Flexibility = Success

Andy Stevens on the latest thinking and developments in four areas which play a vital role in ensuring the flexibility of sports venues: roofing, turf systems, seating and lighting.

The business model which drives many contemporary sports stadia and arenas demands the flexibility to stage a diverse calendar of sporting and non-sporting events – from football and ice hockey to concerts and family shows – and often all in the same week.

Stevens, Andy (2010) Flexibility = Success. Sport Business International. Issue 158, July, pp36-42.

A Temporary Advantage

Effective overlay planning and implementation are central to the delivery of major sports events from the Olympic Games to city centre motor racing. Andy Stevens looks at the latest development in design, practicality and cost-effectiveness of the temporary structures which enable host venues to expand to major events to world-class standards.

Stevens, Andy (2009) A Temporary Advantage. Sport Business International. Issue 151, November, pp42-44.

Shaping up to the 21st Century

From the Middle East to Middle America the sharpest minds in design and engineering are creating a new generation of facilities which will shape the way sport is viewed and played for decades to come. In this feature Andy Stevens highlights a selection of stadia, arena[s] and training facilities around the world which push the boundaries of innovation, creativity and engineering excellence to deliver the ultimate sporting experience while meeting critical cost and environmental criteria.

Source: Stevens, Andy (2009) Shaping up to the 21st Century. SportBusiness International. Issue 152. September, pp34-36.

Stadia & Arenas: Advanced Commercial Strategies

It seems obvious; invest in a venue capable of hosting multiple sports events, concerts and shows and gain a welcome boost tooperating profits. But, did you know that for many venues margins on non-core activities are paper thin and, unless executed well, a multi-purpose strategy can end up costing not making money? The reasons and the solutions are presented in this new report from SportBusiness. Stadia and Arenas II: Advanced Commercial Strategies is your guide to making your venue investment pay off. The past few years have seen unprecedented sums going into new or upgraded stadia and arenas and sports clubs and teams have grown more adept at maximising ticket and other matchday revenues.

There are more opportunities open to sports organisations to secure sponsors and boost hospitality sales through new venue developments. This can fund building projects and go a long way to offsetting the shorter operating life that modern sports facilities suffer.

Reference: Stevens, Andy (2009) Stadia and Arenas: Advanced Commercial Strategies. London: SportBusiness Group.

Ever Greener Games

Environmental factors are assuming increasing importance for international sports federations, bid teams and the organising committees of sport's global mega events. Andy Stevens looks at the different approaches to environmental management.

Stevens, Andy (2008) Ever Greener Games. Sport Business International. Issue 137, August, pp36-37.

Turf issues

As pressure to maximise the use of facilities grows, more attention is paid to surfaces which combine durability with ideal performance characteristics. We focus on the evolving business of turf systems.

Third generation artificial turf pitches have become the preferred surface for many football clubs and NFL teams, but do not as yet offer the same versatility as natural turf surfaces. Although a number of rugby clubs have installed 3G pitches, most of these have been at training venues. Water-based pitches have become the preferred surface for hockey, while clay and acrylic remain the most popular materials for tennis. However, extensive research and development is being conducted into the creation of genuinely multi-use synthetic playing surface, with further tests being conducted in sports such as athletics and cricket.

Reference: Stevens, Andy (2008) Turf issues. Sport Business International. Issue 136, July, pp 59-60. London: SportBusiness Group.

Temporary perception

From golf tournaments to the Olympic Games, the demand for temporary structures has never been greater. Andy Stevens identifies the trends which are driving the temporary facilities sector.

The perception of temporary facilities being limited to exposed bleachers and minimalist hospitality tents is now outdated. The specification of facilities has become more sophisticated as venue owners and event organisers have had to consider the economic and environmental legacy of permanent venues, and the need to avoid building so-called white elephants. At the same time, customer expectations have increased with spectators and guests become more discerning, meaning that the quality of some temporary venues can be comparable to permanent structures.

Capacity planning represents a challenge for the sports industry, where there is a need to retain the flexibility for not only accommodating fluctuating attendances but also the diverse types of visitor experience demanded by customers. De Boer have supplied temporary structures to the organising committee of this summer's UEFA EURO 2008 tournament and John Cochrane, the company's Sales Director, explains why temporary facilities have become more popular: "The modular nature of temporary structures means they’re perfect for sporting events." He adds that facilities are no longer limited to bleachers and hospitality tents: "Whether providing an international media centre or covered seating areas, temporary accommodation can enable sporting venues to respond to short-term peaks in demand or to the challenges of hosting a high-profile one-off event."

Reference: Stevens, Andy (2008) Temporary perception. Sport Business International. Issue 136, July, pp 57-58. London: SportBusiness Group.