The Boston Celtics play on one of the most recognizable wood floors in the world, but the notoriety wasn’t intentional. The floor was commissioned in 1946 while the US was experiencing a lumber shortage in the wake of World War II. Using scrap lumber originally cut in Tennessee, manufacturer Boston Lumber Company opted for the distinctive square parquet pattern in order to maximize the yield.
The wood used is red oak from northern Tennessee. Altogether, there were 247 5-foot by 5-foot square panels. While the scrap wood notoriously created dead spots on the court, it also made problematic portions of it easy to repair and replace.
After years of play and having hosted an astonishing 17 NBA championships, the court was disassembled in 1999 and portions were auctioned off.
Today, a newer replica of the floor keeps the history alive at TD Garden Arena.
Are you in the Bay Area and interested in a classic parquet floor or other type of hardwood flooring for your home?
Since 1979, we’ve been the Bay Area’s #1 flooring store, specializing in Hardwood Floors and Hardwood Refinishing.
