John Prater has earned a fair share of credibility over the years in the athletic flooring business, recognition he credits to “always leading through quality and innovation,” as he describes his approach on his website.
In recent years, he has redesigned basketball courts at the University of Northern Illinois, the University of Central Florida and area high schools Bradley Central and Fort Payne.
As the flagship college of the city where Praters Flooring is located, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has typically had the best and most innovative models of athletic floors.
Fans that attend basketball games at UTC’s McKenzie Arena this season will see that.
Prater just finished a new flooring model for UTC, with a lot of new designs that will be on display first in a men’s exhibition game against Covenant College on Nov. 6, then again for the women on Nov. 13 against McNeese State in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.