Sports activity zones at events are no longer a novelty - they have become the standard participants expect at festivals, tournaments, company picnics and sponsor activations. A 3x3 basketball court sets up in a few hours, looks professional, draws people in and generates reach on social media. After the event, it goes back to storage or on to the next function. This article explains how a modular court works in an event context and what is worth knowing before you order one.

Why modular - not permanent

The key advantage of modular surfacing in event applications is mobility. A full-size 3x3 court to FIBA standards (15 × 11 m) can be dismantled, loaded onto pallets and transported anywhere - to a city square, an exhibition hall, a festival site or in front of a sponsor's headquarters. After the event: dismantling, transport, storage.

Assembly and dismantling of a 165 m² court is a few hours' work for a small crew. It requires no groundworks, adhesives or specialist equipment - only a flat, level base. A car park asphalt surface, a hall concrete slab, paving blocks on a town square - any hard, level surface works.

Which events use modular courts

Applications are broader than you might expect:

• 3x3 tournaments - official FIBA 3x3 competition, qualifiers, city leagues. SES Battle surfacing with FIBA 3x3 certification meets the requirements for official ranking tournaments. Hoop And Court supplied surfacing for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw in 2026.
• Corporate and team-building events - a basketball court as part of an activity zone at a picnic, sports day or off-site retreat. 3x3 basketball engages six players at once, draws spectators and naturally builds an atmosphere of competition and teamwork.
• Festivals and city events - a sports zone with a court and hoop is a spot where people stay longer. A 3x3 tournament built into the festival programme draws its own audience and generates content for social media.
• Sponsor activations and branding - a court with a sponsor logo built into the surface, banners on ball stop nets, a hoop with a branded backboard. Together they create a coherent branding zone that participants photograph and film.
• Trade fairs and exhibitions - sports equipment manufacturers, apparel brands, equipment distributors - increasingly set up a working court in an exhibition hall as part of their stand. Modular surfacing tolerates trade fair loads and does not require changes to the hall floor.
• Camps and school tournaments - a temporary court on a school pitch or in a gymnasium for the duration of competition, when the permanent surface is occupied or unavailable.

Customizing an event court

This is one of the biggest advantages of a modular court in a commercial context. Surface colours, logos built from coloured tiles, court lines in sponsor colours - everything can be designed for a specific event or brand. A logo printed on tiles or assembled from modules in different colours works for the entire event without stickers, banners or film that wind or rain peel off. More on customization options: Court Customization - Colours, Lines and Logos on Modular Surfaces.

Example branding projects:

• a court in corporate company colours at an employee picnic,
• title sponsor logo built into the centre of the court,
• a 3x3 zone in a sports brand colour scheme as an activation in a shopping centre,
• a showcase court at an industry conference as part of an exhibitor's stand.

Event surfacing - which model to choose

For event and mobile applications, two models are most often chosen:

Enlio SES Battle - elastomer surfacing with FIBA and FIBA 3x3 certification. The standard for official tournaments and professional sports events. High shock absorption (40-50%), excellent grip in dry and wet conditions, appearance identical to surfaces used on the biggest arenas.

Enlio Soft Connection - polypropylene surfacing with FIBA and ITF certification. The large 40×40 cm tile format means fewer elements and faster assembly - a significant advantage with short event setup windows. A good choice for recreational and corporate events where tournament certification is not required.

Full comparison of Enlio models: Enlio Surfaces - Which Model to Choose for a Backyard Court?

What is needed beyond the surface

A complete event zone is not just tiles on the floor. Elements to plan:

• Event hoop - for mobile applications, a portable hoop with a water- or sand-fill base works best. It requires no foundation and sets up in minutes. Less stable than a fixed unit, but sufficient for event conditions.
• Ball stop nets - a net behind the backboard stops balls and protects the audience. At outdoor events where spectators stand around the court, this is a safety element, not an option.
• Lines and markings - on an event court, lines can be made from coloured tiles (durable, no repainting needed) or applied with special tape (faster for one-off events).
• Zone fencing - marking the playing area with barriers or event tape. At official tournaments, FIBA 3x3 compliant court fencing is required.
• Branding and sponsor signage - banners on ball stop nets and fencing, logos on the surface, audience zone markings.

Logistics - transport, storage, assembly

A full-size 3x3 court (165 m²) weighs around 2-3 tonnes depending on the model and fits on several euro pallets. Transport by truck or delivery van with a tail lift. With a well-organized crew, assembly takes 4-6 hours, dismantling 3-4 hours.

Logistics issues worth resolving in advance:

• vehicle access to the unloading point - can a truck reach the hall or the square,
• base condition at the event site - is it level and hard (inspection or documentation before the event is essential),
• time window for assembly and dismantling - how many hours before and after the event the space is available,
• storage between events - pallets in a warehouse, dry conditions and protected from frost.

How to order a court for an event

Hoop And Court delivers event surfacing both as a one-off (sale of a complete set) and as full-service support (delivery, assembly, event operation, dismantling). If you are planning an event with a 3x3 court and want to discuss the details - contact us. You can also browse our projects - including the surfacing supply for the 3x3 World Cup in Warsaw.