Behind the Scenes at the NBA Finals
There’s nothing like hearing the final buzzer when your team has officially won the game—and you can be sure that feeling is over the top when the game happens to be the NBA Finals in your hometown, and you are the facility services partner caring for the beloved and storied arena where your home team holds court.
The Boston Celtics has been exciting to watch this season but especially during playoffs on their journey to the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy. Our facility services teams feel a sense of pride when they are putting a shine on every surface, buffing floors, and triple-checking HVAC, air filters, plumbing and lighting. We invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at what a typical day is like for our teams.
While fans were cheering on the C’s Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, we were sweeping and restocking, communicating needs via phone and radio, and keeping every surface and floor sparkling clean. But long before fans began filing in, the UG2 team was onsite to prepare the facility.
With upwards of 125 UG2 employees onsite and on the job, here is a window into what happens in the typical 24 hours before, during, and after the big game.
First Shift: Pre-Game Warm-Up
The food services staff are arriving to prep their stations as their trusted suppliers bring by deliveries to unload. Team UG2 is fanning out across the facility, and leaving nothing out of place as we go through our detailed checklists of areas to deep clean, sanitize, and stock, coordinating our efforts as a team the entire time. Facility engineers are monitoring the chillers, HVAC and critical equipment for the entire venue to make sure everything will run efficiently and smoothly without a hitch. We are conducting continuous sweeps, flagging potential issues before they become a problem, and leaving in our wake sparkling clean restrooms and concourses.
The Celtics and Mavs are in the house! While the teams take to the pristine court floor for warm-ups, we do another pass through the rest of the arena, making sure there is proper air circulation with climate control, double checking all surfaces, and making sure walkways are ready for thousands of bodies in motion.
The energy is electric, and we catch the adrenaline buzz. There is nothing like being in an arena full of fans, and we soak up the excitement to keep us energized for the entire event.
Second Shift: Game On!
Showtime! Our teams are trained and cross-trained for the specific needs of every aspect of the venue, from the locker rooms to the concession areas to the VIP suites. We are continuously adjusting our focus to where it is needed throughout the event—monitoring restrooms for any issues such as plumbing, cleanup and supply needs; emptying trash and recycling and lining cans with a fresh bags; flagging and cleaning up spills; and communicating with team members to ensure every area of the arena is covered at all times.
Safety concerns override all others as we remain mindful of the fast-moving crowds and potential for slips and falls. Every team member is equipped with a radio to communicate any issue they see; a dispatcher gets the right person to take care of every need, in the moment.
We remain committed to attentive, five-star service and we go above and beyond to ensure every visitor has the most positive experience, win or lose—extending into the well-maintained stairways and escalators as they leave the game.
Third Shift: Post-Game Show
After the Celtics win, their jubilant fans eventually make their way safely out of the arena. We pass the baton to a fresh UG2 team, who arrive ready to transform the arena to its pristine state of cleanliness for the next event. They leap into action, attending to every seat, station, corner, and crevice. Arenas are busy facilities that often host multiple events in a day. Our work will continue with our teams working to meet every deadline and exceed expectations of visitors to the arena for every planned event. We are ready whenever they need us.
The Boston Celtics is raising banner 18 for their NBA Finals victory. Before they clinched the championship title, they tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in league history. Known for their iconic green uniforms and shamrock logo, the team has a rich legacy of success. After the final championship game, Jaylen Brown was named Finals MVP – the highest honor that is awarded to the top-performing player on the winningest team in basketball.