Guest post written by Cameron Connelly, Content Marketing Intern, The Sports Facilities Companies.
One might assume that the driving factor getting families to travel the country to visit a facility would be the quality of the facility and the number of amenities. Both of those things are critical, but arguably the most important factor is the team running the facility. A state-of-the-art facility that is run poorly is sometimes more disappointing than a run-down facility because of the wasted potential. When a fast-food chain messes something up in your order it is easy to shrug it off, but if the same thing happens at a fancy restaurant it tends to sting a little more. Not just because the meal costs more but because our expectations for it were higher. The same is true for a sports facility, and if you want people to continue to come back to the facility you better make sure that their expectations are met.
Understanding the Needs
Every community and venue is different in how they operate and their definition of success. Because of this, it is important to find out what the community wants and how the facility will provide for the community before moving forward with any planning. At The Sports Facilities Companies, we ask as many questions as possible in the planning stage so that we can gather all the information necessary to start defining what success looks like for the facility. Once we know what success looks like then we can start to set ourselves up to achieve it.
Building The Right Team
A good team is something that can be put together player by player, but the best way to build a good team is by starting with a good coach. In the SF Network, the nation’s largest network of sports, recreation, and event venues, each facility has a general manager that oversees the facility team and provides guidance to every “player” there to ensure that everyone works well together and works towards the facility mission. The “GM” also ensures that guests receive a great experience. The impact that the GM has on the facility is a great one and the way that they help the team grow and develop can be the difference between a good facility and a bad facility. Even if you start the season off with a team of all-stars, if you don’t facilitate their growth and development as a team then you won’t have a chance of winning the championship even with all that talent. So, while hiring good team members is important, it is even more vital to make sure that they are able to work together towards the same goal.
Maintaining Course
Nobody stays on top forever, so just because you have built a great team doesn’t mean that it is now time to start coasting. It is important to celebrate your victories and accomplishments but don’t let those celebrations lead to complacency. The balance of pressure is something that the GM will need to keep a watchful eye on to ensure that their team continues to provide the community with a fun and amazing atmosphere while also making sure that they don’t burn out. There is regular maintenance that needs to be done to keep the facility and its team running properly and it is much easier to do that when the GM can collaborate and receive help from other general managers and other industry experts. By being part of the SF Network, other General Managers and industry experts are part of the venue’s extended family and their help and guidance are just a phone call or email away.
If you are considering bringing a new facility to life or if you are interested in breathing new life into an existing facility, then allow us to help you manage your sports facility or recreation center. The mission of The Sports Facilities Companies is to improve the health and economic vitality of the communities we serve, so if you would like our assistance in improving your community then feel free to contact us or give us a call at (727) 474-3845.