Drivers & Solutions in Collegiate Athletic Facilities

FACILITIES | STADIUM & ARENA Drivers and Solutions in Collegiate Athletics Facilities Today Yann Cowart Mar 7, 2023

Protective Stadium

As higher education recovers from the chaos of adapting to the pandemic, here's a look at some of the emerging concerns facing leaders in the athletics space.

Retaining investments in athletes. In modern day college athletics, coaching staffs and administration are worried about retention of student athletes, in whom they have invested so much university funding for high performance athletic facilities, scholarships, room and board, per diem, etc. When there is high turnover among recruits, that investment is neutralized. The key is to attract the athletes that will differentiate

program could differentiate itself from its competitors for recruitment and retention.

These incentives are becoming ever more unique and advanced. The amenities and technology that were once state theabundance art have become moreplayers commonplace. your program from another.

Withofthe of talented out there, higher education sports leaders are getting more creative with the recruiting strategies in order to succeed.

State of the art becomes mainstream. In the past, superior facilities were one way that a program could differentiate itself from its competitors for recruitment and retention.

These incentives are becoming ever more unique and advanced. The amenities and technology that were once state of the art have become more commonplace.

Spectator preferences are evolving. There are also sweeping changes in the way people prefer to watch sports, with many more options to watch the game remotely with more and better oculus glasses, helmet AI. Seating in the uppermost State of theviews, art becomes mainstream.

Incameras, the past, and superior facilities were one way that a sections at an outdoor stadium is less than infor therecruitment past. program could differentiate itself frompalatable its competitors and retention.

These incentives are becoming ever more unique and advanced. The amenities and technology that were once state of the art have become more commonplace.

Spectator preferences are evolving. There are also sweeping changes in the way people prefer to watch sports, with many more options to watch the game remotely with more and better views, oculus glasses, helmet cameras, and AI. Seating in the uppermost sections at an outdoor stadium is less palatable than in the past.

Spectator preferences are evolving. There are also sweeping changes in the way people prefer to watch sports, with many more options to watch the game remotely with more and better views, oculus glasses, helmet cameras, and AI. Seating in the uppermost sections at an outdoor stadium is less palatable than in the past.

Protective Stadium

Therefore, stadiums, too, are changing. Stadiums are transforming in response to the changing requirements repositioning toward the professional model with upgraded spaces and amenities. Upper decks and field level zone clubs are being converted into large areas or open platforms that entice people to gather with the sporting event as more of a backdrop to small groups socializing over high-end hospitality.

win. They will use their unique, state-of-the-art facilities and amenities to recruit the VIEW ALL LEADERS COMPANIES > athletes with the most potential.

Optimize your competitive advantage.

TheCutting-Edge key to success is to anticipate trends and to Building State of the Art Facilities at the stay one step ahead to win the recruiting game. The urgency of having the best players is still the same as it always has been, but the way to get there is not linear process.

The Conduct procurement planning.

Building cutting-edge facilities is anot without its share of challenges, especially with today’s economic climate of rapid inflation supply leaders who push the boundaries to take advantage of the system will be and the ones who chain disruptions.

The process for procurement has dramatically evolved with win. They will use their unique, state-of-the-art facilities and amenities to recruit the slowdowns forcing university leaders to purchase materials earlier in the process to athletes with the most potential. ensure they are available when needed. This, in turn, makes early procurement planning critical. Taking risk Facilities that pricesatwill between planning and procurement is Building State on of the Art thechange Cutting-Edge making budget validation especially challenging.

Conduct procurement planning. Building cutting-edge facilities is not without its share of challenges, especially with today’s economic climate of rapid inflation and supply chain disruptions. The process for procurement has dramatically evolved with slowdowns forcing university leaders to purchase materials earlier in the process to ensure they are available when needed. This, in turn, makes early procurement planning critical. Taking on the risk that prices will change between planning and procurement is making budget validation especially challenging.

Let’s consider an example. A recent example project ended up 25% over the budget that the project team had estimated only six months prior, singularly due to price escalation.

Subcontractors are navigating this by demanding that automatic inflation increases be incorporated into contracts. This makes for an arduous situation for all stakeholders when projects are trying to stay within a budget, but all of the project team members should understand that the price increases are not the fault of the project team.

Accelerate timeframes and A address From a project standpoint, not that Let’s consider an example. recent fluctuations. example project ended up 25% over the this budget onlyproject means team expanding the budget to six accommodate excess inventory, alsoescalation. the had estimated only months prior, singularly due tobut price accelerating timelines and addressing fluctuationsthat in demand.

Right now, contractors Subcontractors are navigating this by demanding automatic inflation increases beare budgeting forinto approximately a 1.5makes percent increase, which to 18 percent incorporated contracts. This formonthly an arduous situation forequates all stakeholders per year.

This isare an trying unorthodox putsbut pressure on project all project team when projects to staysituation within a that budget, all of the team members stakeholders in terms ofthe planning.

Another way thisthe affects is thatteam. the design should understand that price increases are not faultprojects of the project team must complete and coordinate submittals more quickly. This accelerated early Accelerate and address fluctuations.

From achanges project and standpoint, this not design can timeframes lead to unintended change orders as design coordination tend to only means expanding the budget to accommodate excess inventory, but also be a constant on large athletic projects. accelerating timelines and addressing fluctuations in demand. Right now, contractors are budgeting for approximately a 1.5 percent monthly increase, which equates to 18 percent per year. This is an unorthodox situation that puts pressure on all project team stakeholders in terms of planning. Another way this affects projects is that the design team must complete and coordinate submittals more quickly. This accelerated early design can lead to unintended change orders as design changes and coordination tend to be a constant on large athletic projects.

Clemson University Allen Reeves Football Operations Complex

Consider another example. In an example in the southcentral US, the project team is 14 months into a 17-month-long construction project of a new Football Performance Center. The project team did their due diligence to procure all the necessary materials early but had the challenge of finding space to store all that material, protect it, insure it, and guarantee that it is still there when the contractors are ready for it. Early procurement and providing secure storage are additional costs the project budget must bear. With equipment like generators carrying a 14-month lead time, no aspect of the planning can be ignored.

Leaders weigh all options. Higher education sports leaders understand the volatile environment and the risks involved with quoting projects. Sometimes, it’s even advisable to put projects on hold in the hope that things will settle down—which means half-built projects and construction supplies that need to be stored in the meantime.

Today’s Athletic Facilities: Efficiency, Technology + Spectator Considerations Maximize efficiency. Using facilities to recruit is a longstanding tradition but today’s facilities must be as efficient as they once were opulent. To make them as efficient as possible, designers need to understand everyone’s schedule and how they will move through the buildings, so they can lay out spaces in a linear way to prevent backtracking.

Incorporate the latest technology. There is also a need to incorporate the very latest technology before others do and/or it becomes obsolete or is replaced with something better. Today, GPS tracking is used, with sensors placed around the field that log data about the players’ movements. This allows players and coaches to track and analyze numerical data, and review slow-motion films of all the plays later to improve future performance. Sensors not only track each movement, but also energy expenditure and force delivered upon impact. Technology can be incorporated in all aspects of recovery and training to monitor an athlete’s performance over time. The availability of staff to quickly access / review the data and provide required modifications to the physical and technical performance will mean improvements based on technology.

Body scanning technology allows all equipment—especially helmets—to be customfitted for each player and their body measurements can be used for data analysis. With RFID technology and electronic graphics, scanners can sense a recruit walking into the door of a facility, identify who it is, and have a highlight reel and personal welcome from the coach appear on a screen within seconds. More practically, RFID can be used to track and inventory equipment and other supplies, which saves time searching for lost equipment. This technology is especially important as the size of equipment rooms / storage increases and the number of staff increases.

Clemson University Allen Reeves Football Operations Complex

Advance team culture with today’s locker room zone design. In the spirit of offering something unique creative, is a movement afoot tocould reconfigure the idea of sweaty locker roomand odors and allthere the associated germs.

This be a difference-maker what a locker room In today’s locker room design, leaders are incorporating to a potential recruitshould (or hisbe. guardian). several zones. Upon entering the locker room, athletes find an initial zone at the Return towhere multi-purpose.

Stadiums thatall have standalone enterprises entrance the players can remove thebeen usedhuge, uniforms, pads, and helmets. for Thehalf a century are now shifting back the old model of away beingin multi-purpose whose sports equipment (which can betoodorous) is stored this zone, andbuildings away from the use is optimized year-round – 50design to 60 which years ago, stadiums had additional space that second zone of the locker room functions more like a living room/gathering couldwhere be used as classrooms orteam dorms.

Now they are moving toward NFL model area players experience culture.

Separating these areas the eliminates the of having restaurants retail places inside theThis stadium they are no sweaty locker roomand odors andatallvarious the associated germs. couldsobethat a difference-maker longer huge facilities occupying space on campus that are only used nine times each to a potential recruit (or his guardian). year. Generating revenue is important and capturing more efficiency in the design will Return multi-purpose.

Stadiums that have been huge, standalone enterprises for half increasetothe revenue per square foot. a century are now shifting back to the old model of being multi-purpose buildings whose use is optimized year-round – 50 to 60 years ago, stadiums had additional space that could be used as classrooms or dorms. Now they are moving toward the NFL model of having restaurants and retail at various places inside the stadium so that they are no longer huge facilities occupying space on campus that are only used nine times each year. Generating revenue is important and capturing more efficiency in the design will increase the revenue per square foot.

Insight In addition to all the volatility in the construction market these days, universities also have to contend with the challenges of recruitment and retention, a changing fan base, and unique issues like NFL contracts and NIL (name, image, likeness). There are compliance and staffing issues that require additional space for personnel and the need to dedicate time, facilities, and space to make sure athletes not only come, but stay.

There is a saying in college athletics that you need to spend as much energy recruiting Insight your own people as you do on recruiting new ones to make sure you have (and keep) In addition to all the volatility in thegreatest construction market these days, universities quality athletes.

Having the latest, infrastructure means holding the top also have to contend with the catch challenges position longer as others up. of recruitment and retention, a changing fan base, and unique issues like NFL contracts and NIL (name, image, likeness). There are compliance and staffing issues that require additional space for personnel and the need to dedicate time, facilities, and space to make sure athletes not only come, but stay.

There is a saying in college athletics that you need to spend as much energy recruiting your own people as you do on recruiting new ones to make sure you have (and keep) quality athletes. Having the latest, greatest infrastructure means holding the top position longer as others catch up.

Auburn University Football Performance Center (Rendering)

In all construction projects, the market volatility is dictating the terms. There is more pressure on design teams during the construction phase because the timeline for reviewing submittals has been accelerated to accommodate early procurement and delayed shipment of materials. Decision making, design, and procurement efforts are frontloaded as much as possible to combat long lead times and market instability, making the inevitable late-stage change requests even more challenging. Decisions made during design to mitigate late-stage changes or provide future flexibility can add additional scope and budget to projects. Early onset stakeholder discussion of these challenges can ensure that all parties understand these challenges as the project progresses.

Resiliency in the face of constant change is essential for leaders and teams to keep their heads in this environment and remain creative enough to innovate the solutions for the future that will keep athletics programs thriving while navigating the drivers and solutions in college athletic facilities today.

Yann Cowart is vice president - Sports Architecture with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood (GMC) and can be reached at yann.cowart@gmcnetwork.com.

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