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On Nov. 15, 2016, the sixth-annual Champions Classic will take place on a Connor Sports basketball court in New York’s Madison Square Garden with Kentucky and Michigan State playing at 7 p.m. ET and Duke squaring off with Kansas at 9:30 p.m. ET. Kickoff to Basketball Season The Champions Classic, which hosts four of the most accomplished teams in college basketball - Kentucky, Duke, Kansas and Michigan State – is one of the most anticipated events in college basketball. Fans across the country look forward to watching the two game series dubbed the “Final Four in November” and consider it the unofficial opening of basketball season. Connor Sports is proud to provide a playing surface that acts as center stage for an event that marks the beginning of college basketball season. Our commitment to sport builds strong foundations for the 2016-17 basketball season as Connor Sports offers turnkey logistics, installation and on-site support for the Champions Classic. Final Four in Phoenix Each of the four competing teams are ranked in the top 10 going into the 2016-17 college basketball season. This means there is a good chance that come March one of the four Champions Classic teams may find themselves on a Connor Sports basketball court at the Final Four in Phoenix.
Connor Sports® hosted a responsible forestry education at Newberry High School in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Newberry (MI) School District to begin the production process for 2017 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four basketball court that will be manufactured at the Connor Sports’ mill in Amasa, MI. The event held at the Newberry High School, and later, at the 5,000 acre Tahquamenon School District Forest focused on providing a fun and real-world way to learn about responsible forestry. The event was highlighted by the falling of the first tree from the timber harvest that will continue through the next week in the Eastern Upper Peninsula in Michigan to supply the raw materials necessary for court production. Newberry High School students began the day at the school with an assembly featuring a Connor Sports video showing the production process of a championship basketball court and a lumberjack storytelling session. The students then listened to veteran timber industry experts talk about Newberry’s rich timber industry heritage and the valuable role the local community plays in the industry currently. Later in the morning the students traveled to the nearby school forest and learned first-hand from Connor Sports and The Nature Conservancy about strategic timber selection as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). “Sustainability and sports has always been a priority for Connor Sports and today’s educational forestry event with the Newberry School District was developed to show the students the process of responsible forestry and how those methods and products will be used for the official NCAA courts at the 2017 Men’s and Women’s Final Four,” said Jason Gasperich, Connor Sports Director of Sustainability. Students observed hand cutting and tree selection; use of heavy equipment; sustainable forestry as it relates to wildlife; cutting of logs into lumber; and the “landing” area where the cut logs are staged and prepared for transport to the sawmill. “Participating in this event was a great opportunity for us,” said Rich Bowman, The Nature Conservancy’s government relations director in Michigan. “We are focused not only on improving the health and sustainability of Michigan’s forests as a win for the environment, but also for the local communities such as Newberry that depend on those forests.” Connor Sports as Champions of the Environment In 2009 an independent environmental engineering firm audited and designated Connor Sports a “Zero Waste Company.” As a member of the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA, Connor adheres to the strict grading and quality standards of that organization. Maple hardwood used in the courts is from a renewable resource, with the U.S. growing six times more hardwood than is harvested each year. Connor recycles 99% of its waste material and offers wood that is Forest Stewardship Council-certified. The FSC mark represents products from well-managed forests. Connor was the first MFMA member to be certified by the Rainforest Alliance, and is the only independently certified Zero Waste sports flooring manufacturer.
Connor Sports believes in protecting the planet for the next generation of athletes. That’s why Connor Sports takes steps to create environmentally friendly products that help protect the forests needed for the wellbeing of the planet. Twenty years ago, Connor Sports became the first MFMA member to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This partnership with the FSC means we’ve spent the last two-decades engaging in business practices that preserve forests. What is the FSC? The FSC is an international non-profit organization that aims to meet current needs for forest products without compromising the health of the world’s forests. This is done by promoting environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world's forests. With forests covering 30% of global land area and housing 70% of terrestrial animals and plants the need to protect our forests and harvest wood in an environmentally friendly way is more important than ever. That is why the FSC is taking steps to protect the natural habitat of animals and source of many of human needs. Why did Connor Sports become FSC Certified? As an environmentally conscious company, Connor Sports believes we need to ensure that our use of lumber doesn’t negatively impact the environment. Being FSC certified guarantees we aren’t having a harmful impact on the environment by using wood from forests as our primary material. This is done by having FSC certify the forests, loggers, sawmills, etc that Connor Sports uses to make its products. FSC certification ensures Connor Sports is building state of the are sports surfaces in a sustainable manner that prevents deforestation, while improving the natural habitat for all the species of plants and animals that call the forest home. Why this matters to Connor Sports customers. People and animals depend on forests to live. Worldwide, 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods, including food, clothing, or shelter. Forests are home to nearly half of the world's species, including some of the most endangered birds and mammals. Every time you step onto a basketball court you should do so knowing the company you purchased the court from is harvesting wood in a sustainable manner that ensures generations to come will have access to the necessary resources forests provide.
Connor Sports, Father Mike Pflegre, St. Sabina, Mary’s Courts, Isiah Thomas, Spike Lee, Jabari Parker and other memebers of the Chicago community brought champions together for the Fifth Annual Chicago Peace Games in an effort to build relationships and create brotherhood on the neutral territory of a basketball court. The Peace Games strive to foster relationships among at risk youth of Chicago in hopes of alleviating violence in the community. This is done by asking young men in the south side to take an oath of peace. They promise to renounce affiliations with any violent groups, to turn in their guns and participate in the Peace Games basketball league, career advising and other programs designed to create comradery in the community while preparing individuals to build successful careers. "Basketball's a hook, basketball is a relationship builder, but it's bigger than basketball. It's about jobs. It's about education," said Fr. Michael Pfleger, of St. Sabina via ABC 7 News. Connor Sports believes programs like the Chicago Peace Games are vital to establishing relationships that build a safe and strong community. Our belief in building relationships is shown through our continual commitment to the Peace Games. We’ve been a leading sponsor of the initiative since the idea was born in 2012. Every year, we and Praters Sports Flooring, provide a new court design for St. Sabina but our dedication goes beyond the surface. We support efforts year round by educating others about the Peace Game’s mission, attending peace marches and supporting St. Sabina’s anti-violence efforts. Bob Cowhey, Connor Sports Business Developemnt Manager, experienced the power of the Peace Games for the first time this fall when he refereed alongside NBA officials. It was here he witnessed the true power of sports as rivals became teammates. “I have always believed in the ability of sports to unite communities, break barriers and foster compassion. While at the Peace Games, I realized members of the sports industry have an obligation to unify communities and create change through sports. I’m happy to know I am working for a company who is accepting this responsibility,” said Bob Cowhey. Over the past five years, St. Sabina has embodied the enduring nature of community and sport. It has shown that the structures of violence can be torn down and has demonstrated the true power of basketball and community. St. Sabina has seen positive change taken from the baseline to the sidewalk of the south side of Chicago as more young men participate in the Peace Games and the number of shootings and violence decreases. Every year, we leave the Peace Games in awe of the St. Sabina community. We are honored to have been a part of this extraordinary event from the beginning and see it as testament to basketball’s ability to promote peace, build relationships and create brotherhood.
We sponsor the Peace Games and other grass-roots initiatives, and encourage our employees to donate their time. Connor Sports is committed to community involvement, working hand in hand with other volunteers to keep teens and young adults safe and off the streets.
We offer a commitment that extends beyond the sale-with customized design, trouble-free installation, and ongoing field service and technical support. Our surfaces give athletes the safety and performance they need, with hassle-free maintenance for facility managers.
We're the only Zero Waste company in sports flooring. We're also the only company in the industry with a Director of Sustainability. Connor Sports is committed to FSC-certified hardwoods, no heavy metals, eco-design and manufacturing, and LEED-certified installations.
We do more than emphasize safety and performance. We partner with advocacy groups and grass roots movements dedicated to athletic excellence and wellness. We also provide logistical support to tournaments, to ensure a better experience for athletes, fans and maintenance staff.
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