Management of Sport Facilities and Key Points of Stadiums

MANAGEMENT OF SPORT FACILITIES AND KEY
POINTS OF STADIUMS
MANAGEMENT OF SPORT FACILITIES AND KEY POINTS OF
STADIUMS
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2
STADIUMS
Index
Presentation 4
Selecting a strategic location for large sports facilities 5
Design and construction of large sports facilities 7
Practical example: designing the 2012 Olympic Games 9
Practical example: after the 2012 Olympic Games 10
Large sports facilities: characteristics and uses 12
Soccer Stadiums I 13
Soccer Stadiums II 16
Soccer Stadiums III 19
Uses 22
Requirements to consider regarding Operations Management in large facilities 24
Summary 27
Bibliographic references 28
© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 3

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Presentation
In this topic we will address important topics involved in managing sports facilities,
particularly large venues such as soccer fields and stadiums , which are a ected by certain
decisive key factors such as the distribution of areas, safety, and accessibility which must be
taken into account in order to ensure proper operations management.
Soccer stadiums and other sports complexes have many potential uses, which is why it is
important to carefully consider a facility's potential starting from the time of its preliminary
design phase. Also important are proper planning and monitoring of all the processes
involved in operations management in order to maximize benefits, both economic and
social, for all those who are passionate about sports.
The objectives to be achieved with this resource are:
To explore the potential factors that we must keep in mind when managing large
facilities such as soccer stadiums including, for example, safety, maintenance and
possible uses which can maximize their potential.
To analyze management-related problems as well as possible uses for the facilities.
To be familiar with other kinds of sports facilities and their possibilities.

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Selecting a strategic location for large sports facilities

Choosing the site where the facility will be built (if applicable) is very important and will
shape its future management. When choosing a site we will focus primarily on what area of
the city we would like for our facility based on the population and existing transportation
options. There are several factors to be taken into account when choosing a location which
we will discuss in detail later on.
To begin with, the location for a facility is usually chosen to meet the requirements of
the viability plan, while also considering access to the site, proximity to other nearby
sports facilities, parking, etc., not to mention access to electricity, water and utilities in
general. All these factors are essential to operations management in these kinds of
facilities.
 The role of the Operations Manager

In detail
The role of the Operations Manager
The operations manager must keep in mind at all times that the location chosen for
building the facilities will be decisive, while at the same time considering the surrounding
population (neighbors and economic status). The operations manager must also ensure
that environmental requirements are met and understand the impact this construction
may have on the area.
Factors to take into consideration
These factors
include the
following:
Cooperation
among
stakeholders.
Access to
pedestrians,
vehicles and
public
transportation.
Geographic
location in

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relation to
potential
customers.
Other services
the building can
provide.
The aesthetic
impact on the
area.
Environmental
conservation of
the area.
Map of the area.
The land and construction materials used.
The topography of the land.
Site history, owner, etc.
Existing utilities (gas, electricity, etc.).
We must not forget a key aspect which it is important to focus on: agreements and laws
made by the Public Administrations and Local Governments, seeing as nothing can go
forward without their support.
 Example
Example
Example
Local governments usually propose constructing these buildings in areas currently in

disuse or in isolated or industrial areas. This usually happens with facilities constructed
for a specific event (such as the Olympic Games or the World Cups in soccer) and which
have fallen into disuse and can help revitalize the area and provide significant social
value thereby improving the area.

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Design and construction of large sports facilities

As is the case for every new construction project, the primary function is not just the
construction itself but rather to ensure that the building may be used later on; in other
words, we must discover the function that the sports facilities will have in the future.
The planning and construction teams must know how the building will be used and
what its objectives will be: when it will be used, what it will use, how it will be managed
and what services it will provide.
In addition to the budget and local laws, there are a series of requirements that must be
included as they have a significant impact on design and construction. Requirements of the
various Sports Federations (both national and international) must likewise be taken into
account in order to ensure that the facilities may host sporting events and competitions.
 Factors to take into consideration

In detail
Factors to take into consideration
Site development: this will include developing the entire site to prepare for
construction. Preparing the land, planning for parking, the flow of traffic, etc.
Orientation: the best light sources will save on lighting costs and will provide the
facilities with a good source of power.
Surface: the surface of the land must allow for building facilities suitable for playing
certain sports.
Mass media requirements: every new complex must be equipped with the facilities
required by the mass media: camera guides, rooms, lights, scoreboards. This is very
important if we wish to organize an event as it means that many people will see our
facilities and it may attract a significant number of people. These requirements are
therefore essential for soccer stadiums, track and field arenas, competition pools,
etc.
Sports infrastructure: locker rooms and locker room accessibility, the turf or playing
field.
Operations: this refers to the importance of managing the facilities and organizing all
the individuals who work there.

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Source: Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

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Practical example: designing the 2012 Olympic

Games
Let's analyze the timeline for the design of the 2012 Olympic Games:
November 2007
The stadium design was launched on November 7, 2007 based on the concept of a "single
80,000-seat stadium" which would be the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympics, holding their
opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events.
The architect, in conjunction with a company which specializes in the design of sports
facilities and convention centers, planned for construction to take place from 2007 to 2011
in addition to planning other special events.
June 2009
In June 2009 , the stadium's track and field arena was excavated out of the soft clay found on
the site, incorporating the natural slope of the land into the design, with warm-up and
locker rooms dug into a semi-basement position at the lower end.
A demountable lightweight steel "bowl" and a concrete structure above this bowl were then
built to accommodate 55,000 spectators.
Its most remarkable characteristic is without a doubt its hanging circular roof which is
suspended by tensioned steel cables and can be easily disassembled. This roof was made
using a tough polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabric to keep costs down. Likewise, another unique
characteristic is its exterior wrap which was made using a plastic material. This wrap
measures 20 meters (66 feet) high and 900 meters (1000 yards) in the circumference of the
stadium.
August 2011
On August 4, 2011, it was announced that Dow Chemical Company would finance the wrap
for the stadium in exchange for permission to advertise on it until June 26, 2012.
June 2012
June 26, 2012 was the date on which all advertising and logos had to be removed as per
International Olympic Committee (IOC) requirements, and as such all costs would be
covered up until that time.

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Practical example: after the 2012 Olympic Games

In the wake of this great
sporting event we can
undoubtedly see how the
entire area has improved, not
only visually but also in terms
of services for its residents.
Nevertheless, over the next
few years there was a great
amount of controversy as the
o icial cost of the Olympic
Stadium was £537 million,
making it the most expensive
stadium in the world in terms
of cost per seat.
According to Amanda Baillieu, an expert in architecture from the UK website Bdonline, the
stadium was not well planned from its conception to leave an Olympic legacy to the
community, which Baillieu finds to be concerning considering that it was paid for using
public funds from taxes and the national lottery. It is therefore important to keep this in
mind when choosing the location for large sports facilities such as stadiums or sports
complexes intended for hosting Olympic Games.
These kinds of facilities are currently being used as follows:
Soon to be home to soccer club West Ham United and, in 2017, the host
for the World Championship in Athletics, the Olympic Stadium is
currently being used for purposes ranging from organizing next year's
Rugby World Cup to all kinds of concerts.
Stadium
Even so, work is currently being performed to extend its roof while at
the same time reducing the number of seats from 80,000 to 54,000 so
that the building may be transformed from a track and field arena into
a soccer field in a matter of a few days.
Currently open to the general public, this center boasts two 50-meter
swimming pools and one 25-meter diving pool, as well as swimming
lessons (for £3.5 per lesson). The center also has a modern gym, a
Aquatics
charming café, and allows its users to discover the world of scuba
Centre
diving. All of this is possible under the spectacular 160-meter roof
which rests on just three concrete supports.

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The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre is the only one of its kind on
the planet offering both disciplines in one facility, whether for teaching
classes or for enjoying the EuroHockey Championship which took place
in 2015.
Other
Disciplines The list goes on including the old Media Centre, used for commercial
purposes during the Olympics, or the Multi-Use Arena (London's third
covered stadium) which can be used to practice judo, badminton,
volleyball, taekwondo, etc.
It is estimated that around 9.3 million visitors use the facilities of the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park each year. The residences for the
athletes and organizers of the 2012 Olympics (some 23,000 people in
New total) are expected to provide housing for 30,000 people in some 8,000
Neighborhood homes.
and Housing
This will complete the neighborhood called East Village, seeing as the
parks and children's and recreation areas are already complete.
Determining the design and location for large sports facilities requires major
preliminary analysis and proper operations management before, during and a er an
event.

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Large sports facilities: characteristics and uses

There are four di erent kinds of facilities which fall under the umbrella of primary
entertainment, sports and leisure facilities. In addition to holding sporting events they can
also be used for large-scale shows and concerts.
This category is made up of the following:

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Soccer Stadiums I
A series of criteria and characteristics must be met as per the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure
Regulations:
The playing surface must be in top condition and ready for

play, paying attention to the quality of the turf, drainage
system, surface humidity, etc.
Category Length Width Other

requirements
1 100 to 64 to
105m 68m
2 100 to 64 to No enclosures
105m 68m
3 105m 68m
4 105m 68m No enclosures
Size of the field of play Minimum spectator capacity of the stadium:
Category Spectators
1 200
2 1500
3 4500
4 8000

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All of the stands must have food and beverage services, at

least one per section. Removable stands are prohibited.
These facilities must also meet the following requirements:
Category Requirements
1 Standing areas permitted
2 All areas must have seating
Stands
Teams: Seating for a minimum of 25 people, with a

minimum of five showers, three individual seated toilets,
one massage table and one tactical board.
Referees: Seating for a minimum of 5 people, with a

minimum of one shower, one individual seated toilet,
and one desk.
Locker rooms

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In addition to a minimum of two parking spaces for buses and

ten for cars for teams and referees, the parking requirements
are:
Category Minimum VIP parking Additional

spaces in a safe area requirements
1 20
2 50
3 100
Parking
4 150 400 parking

spaces for buses

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Soccer Stadiums II
Continuing our discussion of the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations, there are other
areas which must fulfill a series of criteria and characteristics:
A floodlighting system must be used having a minimum

illuminance of 800 lux (eV) toward fixed cameras and 500 lux
(eV) toward other areas of the stadium and toward mobile
cameras. Keep in mind the following categories:
Category Fixed cameras Mobile cameras
1 800-1400 500-1000
2 800-1400 500-1000
Lighting
3 1200-1400 800-1000
4 1400 1000
They must also have an emergency lighting system capable

of providing uninterrupted lighting at the following
intensities:
Category Requirement
2 75% of normal value.
Emergency lighting
systems 3 100% of normal value.
4 100% of normal value.

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As for VIP seating and hospitality areas available, notice the

following criteria to be met :
Category VIP VIP seats for Exclusive

seats visiting team hospitality area
1 50 10
2 100 20
VIP seats and hospitality

area 3 250 50
4 500 100 400m2
This area must have a series of communications equipment

and desks and must have the following minimum size:
Category Size
1 50m²
2 100m²
3 100m²
4 200m²
Press boxes must meet the following requirements:

STADIUMS
Category Minimum Minimum

number number of
of covered
covered seats Press box location
seats equipped
with
Press box and desks
conference room
1 20 5
2 20 10
3 50 25
4 100 50 Centrally located, in

the main
grandstand and
near the locker
rooms and press
conference room.
All seats in the press box must have a power outlet and
internet connection. All desks in the press box must also be
large enough to accommodate a laptop computer and a
notepad.

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Soccer Stadiums III

To complete our discussion of the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations, we will now
analyze the criteria and characteristics for television studios:
Size (width by
Category Number Additional requirements
length by height)
1 1
2 2 500cm x 500cm x
230cm
3 2 500cm x 500cm x
230cm
4 2 500cm x 500cm x Presentation studio from which the field

230cm is visible. Mixed area.
This allows us to identify the following requirements which must be met:

STADIUMS
Well-equipped control room for UEFA observers.
Conveniently located and adequately equipped doping

control station.
Public address system for the purpose of allowing for

communication with the public both inside and outside
the stadium. This system must not experience any
interference, must not be overpowered by spectator
noise and must be secured against loss of power supply.
Permanent surveillance system using cameras with color

monitors with coverage of all public areas both inside
and outside the stadium for monitoring spectators'
actions and behavior. This system must also be able to
take pictures of any individuals causing trouble
(troublemakers) so that they may be sent immediately to
safety officials, venue administrators and the police.
Requirements Clear, easy-to-understand signs (indications using

recognizable symbols) both inside and outside the
stadium as well as throughout the surrounding area.
Sanitary facilities for spectators of both sexes sufficient

in number and acceptable with regards to cleanliness
and hygiene. All toilets must have a seat.
A minimum of two sections with at least 50 comfortable

covered seats for spectators with disabilities and their
companions. Said areas must be duly equipped with
designated sanitary facilities and refreshments nearby.
 Other minor requirements

In detail

STADIUMS
Other minor requirements
In addition, there are other minor requirements such as:
There must be a ratio of at least one seated toilet for every 200 spectators and one
urinal for every 125 spectators.
The two substitutes' benches must be covered, must be situated at field level at a
distance of at least 5 meters from the touchline, and must accommodate 13 people.
Five flagpoles for official flags.

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Uses
Use of a sports facility depends on the surface of the playing field and what kinds of
competitions can be held there.
Problems arise, for example, with the playing surface seeing as sports such as field hockey
require a very short artificial turf to allow for fast, uniform passes, whereas this kind of
surface can be dangerous in other kinds of competitions.
In field hockey, the ball moves very quickly in what appears to be a straight line and
therefore any variations due to irregularities in natural surfaces would determine the
suitability of the surface for this sport. The length of turf used in soccer therefore makes such
surfaces difficult for playing hockey.
Making a soccer field using natural turf which is also compatible for use as a rugby field is
more feasible given that the necessary length of the field varies between 95 to 100 meters.
This would be compatible with a CF 3 type field ; however, it would be necessary to treat the
areas behind the goals.
Type field
Each shooting range would be between 6 and 22 meters. The range must also be
increased to 68 or 69 meters width-wise, leaving 3.5 meter areas on each side.
Standard track and field arenas must use natural turf so that
they may be appropriate for use in official competitions. They
must also use appropriate materials for maintaining the
surface in perfect condition.
Artificial turf does not currently meet the approved

requirements, which limits use of these facilities for other
Track and field arenas sports.

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These facilities primarily include those where fitness-related

activities are performed for the purpose of improving one's
health. They are somewhat smaller in size than the previously
mentioned facilities, but they have a large number of users
who go every day to play sports and for daily physical activity.
Some examples of these facilities include gyms, multi-

Sports and fitness purpose sports complexes, yoga and Pilates studios, etc.
centers
It is important to understand swimming pools as large sports

facilities which require very thorough and comprehensive
management. There are many different kinds of sports
facilities which will be built differently depending on what we
are looking for.
If we are going to build sports facilities at a school or if their

users will primarily be children, the design and construction
of PE facilities will have special characteristics. We must
determine what kind of ceiling we want (not too high to save
on energy costs), what kind of flooring is needed and which
materials are most appropriate for the facility. Locker rooms
Swimming pools and showers must also be included in the design, and all of
the above must be compliant with any applicable laws.
We may also have to consider noise pollution during the

construction phase as well as the need for a storage unit for
storing all the necessary materials.

STADIUMS
Requirements to consider regarding Operations

Management in large facilities
There are important issues worth noting involved in the management of all sports facilities
such as, for example, the availability of housing, communication needs, as well as purely
sport-specific requirements which can be much more strict as we have already seen.
If we analyze each of these aspects in further detail we will see some characteristics which
are important to keep in mind:
Some federations, such as basketball and soccer federations, impose a

wide array of regulations on any venues that wish to host certain kinds of
competitions. For example, Spanish Football Federation regulations
Sport- focus on size and infrastructure requirements in addition to the
specific provision of certain services and areas for players, referees, etc.
requirements
Soccer stadiums must meet the requirements set forth by national and
international federations if they wish to host the top competitions.
Each country's legal system has its own laws and regulations which
regulate and impose penalties for violence among sports spectators .
This has given rise to the approval of a financial support program for
stadiums which must be obeyed by the large soccer competitions.
In addition, the European Union also published a document which

contains recommendations which ensure that areas designated for
spectators are able to meet each country's safety requirements. This has
Safety resulted in the regulation of seats and related services as well as
"passive" security.
Facilities of course require financial support to implement safety

measures, locating seats in all areas, taking into account ticket sales and
centralized ticket control, as well as putting a series of measures in
place to support crowd control by security: gated entry, ground-level
barriers, surveillance booths, surveillance cameras, etc.

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It is essential for any sports facility to guarantee access for all so that
users, including those with limited mobility, can have safe, regulated
access to the facility.
New sports facilities currently under construction or already built now

meet the national and regional requirements regarding eliminating
Accessibility architectural barriers for individuals with disabilities. The accessibility of
and sports complexes and stadiums is increasingly important, and this is not
surveillance limited to ensuring that those with disabilities can come and go freely.
This is an important factor which can set high-quality venues apart from
the rest, affording them the opportunity to gain prestige by providing
facilities which make them stand out and allowing them to provide
excellent customer service.
It is not only necessary to have a good evacuation plan; instead, this is a mandatory
safety requirement (as was the case, for example, in December 2004 when 70,000
people were evacuated from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in seven minutes with
help from the police).
 Safety Report
In detail

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Safety Report
In 1990 a report was published in Great Britain which constituted a big step forward in
terms of safety, degree of comfort in stadiums, and accessibility for all. This was the first
step towards improving universal accessibility at recreational sports facilities.
This report contains 76 recommendations and requirements for clubs. Some of the most
noteworthy include:
Services and facilities provided for members with different kinds of disabilities
cannot be an added benefit, but rather must be an integral part of the stadium's
design.
Spacious seats which are covered and safe must be provided for those who use a
wheelchair. Wheelchair-accessible routes to restrooms and kitchens, which must be
duly adapted for their use, must also be available.
Adaptations improving accessibility for individuals with visual and hearing

impairments must also be taken into account.

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Summary
All our analyses indicate that sports facilities' growth models should focus more e ort on
improving the condition of currently existing facilities rather than building new ones, there
being many issues which must be considered when talking about managing large sports
facilities (from the kinds of facilities that currently exist to the main requirements that each
facility must meet in order to be able to host competitions and guests pursuant to the
proper regulations and safety guidelines).
These criteria must be kept in mind at all times, from the first stage in a facility's life cycle
(planning) through the design and construction stages, and finally during the management
process. Nevertheless, we sometimes find ourselves in facilities which did not take these
criteria into account, thus putting public health or safety at serious risk.
Citizens of today's world are becoming more and more demanding each and every day,
demanding better quality in terms of safety, accessibility, public health, sustainability,
functionality, etc. It is therefore vital for those involved in operations to keep service quality
and project viability in mind at all times.
Congratulations! You have finished successfully.

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Bibliographic references
Ayora Pérez, D. & García Sánchez, E. (2004). Organización de eventos deportivos .
Madrid: Editorial Inde.
Schwarz E.; Hall, S. & Shibli, S. (2009). Sport Facility Operations Management. A global
perspective. Elsevier Editorial.
Links of interest
Consejo Superior de Deportes (2011). “De la planificación a la gestión de las

instalaciones deportivas. Un camino hacia la sostenibilidad”. Available on:
<http://www.csd.gob.es/csd/estaticos/inst-dep/de-la-planificacion-a-la-gestion-de-las-
instalaciones-deportivas.pdf> [Retrieved 30 January 2015].
The Guardian (2012). “London's Olympic Park: before and a er”. Available on:
<http://www.theguardian.com/sport/interactive/2012/jul/27/olympic-regeneration-
legacy-stratford> [Retrieved 30 January 2015].

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MANAGEMENT OF SPORT FACILITIES AND KEY

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 3

The objectives to be achieved with this resource are:

To analyze management-related problems as well as possible uses for the facilities.

To be familiar with other kinds of sports facilities and their possibilities.

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 4

Selecting a strategic location for large sports facilities

 The role of the Operations Manager

The role of the Operations Manager

Factors to take into consideration

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 5

Map of the area.

The land and construction materials used.

The topography of the land.

Site history, owner, etc.

Existing utilities (gas, electricity, etc.).

Local governments usually propose constructing these buildings in areas currently in

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 6

Design and construction of large sports facilities

 Factors to take into consideration

Factors to take into consideration

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 7

Source: Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 8

Practical example: designing the 2012 Olympic

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 9

Practical example: after the 2012 Olympic Games

These kinds of facilities are currently being used as follows:

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 10

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 11

Large sports facilities: characteristics and uses

This category is made up of the following:

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 12

The playing surface must be in top condition and ready for

Category Length Width Other

4 105m 68m No enclosures

Size of the field of play Minimum spectator capacity of the stadium:

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 13

All of the stands must have food and beverage services, at

1 Standing areas permitted

2 All areas must have seating

4 All areas must have seating

Teams: Seating for a minimum of 25 people, with a

Referees: Seating for a minimum of 5 people, with a

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 14

In addition to a minimum of two parking spaces for buses and

Category Minimum VIP parking Additional

4 150 400 parking

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 15

A floodlighting system must be used having a minimum

Category Fixed cameras Mobile cameras

They must also have an emergency lighting system capable

2 75% of normal value.

4 100% of normal value.

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 16

As for VIP seating and hospitality areas available, notice the

Category VIP VIP seats for Exclusive

VIP seats and hospitality

4 500 100 400m2

This area must have a series of communications equipment

Press boxes must meet the following requirements:

© Universidad Europea de Madrid. All rights reserved. 17