When the Norse take to the basketball court in mid-November for their first games, the surface beneath them will have a whole new look to it.

Several changes have faced NKU Athletics in the past year, but none of them stand as bolding as the new John L. Griffin basketball court in the newly named BB&T Arena.

On Aug. 18 NKU installed the new court well into the night. According to Bryan McEldowney, assistant athletic director of communications, the floor didn’t arrive until 10 p.m. and workers were there until 2 a.m. installing the floor.

The design of the court heavily strayed away from simplicity with a Viking ship through the middle, the NKU Athletics logo at center court and the new arena and conference names painted at each end.

“The Norse ship rising through the sea is meant to serve as a metaphor for the uprising of Northern Kentucky athletics,” Ken Bothof, NKU’s athletic director, said in a statement from the school.

The extravagant court design was done by LaineGabriel, a company based in Columbus, Ohio, that specializes in building brands and design marketing communications.

Located at the top of the floor fans and viewers of games alike will be able to spot the athletics website and social media handle placed in front of team benches.