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So you wanna build a sports complex? What an exciting venture! Whether you want to bring a sporting complex to an underserved area that could really use something new and exciting or you want to fill a demand in a larger city, your primary concern is building something that proves successful.
Unfortunately, so many indoor sports facilities are cold and impersonal. They serve a purpose, but many of these careless designs fall to the wayside after a couple of years since people aren’t excited to step foot inside anymore.
For long-term financial success, you want to avoid building a lifeless sporting complex and instead create one that’s:
- Eye-catching 🤩
- Accessible 👩🏻🦽
- Welcoming 🤝
- Energetic 🤸♀️
Ready to build a sports facility? But not sure where to start?
Check out these 7 indoor sports complex design ideas to get your creativity flowing!
1) Clearly Defined Entryways and Check-In Areas
If your guests feel confused or overwhelmed about your layout, their energy and enthusiasm will already be checked out before they can even explore your sports complex. Keep your design simple and straightforward with clear entrance points (especially the main entrance), and make sure the check-in area is centrally located.
You have a split second to make a good first impression. The first area that your guests enter should be well-lit, clean, and clearly defined. Install plenty of signs that point people where they need to go and incorporate clear wayfinding into your design.
Winding paths and multiple levels can be intimidating for new guests. Stick with clear sightlines and straight paths when possible. Color-code different sections of your facility as an added measure to keep everything streamlined.
2) Make Less-Popular Sports the Star
Let’s be honest, there are a lot of indoor sports facilities that cater to popular sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball. But what about lesser-known sports like:
- Archery 🏹
- Ping pong 🏓
- Mini golf ⛳
- Boxing 🥊
- Disc golf 💿
- Rock climbing 🧗
- Fencing 🤺
Hundreds and thousands of people take up these sports as hobbies or even at the professional level. If there’s already a sports complex nearby that caters to popular sports, why not give one of these other sports a shining moment?
You can also mix and match by incorporating a combination of both. Build out a basketball court and baseball batting cage, but also have space for archery and ping pong.
3) Make It Instagram-Worthy
One of the best ways to get the word out about your sports facility is if guests naturally post about it on social media. As cheesy as it may sound, having an “Instagram-able” facility design will go a long way.
Think of components that make people want to stop and take a picture or video:
- Neon signs with funny or inspirational phrases
- Lots of plants
- Big logos
- Murals
- Sculptures (indoors or outdoors)
- Neon equipment
Any of these efforts liven up the space and get people talking. Creating interest in your design will help get more people in the door through the natural advertising that happens on social media.
4) Account for Spectators
When drawing up your design, don’t only consider the people who will be playing the sports— think about the people watching the games too! Often, spectators outnumber the athletes, so plan to include an adequate amount of seating.
You may not need any bleachers in a ping pong room, but definitely include them for basketball courts and soccer fields. If you plan to host tournaments of any kind at your sports facility, you’ll especially need to account for spectator seating.
Spectators also need a place to congregate in between games or matches. Incorporating a cafe or spacious lounge into your design is a smart idea.
5) Use Out-of-the-Box Colors
We’ve all seen green tennis courts and tan basketball courts. What’s new and innovative about that? Well, nothing.
In a similar vein as incorporating Instagram-worthy details, don’t be afraid to get bold with your color scheme. Why not design a pink tennis court? Or a black and gold basketball court? Or a splatter paint boxing ring?
The simple fact that your facilities are different than others with a color switch will create an immense amount of interest.
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6) Accessibility Is Key
Gone are the days when we intentionally or unintentionally exclude people with disabilities from our designs. People with mobility, hearing, or visual aids and those with all sorts of developmental disabilities can enjoy playing and watching sports. Make sure that your sports complex design follows ADA standards (Americans With Disabilities Act) and keeps access at the forefront.
7) Incorporate Nature
Take design inspiration from where you’re located! If you’re building a facility in sunny Southern California, incorporate open air into your design. And if you live here in Minnesota, glean inspiration from the land of 10,000 lakes with a stylish water feature.
Many sports facilities feel stuffy and dark, so connecting to the outdoors wherever possible will help invigorate the space. Another simple but effective design choice is including large windows. Natural light makes a world of difference for energy levels.
Partner With APX for Your Indoor Sports Facility
Are you feeling inspired? Here at APX Construction Group, we specialize in commercial construction projects like indoor sports facilities. Beyond general contracting services, we also provide design-build capabilities, so you can solidify your architectural design all under one roof.
We’d love to hear about your ideas and goals for your sports complex! Reach out to our organized team today, and we’ll promptly schedule a free consultation to get started.
