NHL Face-Off 2011
The Challenge
To install a replica NHL rink complete with lines, boards, glass and sponsors in a compressed schedule.
October 6, 2011 in Winnipeg marks an historical event for SmartRink and the NHL’s newest franchise the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets were coming back home after 17 seasons away. SmartRink was asked for the second year in a row to come up with an event rink solution following last years highly successful Face-Off event in hockey crazy Toronto. Face-Off is the NHL’s annual season kick off event. In an unsolicited comment the NHL has indicated that “the NHL knows the SmartRink product is the best and we want you at Face-Off 2011 in Winnipeg”. How can anyone refuse that?
Product
The Solution
Once again we assembled our pro installation team to set up a mini replica NHL rink at The Forks in Winnipeg. We survived a record setting 31 degree Celsius October heat wave, wind storms, and 30,000 fans. We used our tried, true, and tested heavy duty ProFast1800 panels using our Smart-Lock seamless connection system directly on top of a challenging “less than level” parking lot. The installation team went at it for 10 hours straight and the result was perfection.
The Result
Starting at 6:00 AM Hundreds of local hockey players competed, tested their skills, and just had fun tearing around the SmartRink surface while thousands of interested fans looked on in amazement at this synthetic rink experience.
After a night attending various VIP and post event NHL functions, the SmartRink crew started at 7:00 am tearing the rink down. By 12:00 most of the rink was pulled apart and by 3:00 PM everything was packed away and the site was restored back to normal.
Special thanks to the NHL’s Nick Gennarelli and BaAM Production’s Megan McCarthy for all their help and support in what was the best ever NHL Face-Off event to date!