Michigan mill supplies courts for 2025 March Madness

March Madness basketball tournaments will feature courts made in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Connor Sports, based in Amasa, has been the official court supplier for the NCAA Final Four since 2006. This year, custom hardwood courts will be used for the 2025 men’s and women’s tournaments. The men’s Final Four will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, while the women's Final Four will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Connor Sports manufactures and ships around 800 courts each year, mostly using wood from local sources. The company was founded in Wisconsin and has operated in Michigan since the 1970s. CEO Benjamin Bachman emphasized the importance of the partnership with the NCAA in preparing for the tournaments. The men’s Final Four court is constructed from 381 panels of northern hard maple, totaling 58,000 pounds. The women’s court comprises 262 panels, weighing 42,500 pounds in total. Each court requires a meticulous two-month process for assembly, sanding, sealing, and finishing before being shipped. Installation of each court takes about four hours and involves a Connor Sports supervisor along with a local team of workers. The NCAA Tournament kicks off on Tuesday with the First Four games in Dayton, and the first full day of play begins on Thursday at 12:15 p.m.