Improving communities through sport

Not sure what to build or how big to build it?

Whether your community needs a new pickleball facility or you want to tap into the economic development power of sports tourism, the first step to any new sports, recreation, wellness, or entertainment project is a study.

Get the nation’s most credible data from a team who stands behind it every step of the way.

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We can plan it all:

Indoor Sports Centers

Recreation & Sports Mega-plexes

Indoor/Outdoor Aquatics

Baseball/Softball Complexes

Event Centers

Fairground Redevelopment

Community Recreation & Wellness

Learn more about what you need to get started.

Whether you have a specific vision for your new project or need help figuring out where to start, you’ve come to the right place. SFC is your ultimate partner, not just for a study but for every step and every stage of the facility development journey.

Here’s what we can do for you:

  • Recreation or Tourism Strategic Plan – We’ll study your entire city, town, or county, work with your community and stakeholders, and clarify your vision and goals into a streamlined strategic plan.
  • Market Opportunity Report – Based on your vision and goals, we’ll study your market to help you decide what to build and how big it should be.
  • Feasibility Study & 5-Year Financial Forecast – We’ll dive deep into a plan for a single facility and produce an unparalleled report which is often key to securing funding or public support. This highly detailed 5-year financial forecast is your business plan in numbers and includes staff plans, start-up, and construction costs, program planning, and expenses.
  • Facility Operational Assessment – How is your existing facility performing? Should you expand, build new, or re-program existing space? This report is tailored to help your assets reach peak performance.
  • Economic Impact Study – Need to know your potential for sports tourism and how much impact will it create for your community? This is the report for you.
  • Public Engagement – When different user groups are all clamoring for new facilities or resources, it’s time to ask the public what they want. Let us manage this process on your behalf and create a report of recommended facilities and next steps.

What makes SFC a great choice:

  • Real-World Experience – We manage 40+ properties across the nation. Some call it a conflict of interest, but we call it confidence. Our real-world experience and access to real-time data mean you’re getting the best data and advice available. There’s never any obligation to work with us through development and management. Our studies are ready for any operator or parks department to execute.
  • Solutions, Not Just Studies – Your community has a need and we want to help you meet it. Our approach is to work with you to create an actionable solution that meets your goals and definition of success, not sell you a study that sits on a shelf. You won’t meet a team more excited or focused on finding a path forward that your community will love.
  • We Make It Easy – We’re in the business of sports, recreation, wellness…things that are good for kids and communities. We want the experience for you, your team, and your community to be a great one. Our team facilitates an orderly, proven process that is customized to your staff and needs. Service and collaboration are at the core of what we do.

Take the first step in your planning journey.

Featured Experience

We've worked in over 2,000 communities since 2003

City of West Des Moines, IA

City of Auburn, ME

City of Marion, IL

City of Seaside, OR

City of Amarillo, TX

City of Firestone, CO

Park City, KS

City of Clearwater, FL

City of Tupelo, MS

City of Pickerington, OH

City of Mount Lebanon, PA

City of Farmington Hills, MI

City of Round Rock, TX

City of Heber Spring, AR

City of Monterey, CA

 

Featured Team Leader

Partner

Evan Eleff has created the industry’s most reliable financial forecasting and programmatic data for planning and funding recreation, wellness, fitness, and sports projects as well as community wide recreation master plans. Since joining SFA|SFM in 2012, Evan has led the SFA team in producing market studies, facility plans, financial forecasts, economic impact analyses, feasibility studies, and strategic funding initiatives for more than 1,500 communities around the world and a portfolio of more than $8 billion of planned assets. In 2019, he partnered with the Florida Recreation and Park Association to launch the first ever Park Impact Calculator – the culmination of a year-long, state-wide study that included members of the FRPA, CDC, and economic advisors. Evan is continuing this groundbreaking work in California and Kansas in 2020. To learn more about Evan and the other members of our outstanding team, visit our team page.

Show Low, AZ

The City of Show Low is a destination in the Arizona White Mountains with a strong tourism industry, especially in the summer months. The City recognized the need to expand its tourism season and identified indoor sports and events as the turnkey.

Southampton, NY

Based on a significant lack of access to indoor pools and a clear need to improve water safety in this East-End Long Island community, SFA has been supporting this non-profit endeavor since 2017. Throughout the long-standing engagement, SFA has developed multiple rounds of financial forecasts, public presentations, marketing materials, and fundraising strategies.

Download our free

Sports Tourism Guide

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