(Ann Arbor, Michigan) On Saturday, December 11th the University of Michigan hosted rivals Michigan State University to an NCAA Men’s Hockey game in their newly renovated football stadium affectionately known as “The Big House”.  Promoters dubbed the event “The Big Chill at the Big House” and did movie tie-ins, music, and fireworks to celebrate breaking the existing Guiness World Record for attendance at a hockey game.  If you are wondering what all of this has to do with a staging company, read on.

This past February SGA developed a new technique to put ice rinks on football fields that was tested successfully at Camp Randall Stadium for the Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic. The basic challenge for anyone putting an ice rink on an uneven surface is twofold:  overcome the curvature of the football field (which can vary from ½” to 12” between center field and the edge), and spread the weight of the ice and a Zamboni out enough so that it does not crack.  SGA was contacted by Ice Rink Events, whose chilling technologies and expert ice-making ability calls for a flat surface; one that SGA was happy to provide.

SGA custom contour-cut a matrix of over 1300 4'x 8' foam sheets to the curvature of the field and skinned those on top and bottom with another 1300 sheets of 4’ x 8’, ¾” thick tongue and groove OSB.  The rink was built atop the insulation sandwich.  SGA’s client Ice Rink Events was then able to easily and efficiently place their chilling tubes and rink boards atop this platform and create the rink.

SGA also provided a 118’ run of 4’ wide scaffold that ran down the length of the stadium’s only entrance tunnel and over the locker room door.  The huge bridge provided a safe and secure viaduct for the refrigeration unit’s feed and return lines.  The entire installation project was covered extensively by University of Michigan film crews and the Discovery Channel, who are producing a documentary to be released in 2011.

SGA wishes to thank Ice Rink Events for a successful partnership and their continued support.  As more stadiums become true multi-use facilities, the two companies are both dedicated to developing technologies that will enable these types of projects to happen more efficiently and economically each time.  Keep an eye out for SGA’s next ice platform this New Year’s day in Pittsburgh.