bringing the total number of courtside seats to 360 after over 60 seats were added prior to the 2022-2023 season. These seating options resemble the options provided at many NBA arenas as well as other BIG EAST facilities. Similar options were also added to D.J. Sokol Arena for women’s volleyball and women’s basketball games.
“We have a high demand for more premium seats and these new options help meet some of that demand as well as bring in significant additional revenue to support our men’s basketball program,” said Blossom.
Many of these new seats are already sold but there are some remaining. For those interested in the remaining new courtside seating options, call the Creighton Ticket Office 402-280-JAYS.
Photo courtesy Creighton University
Video highlighting the new court: https://youtu.be/K7OavMsQVHs
Time lapse of transition from the old court to the new court: https://youtu.be/3KYKrOjOvMg