Outdoor Courts

Choosing the right location ensures accessibility, safety, and durability. Factors like proximity to parking, restrooms, and surrounding amenities are critical. Site assessments should address soil stability, drainage needs, and potential environmental impacts.

Popular materials include modular surfaces, asphalt, and concrete. Modular tiles are versatile and weather-resistant. Asphalt is affordable but requires frequent maintenance, while concrete is durable with lower long-term upkeep needs.

Climate plays a key role in material selection. Modular tiles resist freeze-thaw cycles and extreme weather. UV-resistant coatings protect against sun damage in hot regions, while mold-resistant materials are ideal for humid environments.

Essential features include energy-efficient LED lighting for extended use, fencing for security and wind protection, and pathways or seating for spectators. Professional planning ensures proper placement and usability.

Adhering to ADA requirements involves creating wheelchair-accessible pathways, ramps, and seating areas. Safety features like slip-resistant surfaces and padding around poles are also crucial.

Different types of sports surfaces have their own specifications. One important distinction to note is between water-permeable and water-impermeable synthetic surfaces. A synthetic running track for professional competitions must meet different requirements than a multifunctional playing surface used in the open space. In addition, the duration of use of the sports facility and the main sport play a decisive role in the choice of sports floor surface.

Outdoor sports surfaces can be categorized from “A” to “F.. Types A, B and C are water permeable, while Types D, E and F  are water impermeable. A-C surfaces are less expensive, less durable, and more suitable for training facilities and municipal sports fields. 

Under average amounts of use and exposure to the elements, outdoor sports surfaces should last for 6- 9 years. 

Impermeable surfaces (Type D-F) can withstand a higher frequency of use and are largely resistant to weather and external forces. These surfaces are therefore suitable for multi-sport game courts at municipal facilities, as well as for equipping a stadium or high-performance training center.

Facility managers have to start by determining at what level, intensity and frequency sports will be played, and which sports. They need to make this clear to the planners at an early stage. All decisions flow from this initial information, including which surface will best suit the facility’s needs.  Most vendors offer a wide range of floors, from single sport to multipurpose, and can offer useful guidance in the process.

Many sports facilities will be able to apply for grants from foundations or community groups that promote sport, fitness or recreation.The amount and type of funding varies depending on the foundation, the type of sport and the sports facility project. 

As a first step, sports facility operators should research each outlet’s selection criteria and application and approval processes.  After seeing what they are eligible for, they should schedule their application processes in tandem with the timeline for construction and payment due on the facilities themselves. Obviously, the facility managers need a plan for how they will cover costs if the grant applications are rejected.

Facility owners and municipalities must determine how much of their own funds they can put up for the project, how much they can raise through donations and sponsorships and whether they will have to take out a loan to see the project through. Member contributions and fundraisers are another source of money, but often in smaller amounts.

In recent years, crowdfunding has become an integral part of numerous sports facility projects. There are now platforms that specialize in sports and sports facility projects. They can even help prepare and manage the corresponding campaigns and support the clubs using the platform.

Check out our sports facility financing and funding section for more information.

Outdoor sports floors must be cleaned regularly and swept free of  leaves and dirt. Especially in damp and shady areas, moss and other growth can quickly form. Once this happens, it can only be removed with special cleaning machines. Regular cleaning with a leaf blower and a high-pressure cleaner is usually sufficient to maintain the surface’s functionality. In addition, intensive care with the appropriate maintenance equipment should be carried out annually by a specialist company.

Numerous builders and contractors  offer high-quality outdoor sports surfaces. Take the time to look at projects they have already completed and ask your counterparts at those facilities about their overall experience and their specific interactions with each contractor. Visit the sites as much possible, and exchange notes at every turn.

At the beginning of the project, the use concept of the facility should be defined and thus the choice of playing surface determined accordingly. A detailed cost calculation and a comparison of different suppliers are essential to get a picture of the product and market situation.

Likewise, all parties and stakeholders in the sports facility project should be informed and involved at an early stage. This can include local politicians, the neighboring school, residents and clubs in the city.