Behind the Scenes: From Field to Floor

Originally Published: May 26, 2010 6:4 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma -- It’s not always easy sharing a room. Ask any 4-year-old who now has to share his space with his baby brother. Or, ask any Tulsa Talons player about how they like sharing the BOK Center with the new kid in town, the Tulsa Shock.

“It is weird. I see the jersey and the championship banner they won in Detroit,” said Talons linebacker Jamar Ransom. “Maybe they can start piggy-backing tickets. Buy one for a Talons game and get one for a WNBA game.”

Tulsa’s palatial downtown venue is as multifaceted as it is accommodating, hosting concerts and expos in addition to the city’s major sports events. With all that going on under one roof, the upkeep can get a little hectic.

“It’s difficult if you don’t know what pieces go together, but it’s pretty easy if you’re familiar with the puzzle,” said BOK Center Senior Operations Manager Willie Williams. “That’s all the basketball floor is. It’s just a simple puzzle of 4x8 sheets of wood.”

Dozens of men working eight hour days use their bare hands to transform the inside of the BOK Center. The weekly floor-to-roof makeover could make even Martha Stewart blush.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” said John Nelson.

He helps lead the crew that makes the magic on the BOK floor. In one day, his team of up to 30 guys can break down the basketball goals, floor and courtside seats and replace them with special padded walls, field turf and goal posts.

“It’s a marvelous thing with me because I get excited every day I walk in and see one set and come back the next day and see another set there,” said Williams. “It’s a thrill to see that.”

Over the past two weeks, the Tulsa Shock hosted the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday, the Talons hosted the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on Saturday before the Shock returned home for a date with the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.

The BOK Center hosted the men’s Conference USA basketball tournament in March, but crowds got their first glimpse of the specially made Shock floor at the May 15th opener against Minnesota. The bright yellow color scheme mirrored the floor crew’s happiness at a job well done.

“It was like a kid in a candy factory,” said Williams. “Everybody came in excited to see the Shock play basketball.”

The venue truly is multi-purpose.

“This is the best place to play basketball,” grinned Williams.

Or football.