The development of a multisport facility is a beneficial initiative for any community because it encourages the adoption of a more active lifestyle and provides people with the opportunity to engage in more physical activity. At the same time, it can also be seen as a business venture that begins to generate profits after a relatively short period, during which it is no longer necessary to invest significant amounts in the operation and maintenance of the facility.
A multisport court is a specially designed area that allows the practice of multiple sports, making it more versatile and appealing to a broader range of users. Therefore, the facility can be made available to both those passionate about soccer and those who play basketball, tennis, handball, or volleyball. These are the primary sports activities that a multisport facility can accommodate, and it's self-evident that such a facility will generate more revenue than one that allows only a single sport.
What is the initial investment?
Like any business, setting up a sports facility requires an initial investment, which in this case starts at approximately 10,500 euros, plus VAT and expenses for equipment transport and installation.
With this amount, you can establish a small-sized multisport facility, measuring 20X10 meters, equipped with two mini-soccer goals, protective fencing, and 50-millimeter synthetic turf. However, the facilities provided by such a facility are somewhat limited due to the small dimensions. For a more generous-sized facility, the investment exceeds 31,000 euros.
With this budget, you can create a 42X22-meter facility, featuring two mini-soccer goals, surrounding fencing, and 50-millimeter artificial turf. Due to these features and generous dimensions, such a facility can be used for both soccer and handball.
To facilitate the practice of other sports such as basketball, volleyball, or tennis, additional investment will be required for the necessary accessories.
How long does it take to generate profit?
For a business to become profitable, the generated earnings must first cover the initial investment mentioned earlier. The time required for the investment to be amortized depends on various factors and can span over 2-3 years. Revenues are obtained from renting the facility, similar to synthetic ice rinks and other facilities designed to facilitate physical activities.
In the case of an outdoor facility, it is preferable for it to be rented for at least 8 months per year, with an average of 15 days per month and a minimum of 6 hours per day. The rental fee should be affordable to attract more customers, and a rate of 25 euros per hour is reasonable. In this way, the facility will generate a monthly income of 2,250 euros, or 18,000 euros annually, if rented for 8 months per year, 15 days per month, and 6 hours per day.
Thus, an investment of 31,000 euros will be amortized in less than 2 years, after which the business will begin to generate a profit.
An indoor facility can be rented throughout the year but requires a higher investment that can also be amortized over 2-3 years with efficient management.
Additionally, the more facilities a multisport facility offers for practicing various sports, the higher the potential revenue.
Recommended facilities and dimensions
A multisport facility should ideally include mini-soccer goals since such facilities are primarily rented by soccer enthusiasts. These goals can also be used for handball, and behind or on the sides of them, basketball hoops can be installed.
This way, you've created a facility suitable for three sports. If you want to expand its versatility, you should also consider adding posts with nets for tennis and volleyball.
For the playing surface, artificial turf is the best solution, which can have a fiber length of 13 or 50 millimeters, depending on the synthetic fibers' length. Another option is poured in place rubber surfacing (tartan), but it's recommended primarily for tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, while soccer and handball are better suited for artificial turf, which is more resistant to wear and tear.
The facility should be surrounded by protective fencing or nets, and installing lighting will make it more attractive. Customers will appreciate having access to changing rooms or, if possible, seating for spectators along the sidelines.
Regarding dimensions, they should be adapted based on the sports that can be practiced on the facility. A soccer or handball facility should be at least 42X22 meters. For a tennis court, the recommended dimensions are 34X17 meters, while a basketball court should be at least 28X15 meters. Finally, the recommended dimensions for a volleyball court are 18X9 meters.
If you intend to start such a business, you should know that you can access funding from European funds or through various national programs aimed at promoting sports and physical activity in general.