How to Design a New Multipurpose Sports Facility
- Nate Barker
- Jan 28
- 10 min read
Updated: Feb 27
Sports are more than exciting games or competitive challenges. For many individuals, the ability to play a sport in a safe, clean and controlled environment is an essential part of their everyday lives. Adults use recreational pickup games and club leagues as their source of exercise, stress relief and excitement. Children step up to the plate and swing for the fences, hoping to one day live their dream in the major leagues.
Sports are a priority, and your athletic facility design needs to respect the importance these children, women and men place on their performance.
Grand Slam Safety knows that the sports facility planning and design process is difficult and requires thorough attention to detail in every corner of the complex. As the sports fencing solutions provider that sports complex managers trust, we're here to offer our advice and help you design an indoor sports facility layout that is versatile, practical and, most importantly, safe.
Table of Contents:
Sports Complex Design Considerations
Designing a multipurpose indoor sports facility can't be done overnight. We recommend that before you even think about breaking ground on a new facility or undertaking a complex remodel, we recommend you first take a moment to identify your goals, prioritize your needs and imagine what future needs you may have to accommodate for them. Here are five key points you should consider when designing an indoor sporting complex:
The types of sports and programming your complex will facilitate .
The planning required to host players, spectators and vendors during diverse events .
The design necessary to maximize space and enhance the versatility of the sports complex .
The layout design needed for convenient guest and employee movement between areas of the complex .
All elements of player, employee and spectator safety that must be addressed throughout the facility design process.
Each of these items is important individually and collectively. Ideally, your sports complex design will adequately address these points and integrate them to form a cohesive concept. Knowing which sports you'll facilitate enables you to plan for these events and will aid in the design process.
Anticipating spectator and player needs during these events will allow you to devote adequate space to each area, creating a convenient and easy-to-navigate layout. Safety is a keystone in the success of this design — without safety as a priority, the facility design will fail.
Programming and Sports You Will Offer
The wide world of sports is getting larger each day. Traditionally, limited gymnasiums are far from what is needed and expected now. Sports complexes are as diverse as their clientele. Basketball, racquetball and court volleyball are being played next to yoga, dodgeball and mixed martial arts. Soccer, baseball, football and even golf are moving indoors. Amenities and activities such as tanning beds, rock climbing walls, dance studios and arcades demand their own space.
There is no longer a distinction between sports you need to offer, programs you could offer and activities you will want to offer. Athletes and casual fans alike crave variety, which means that the more you can accommodate, the more people will want to use your complex. Instead of waiting out the winter wishing it was spring, baseball players and golfers can enjoy your indoor baseball field and golf simulator any time of the year. Consider which sports your multipurpose facility could offer.
Traditional indoor sports
Basketball
Gymnastics
Squash and racquetball
Floor and roller hockey
Handball
Indoor track and field
Ice hockey
Swimming
Outdoor-turned-Indoor sports
Football
Baseball
Soccer
Rock climbing
Golf
Rowing
Lacrosse
Tennis
Additional sports and activities
Wrestling
Dancing
Martial arts and boxing
Cheerleading
Cycling
Roller derby
Yoga
Additional amenities
Exercise equipment
Locker rooms with showers
Tanning beds
Therapy pools
Massage chairs
Restrooms
Food courts
Your complex may cater to some or all of these programs and sports throughout the year, many even simultaneously. As you list these diverse sporting activities, you must also consider how you'll offer use of your facility. Members and guests can use indoor sports complexes for recreation or training. You can also use them to host tournaments, championship games and leagues. Consider the following questions as you finalize your list of potential events:
Can you host external events while members or local guests continue to use the space?
Can any area be designed to accommodate multiple sports? For instance, can a multipurpose area function as a dance and yoga studio or a wrestling and martial arts space?
If a versatile area can host multiple activities, can the equipment needed for each activity be adequately moved and stored, or will these supplies constantly be in the space?
Will each area be large enough to accommodate those who engage in these sports and activities?
Choosing which programming and sports to offer at your facility can be challenging. An indoor soccer facility could be configured to double as an indoor football field. However, an indoor baseball and softball area might each need a separate field to accommodate your needs. Once you have an idea of which events you will offer, consider how your sports facility design will cater to the players, spectators and visitors who frequent your complex.
Planning for Players, Members, Spectators and Vendors
After you determine which programming and sporting events your complex will offer, you need to design these spaces with your players in mind. However, before mapping out the general fields, courts and arenas, consider the other necessary areas the complex may require. Spectators may outnumber the players, so you need an adequate seating area. Vendors may also need space to serve these fans and provide appropriate customer service. Additionally, your sporting complex might need additional space for special events like championships and award ceremonies.
Consider how many events you may host throughout a single day, and try to anticipate the number of spectators attending these games. Friends and family members will attend these competitions and need places to congregate before and after their player's game. Your spectator seating needs to accommodate a large audience consisting of visitors attending games throughout the day.
Spectators also require ample and accessible parking. Adding snack booths or food courts is an excellent way to keep them fed between matches and returning for more. These features also benefit your vendors, players and members.
Your members have the highest expectations. They expect convenience, comfort and exclusivity. You may benefit from providing fitness facilities with a simple check-in process, convenient parking, and locker rooms with toilets and showers.
Players and spectators make up most of those attending your sports complex, but there's another important group you can't neglect. Vendors are often overlooked in the complex design planning process even though their presence is meaningful to the players and spectators. Sectioning off dedicated areas for vendors allows local and traveling attendees to purchase sporting equipment, snacks, drinks, commemorative merchandise and other promotional items.
Although you've planned your indoor complex design to host multiple tournaments featuring multiple sports simultaneously, you must ensure to prepare for the most critical part of these events — the championship match and victory celebration. Creating a field for championship events with extra seating and high-quality features gives the players a special place to play that highlights the game's significance. Adding an amphitheater or stage area for award shows and special announcements brings flair to every event your complex hosts. Players may also appreciate specialty parking and dedicated locker rooms with space to change clothing.
Maximizing Space and Versatility
Space and versatility — without these at your disposal, you either won't be able to accommodate the programs and sports you desire, or you won't be able to accommodate those who want to engage in these activities. Imagine your complex is hosting a club volleyball tournament, a summer youth soccer league, postseason baseball practice and a competitive dance showcase all in one weekend. Proper planning means you'll have the space and flexibility to accommodate each event seamlessly within your indoor facility. Poor planning, however, could lead to cancellations, rescheduling and unhappy guests.
While massive facilities may have plenty of space at their disposal, complexes with limited space need to be creative in their design approach. Thankfully, there are tools that can modify any space to make it as versatile as possible. Removable netting and divider curtains are perfect resources that are easy to use and adjust your needs.
Sports netting curtain systems are designed to enable sports complexes to separate their space into designated areas. They can fit any size and shape, making them ideal for spaces that need to accommodate room for different types of sports like volleyball and basketball. Imagine rearranging a space from a tournament configuration back into regular operations with minimal effort. These divider curtains provide defined boundaries for players and spectators while also containing balls and increasing the safety of players and audience members.
Sports Complex Area Requirements
Your sports complex design plan will vary depending on the sports, activities and amenities you wish to provide. While you think about how to maximize space with dividers, consider how much space you need in total for different sports. The following dimensions relate to professional athletics, but you can scale down as needed to meet the needs of kids, high schoolers or recreational players:
Baseball: A baseball field is a popular addition to sports complexes. The infield is a square with 90-foot sides. Professional fields leave 325 feet of space between home plate and the nearest fence, but you can likely go shorter.
Soccer: Accommodating soccer fields can encourage groups like schools and youth leagues to visit your complex. Professional fields are 345 feet long and 222 feet wide. For schools and youth teams, you can go smaller. For example, the National Federation of State High School Associations recommends a 330-by-195-feet field.
Football: You can host football games if you plan enough space for a football field. You'll need a field that's 120 feet long and 160 feet wide. This is true for professional games as well as high school and amateur competitions. With some adjustments, you can also play lacrosse, soccer and field hockey on a football field.
Basketball: NBA teams play on a court that's 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. You can trim the length to accommodate high school teams or amateur players. You can also use your basketball court for volleyball, tennis and pickleball.
Squash and racquetball: These two sports are fast-paced and fun. They also don't take up much space. You can set up a squash doubles court that's 45 feet long and 25 feet wide to accommodate both.
Swimming pool: An Olympic-sized swimming pool must be 164 feet long and at least 6.5-9.8 feet deep. These dimensions allow you to accommodate various pool sports, like water polo and synchronized swimming and activities like aquaerobics. However, you will need to make it at least 16 feet deep to allow for diving. If you do not have room for an Olympic-sized pool, you can opt for a 75-foot-long pool — this is the standard competition size in the United States.
When making your sports complex design plan, you should also consider enough space for amenities like locker rooms, vendor areas and restrooms. Ensure you have enough parking space to accommodate the number of visitors you expect.
Maintaining a Smooth Flow
How your guests use your space is just as important as what they use it for. Think about the layout of any high-traffic area, such as a shopping mall, department store or amusement park. These areas create convenient pathways to the guest's intended destination. They're also enhanced with specific amenities in appropriate areas to serve these individuals as best as possible. These spaces keep the facility's flow moving smoothly. Your indoor sports complex design needs to maintain this smooth flow.
A multipurpose sports facility correctly flows when it accomplishes three key goals:
Its design is easy to navigate for people of all abilities.
There is adequate visibility throughout the facility, and wayfinding devices posted to help individuals find their destinations.
The facility is safe and secure in all areas to reduce chances of injury or theft and ensure visitors are properly supervised
Your visitors will expect more from your facility than access to activities. They'll want to feel welcomed and comfortable in your space. Your layout should be influenced by how your guests will use the different areas of the complex. For instance, the locker room should be close to the front entrance to allow guests to change clothing quickly. A swimming pool should also be near this area to cut down on wet guests roaming the hallways. Indoor tracks should be near weight rooms or exercise equipment.
As your facility grows and offers more diverse services, the layout should help guests quickly move from one area to another. Ensure that drinking fountains, maintenance closets and restrooms are accessible throughout the facility. You want all guests to have easy access to the bathroom, and your facility staff should have quick access to custodial supplies or tools should they need to tend to a problem in the area.
Do you want to maximize your space, create versatile environments and enhance the overall flow of your multipurpose facility? Use dividing curtains and indoor fencing solutions from Grand Slam Safety. Available in Double Wall, Straight Line, Form-Fold, Full Walk-Draw variants, our curtains and netting can cater to any space, even pitched or sloped ceilings. Most importantly, our products deliver the reliable safety your facility needs.
Safety First in the Indoor Sports Facility Design Process
You should address all player, member and vendor safety elements throughout the sports complex design plan process. Unfortunately, some sports complex designers leave safety as an afterthought. They won't consider safety fences or netting until the end of the project. Many sports complexes find out too late the true cost of retrofitting a new construction with netting, curtains, and fencing. Changing orders to accommodate last-minute netting on the ceiling or fencing around a perimeter can add to costs that will drive construction over budget.
Remember — even though your ability to facilitate programming and sports for guests is your top priority, your efforts will fail if you don't prioritize safety.
Whether you're adding an indoor softball facility or renovating your indoor soccer facility design, this project is a significant investment that you need to rely on for years. Don't let safety neglect blow up your budget, extend your deadline and jeopardize the safety of your guests and staff. Integrate indoor safety solutions from Grand Slam Safety into your design from the start.
Keep Your Indoor Sports Complex Safe With Help From Grand Slam Safety
Grand Slam Safety can help you strategically plan for the safety of your sports complex from the outset of the design process. Our experts will sit down with you and map your vision, paying close attention to areas where you can maximize space, offer versatile activities and maintain a smooth flow throughout the facility.
We offer a variety of indoor fencing, divider curtains and sports netting that can be customized to your exact needs. We can take any space and make it the perfect setting for any sport you desire. Our safety solutions are convenient tools that can be adjusted as needed. Grand Slam Safety has worked with facilities of all sizes that accommodate the full spectrum of sports. Our experienced team will integrate the safest fencing system on the market into your multipurpose facility.
Maximize safety to maximize play. Keep players and spectators safe with indoor fencing, divider curtains, sports netting and other safety solutions from Grand Slam Safety. Call us today and let us help you develop a safe indoor sports complex design that knocks expectations out of the park!
