WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Central Missouri Athletics announced on Monday, June 8, that a brand new, state-of-the-art playing surface is currently being installed inside the main arena at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.

The new playing surface, which is manufactured by Robbins Sports Surfaces, LLC, and featured in numerous NCAA and NBA arenas and practice facilities throughout the United States, is being installed by Missouri Floor Company out of St. Louis, Mo.

"We are thrilled to introduce the state-of-the-art Robbins Sport Surfaces, MVP Court System to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. UCM Athletics' top priority is promoting the health, safety, and overall well-being of our student athletes. Investing in this elite flooring system directly reflects that commitment, while substantially enhancing both the student-athlete experience and their longevity on the court," UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell said. "Beyond the competitive and recruiting advantages for our teams, this upgrade brings a dynamic new energy to the arena, significantly elevating the game day experience for our dedicated fans and the entire UCM community. We are grateful to Robbins and Missouri Floor Company for their outstanding partnership, expertise, and shared dedication to bringing this championship-caliber project to life."

The Robbins MVP Court system being installed is designed to enhance athletic performance, comfort, and safety. The flooring system is engineered to reduce vibration and provide a more uniform playing surface, helping athletes conserve energy and maintain peak performance for longer. The design also helps reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries.

"At Robbins, and knowing the rich, athletic history of UCM, we are thrilled to provide a new Robbins MVP system for the University of Central Missouri," Robbins Regional Manager Kevin Price said. "It is exciting knowing that UCM will have the highest-performing floor in the State of Missouri! It is great to see Central Missouri's dedication to today's athletes to provide the safest and highest-performing floor."

The MVP system is currently in 17 out of 30 NBA practice facilities and four WNBA practice facilities.

Other notable NCAA programs that have the MVP system are Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Rice University in Houston, Texas, Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., Cal State Bakersfield in Bakersfield, Calif., Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., as well as many other programs.

"It's great to be back on campus, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this project," Alex Verseman from Missouri Floor Company said. "This will be a significant improvement for the facility, and it shows the dedication that UCM has to the safety of its athletes."

The new playing surface will replace the previous surface installed over 25 years ago.

Construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2026-27 volleyball and basketball seasons.