Maximizing the Value of Your Fabric Structure

Making capital improvements, such as adding an indoor sports center, requires a significant upfront investment. With taxpayers and investors demanding accountability for all dollars spent, making smart decisions is critical to realize a return on that investment. Fortunately, engineered fabric structures have several advantages that allow building owners to recoup costs faster than other building methods.

Lowering Ongoing Costs with a Fabric Structure

Any building will have routine overhead costs even after construction – including climate control and electrical. These costs will vary depending on a variety of factors – among them, weather, building use, and construction materials.

Fabric structures lower these overhead costs by allowing the building owner to take full advantage of natural light and a climate-responsive design to maintain a consistent interior temperature. By allowing the building owner to reduce the electricity needed for lighting, heating, and cooling, fabric structures keep maintenance costs low while keeping the building usable in all conditions for year-round operation.

Fabric Structures Are Suitable for Multiple Uses

Occupied buildings, such as concert venues or indoor sports centers, can increase their profit with more frequent use. The building owner recoups overhead costs and eventually turns a profit by collecting rental fees or ticket sales from events – not to mention concession or merchandise sales.

"People are looking for more flexibility in their structure to do things beyond sports," says Shannon Humbert, building and project design consultant with Legacy Building Solutions. "Most clients don't have that cash in their pocket; they have to get a loan, provide a performance package, and they will want to show that the structure's going to be viable, which depends on getting as many people paying to use that building as possible. If you're going to spend this much money, don't just do it thinking you're just going to play tennis."

Rather than letting a single-use building remain empty during the off-season, building owners can open their buildings for alternate events. For example, sports centers can host tournaments, rec leagues, and individual or team practices. Because the building is designed to meet high-occupancy requirements, it can host banquets and recognition events for local sports leagues.

However, the building also has creative possibilities for the off-season. Rental options include hosting concerts or special events, open gyms, community meetings, fundraisers, corporate retreats, certification, training, continuing education classes, trade shows, and even weddings. While it might require a building owner to invest in tables or floor coverings, hosting these events can pay off big in the long term.

Using a Sports Center as a Multi-Purpose Venue

To truly reap the benefits of a year-round rental venue, there are a few steps to take before construction begins.

• Build to Code. Safety codes, such as ADA compliance, adequate doors, and fire suppression systems, will be required for most high-occupancy buildings. While these items can be added post-construction in some cases, it will be easier and less expensive to add them during the initial building process.
• Consider Your Space. Of course, a sports venue will need to meet sport-specific guidelines. But adding auxiliary space such as lean-tos or covered canopies will allow additional space to be used later for a retail shop, concession area, or ticket booth. Mezzanines and raised platforms constructed as press boxes and viewing platforms can double as extra seating or VIP areas for concerts and events. When you plan your area with multi-use spaces in mind, you won't need to invest in new flooring or update areas when the facility's needs change and evolve.
• Ensure your community knows about your facility. You may have the best rental building in the area, but if no one knows about it, they can't utilize it. Create a website for the building to showcase the multi-use space and provide an easy way for people to contact and inquire to book the venue. Use your social media accounts to promote the space and utilize your network of regular users to help everyone learn about your event options through word-of-mouth.

Even without altering your vision of a sport-specific venue, there are many ways to increase the profitability of a sports center. Using a fabric building is a great way to recoup an initial investment and add a revenue stream year-round throughout the life of a building.