The University of Iowa Athletics Department has purchased the official court used in the NCAA Houston Regional Elite Eight, giving Carver-Hawkeye Arena a playing surface with a little extra history under its sneakers.
The new maple court will replace the current Carver-Hawkeye Arena floor, which was last replaced in 2016 and had reached the typical point in its lifecycle for replacement.
The move also comes after Iowa’s men’s basketball team made an Elite Eight run during the 2026 NCAA Tournament, giving the court a special connection to the Hawkeyes’ recent March success.
For fans, the new floor will be more than a simple facilities upgrade. It is a direct tie to one of college basketball’s biggest stages — the same kind of court where tournament pressure, season-defining shots and dreams of the Final Four are all packed into 94 feet of hardwood.
The new surface will also bring a noticeable visual change inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. For the first time since the arena opened in 1983, Iowa will move away from its parquet layout and switch to a modern, single-surface design.
The overall look is expected to remain similar to the previous floor, but Iowa said several new design elements will be incorporated. The court will continue to be known as Mediacom Court.
The maple court was manufactured by Connor Sports, a longtime provider of flooring for NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
Iowa Athletics also plans to preserve the current Carver-Hawkeye Arena court. The department said it is developing plans to create commemorative memorabilia for fans and supporters, allowing Hawkeye fans to own a piece of the old floor.
The court replacement work is scheduled to move quickly. The floor was set to arrive and be installed May 18-21, followed by sanding, painting preparation and layout work May 22-25. Painting, sealing and drying is scheduled for May 26 through June 6.
The new surface is expected to be ready well ahead of the 2026-27 basketball season, when the Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a court that already has NCAA Tournament pedigree.