Why Sports Venues Should Be Designed With Social Life in Mind

In many neighborhoods, public spaces like parks surround basketball or tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and other kinds of sports venues. People gather in large groups to tailgate before weekend football games and celebrate together after wins. Sports and community life go hand in hand. It makes sense therefore to think about how sports venues can better support social life by intentionally designing them to encourage connection and community.

The marriage of sports and social life is a natural one. Wherever people are competing, there are people watching. Being a sports spectator is one of the most popular forms of entertainment around the world. The Olympics is one of the oldest international events.

The community-building value of sports is great. When people watch and cheer together, they end up connecting with each other, even if they're strangers. They are instantly bonded by their support for a particular team or player and talking about sports is one of the easiest ways to break the ice.

It therefore makes sense to create sports venues with the understanding that bringing people together and helping them bond is one of their most valuable outcomes. Instead of thinking only about what the players need and want, these places should also focus on what the spectators need and want. Here are some features to consider.

• Shade
  • When sports are played under a beating sun, it's important to have shade-throwing amenities set up. The absence of shade is not only uncomfortable, it can be dangerous, since people often spend hours watching a game. Umbrellas, tree cover, and awnings of various shapes and sizes are popular options.

• Refreshments
  • Games can run long and are often played in hot weather, so having refreshments and food easily available is important. This is commonplace at big sports arenas, but not as much in local neighborhood parks and courts. Refreshments make the sport-watching experience, as well as the sport-playing experience, more enjoyable.
  • Providing refreshments doesn't only have to mean having a hot dog stand or drinks cart set up. Having cafés or bars in the area of a sports venue is a great addition to the space. When the game is on pause or slowing down, spectators can take a break there and connect more deeply with fellow fans over drinks.

• Comfortable seating
  • Some of the most uncomfortable seating known to man is the kind found at sports venues, with hard metal bleachers top of the list. Uncomfortable seating alienates a lot of demographics such as the elderly and people with disabilities. Providing more comfortable benches and chairs – or better yet a variety of options so everyone can choose what's best for them – is key to enhancing the experience of gathering at athletic events.

• Accessibility
  • On the topic of the elderly and those with disabilities, their enjoyment of sports events is dependent on accessibility. Are there clear paths to the venue that can be navigated on wheels? Are there sufficient seating options on the ground level? Can they safely make their way through a crowded space? These considerations make sports venues welcoming for all members of the community.
• Ways to keep children entertained
  • While children love to watch sports too, their attention can be hard to keep focused for long, even if their parents want to keep their own eyes on the game. Having various options for kids to stay active and entertained while everyone else is on the edge of their seat is important. Not only that, but making it easy for parents to attend to children's' needs mid-game is also key. Nearby play areas like sandboxes, playgrounds, and play fountains can be great additions.

• Bathrooms
  • Everyone has to "go", from children to adult spectators to the athletes themselves. So wherever sports are expected to take place, there need to be bathrooms close by. While portapotties are always a popular option, they aren't the most comfortable one. So if a public place hosts games and athletic events on a regular basis, it makes sense to build a permanent bathroom in the vicinity. This will encourage further public activity in the space, even beyond sports.

With the right amenities and assets, places for sports can also become places for social life, bringing not only fans but neighbors, friends, and family members together. The important thing is to understand that one of the best parts of watching sports is how it lets us connect with the community, and design with that in mind.