Mottos, numbers and even feathers: Creighton men's basketball planning new court design

Creighton men's basketball will have a unique, newly designed court at the CHI Health Center, The World-Herald has learned, with an official announcement expected Wednesday afternoon.

It's the second redesign since the university joined the Big East Conference, and the first since 2017 when the arena was still the CenturyLink Center. The new-look floor — designed by GLGR and produced by Ledford Sports Floors — is meant to honor the Bluejays' tradition and Jesuit values.

It will debut at the Oct. 26 charity exhibition against No. 14 Purdue.

A new color scheme will feature a new courtside gradient, along with a feather pattern inside the 3-point line. Heritage logos inside the arc will also pay homage to CU's history.

Just inside the 3-point line will be seven core Jesuit values, such as "women and men for and with others" and "unity of heart, mind and soul."

Creighton is believed to be first Division I team in the country with its school motto inside its court.

Six numbers will be on the west sideline for the six Jays with their jersey retired. Three will be in front of one bench, three in front of the other. It's the latest way CU has honored Doug McDermott (No. 3), Kyle Korver (25), Bob Harstad (30), Bob Portman (33), Paul Silas (35) and Bob Gibson (45).

The Bluejay logo across midcourt will have "1916" in the eye as a nod to the program's first recognized year of intercollegiate basketball.

CU Athletics added 75 additional courtside seats, too, after 60 seats were added a couple seasons ago. There are now 360 total courtside seats. Those options, similar to the up-close feel of NBA arenas, were also a part of an offseason redesign at Sokol Arena.

Creighton opens the season — on a brand new court — Nov. 6 against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Single-game tickets went on sale Wednesday morning.