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W W W . AT H L E T I C B U S I N E S S . C O M A U G U S T 2 0 1 3 AT H L E T I C B U S I N E S S 5

10 Game On Concerning Concussions

Plus: One on One, The Score, Extra Points, Legal Action

16 New & Improved

53 Product/Advertisers Index

54 Forward Progress

56 Professional Directory

58 Design Details

EQUIPMENT & COMPONENTS

19 Reach Higher Climbing walls give aquatic facilities a poolside boost.

PLANNING & DESIGN

26 Seating ArrangementsWhy overlooking the most important component of a sports venue renovation could cost facility operators dearly.

PURCHASING GUIDE

32 Changing StrategiesKeeping locker rooms available to users throughout a renovation requires careful planning. Plus: Locker Rooms & Laundry

FUNDRAISING

44 Home Field AdvantageA pair of Major League Baseball All-Stars help alma mater programs survive in tough times.

MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY

46 Network NewsIncorporating Wi-Fi into the stadium experience now seen as a must.

MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY

48 Going MobileThe future of parks and recreation user engagement.

ROB & BARRY

51 Social MixersInstagram? Google+? Vine? Finding the right online media platforms for your facility.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

10

58

AUG2013VOLUME 37 • NUMBER 8

19

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6 AT H L E T I C B U S I N E S S A U G U S T 2 0 1 3 W W W . AT H L E T I C B U S I N E S S . C O M

ONLINEΩ ATHLETIC BUSINESS (ISSN 0747-315X) is

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PRAIRIE ATHLETIC CLUB,

SUN PRAIRE, WIS.,

BY BRIAN EBNER

THE ARENA AB BLOG

athleticbusiness.com/enews

Why Calling ‘Obesity’ a ‘Disease’ Is So Troubling Jerry Seinfeld does a bit during which he discusses topics that make people whisper. Cancer is one of them. “Did you hear about Bill? He has (whispering) cancer.”

So, did you hear about one-third of Americans? They have (whisper) obesity.

The terminology that the American Medical Association has unleashed is signifi cant. No longer is one-third of our population obese. They now “have” obesity. It just happened to them. They caught it, and now we are in the midst of the greatest epidemic in the history of mankind. And it’s spreading.

— Rob Bishop & Barry Klein

No-Score Youth Sports Policies Gaining Popularity

My son played no-score fl ag football

and scored baseball. I don’t see that

the score matters as much as getting

the kids a coach who knows the

basics and can teach effectively

enough to pass skills on to the kids.

— Mike

There are many other lessons that can

be learned through athletics aside from

winning. How to be a gracious winner,

for instance, and showing appreciation

and respect for your competitor. I don’t

agree with trophies for “participation.”

It does more harm than good.

— Andy

Why play a “game” if you are not

keeping score? If that’s the case, stick

to practice only.

— Maurizio

Winning and losing are part of life, and

anyone old enough to play should learn

how to do both early on within the safe

context of sports. In the long run, kids

will learn to be more resilient and cope

with disappointment later in life.

— Teresa M.

The world is raising a bunch of

noncompetitive, tree-hugging,

sensitive kids who are taught fairness.

Life is not fair. These kids will become

failures because of their parents.

— Mike

My son plays rec soccer where there

is no score or win/loss records kept,

but every kind knows exactly what the

score was in each game.

— Steve

Join the conversation at AthleticBusiness.com/forums

AB TWEETSPaul Steinbach@SteinbachPaul Was @ Y tonight to pick up my gymnast daughter when a weight machine’s cable snapped, injuring its user (not seriously). Check those cables!

Emily Attwood@EmAttwood13 YO throws fi rst telerobotic pitch in MLB history — from across the country.

Athletic Business@AthleticBiz11% of kids in youth sports ages 8-14 said they’ve been paid to injure an opposing player.

AB SOCIAL SURVEYOn what social media platforms is your business most active?

Keep checking our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages to fi nd another question for next month’s issue.

60% Facebook

13% LinkedIn

27% Twitter

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SIGN UP FOR FREE PASS TO EXHIBIT HALL AND KEYNOTES.

Nov. 20-23 | San Diego, CASAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER

Wednesday, November 20TIME EVENT

7:00am – 5:00pm Registration

9:00am – 11:50amChris McGoff: Powering Up to Lead and Grow in Uncertain Times A case study of how the Atlantic Club prospered with a new leadership strategy

12:00pm – 1:00pm Networking lunch

1:00pm – 4:50pmEddie Tock and Will Phillips of Rex Roundtables: Improving Retention by Double Digits: The groundbreaking REX Roundtable research to keep members engaged with your club

6:00pm – 8:00pm iClubs Reception

Thursday, November 21TIME EVENT


8:00am – 9:30am ABC-Barry Klein & Robert Bishop: The Big Squeeze: Strategies for Mid-Priced, Mid-Sized Clubs

8:00am – 11:15am John Jantsch: How to Build a Referral Engine

TIME EVENT

9:45am – 11:15am ABC-Fabio Comana: Connecting with Communities – Touching the Non-Exercising Population

11:30am – 12:45pm Keynote: Ken Dychtwald: How to Prosper from the Longevity Revolution — A Primer for iClubs workshop Friday morning

1:00pm – 6:00pm Trade Show Grand Opening

4:30pm – 6:00pm ABC-Barry Klein & Robert Bishop: Business Bootcamp for Your Personal Trainers

8:00pm – 11:00pm Athletic Business Welcome Reception: Stingaree

Friday, November 22TIME EVENT


6:30am – 8:30am Early-Morning Workout

8:30am – 10:00am ABC-Michael Mantell: Communication Strategies for Success (3 hours)

9:00am – 11:50am Ken Dychtwald: In-Depth workshop, Club Owners Guide to Prospering in the Longevity Revolution

12:00pm – 1:00pm Keynote: Earvin “Magic” Johnson

1:00pm – 5:00pm Trade Show – Thousands of products to see

4:00pm – 5:30pm ABC-Amanda Vogel: 17 Social Media Tips for Boosting Your Fitness Career4:00pm 5:30pm ABC Amanda Vogel: 17 Social Media Tips for Boosting Your Fitness Career

In the health club industry, innovation starts with independence.For more information, visit iClubs.com

In-depth Workshops with Industry ExpertsProven experts with in-depth concepts and useful tactics will provide a great foundation for running your club. Learn new ideas, opportunities and ways to stay ahead of the competition. During this three-day conference, you’ll learn from an expert faculty who have not only invented the theories, but successfully put them to the real-world test.

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9:4Earvin “Magic” Johnson, CEO, NBA Legend and Dodgers Owner

Ken Dychtwald, Founding President and CEO, Age Wave

AB08_iClubsS813.indd 1 7/8/13 8:37 AM


®

ATHLETIC BUSINESS MEDIA INC.22 E. Miffl in St., Suite 910 I Madison, WI 53703

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AUTHOR’S GUIDELINES: Athletic Business will consider manuscripts that are not offered to other publications. Preferred length is 500-750 words (columns)

or 1,000-1,250 words (features). Please submit manuscripts to the Managing Editor at the mailing address above or send via e-mail to

[email protected]

EditorialPeter BrownPUBLISHER

Dennis Van MilligenEDITOR IN CHIEF

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Advertising SalesDiane EbnerADVERTISING DIRECTOR

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AthleticBusinessMedia Inc.Gretchen Kelsey BrownCEO

Peter BrownPRESIDENT

Shawn GahaganGROUP PUBLISHER

Kara Clark, CPA, CMACONTROLLER/CIRCULATION

DIRECTOR

Gloria HawkinsonACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Lisa PopkeAUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

COORDINATOR

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Erika ReiseONLINE PRODUCER

Tom DePaoliDIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Premium Partners

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Adam O’BrienEXHIBITS DIRECTOR

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Gloria HawkinsonTRADE SHOW OPERATIONS

COORDINATOR

VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 8 | WWW.ATHLETICBUSINESS.COM

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Concerning Concussions

New research published in the journal Pediatrics by the Boston Children’s Hospital has found that the time required for children to recover from a

concussion increases with each successive incident, more than doubling if just one prior concussion has been recorded.

Examining data gathered over a 12-month period on 280 children and young adults between the ages of 11 and 22 treated for a concussion at the Boston Children’s Hospital, and tracking their recovery for 12 weeks after their initial diagnosis, researchers found that on average, fi rst-time concussion sufferers required 12 days to recover. For those who had a history of one previous concussion, the recovery time jumped to 24 days; 36 days if more than one concussion had been suffered in the previous year.

“We think that there’s a window of time after the head injury in which the brain is more vulnerable to a second head injury,” study leader Matthew Eisenberg told Reuters.com.

Children under the age of 13 recovered faster than older victims, and those who lost consciousness as a result of the concussion actually recovered faster than those who did not. “Most concussions that do not involve loss of

consciousness are not immediately diagnosed,” Sports Legacy Institute co-founder Chris Nowinski explained in an interview with Scientifi c American. “Therefore, the athletes often fi nish the game, causing additional injury to the brain prior to beginning physical and cognitive rest.”

The results of the study put greater emphasis on the

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A study by the University of Pittsburgh suggesting

that fewer concussions are suffered in youth football

practices than games is being questioned by noted

concussion experts. “If you’re going to compare

concussion rates at practices versus games,

you have to have the same degree of scrutiny at

practices as at games,” Sports Legacy Institute

co-founder Robert Cantu told Scientifi c American.

“There’s nobody at practice other than the coaches,

and we don’t know if they know what a concussion

is or not, and they can’t make the diagnosis.”

813-GameOn.indd 10 7/10/13 8:52 AM

THESCOREWhen David Rudolph spun off PlayOn! Sports

from Turner Broadcasting in December 2008,

he realized that Turner couldn’t compete

in the mad dash for collegiate media rights

that ultimately caused last year’s chaotic

conference realignment. And neither could

PlayOn! Instead, he steered his online

network away from the collegiate space and

toward the live streaming of prep sports — producing, distributing

and monetizing content for 30 state high school associations.

Borrowing a page from the Big Ten Network’s playbook, PlayOn!

and the National Federation of State High School Associations

later this month will launch NFHS Network, with the 10-year goal

of covering every single prep sporting event in the country. Paul

Steinbach asked Rudolph how PlayOn! will help make it possible.

Q: Is there pent-up demand for live streaming of high school sports?

A: It’s certainly an underserved market. The challenge is that it’s fragmented across a couple million events a year versus signifi cantly fewer collegiate and pro events. At the same time, it’s new and in some cases viewed as a novelty. It’s not necessarily a part of people’s normal everyday expectations. But over the past four years, we’ve seen that start to shift. In the fi rst year, it was like, “Oh, that’s cool” and “I appreciate you doing it.” Now it’s, “Why did you only televise 75 of the 100 semifi nal games?” and “You mispronounced my child’s name.” There’s an expectation that not only will the game be produced and broadly distributed, but there will also be the kind of quality level that people are used to from a television-viewing experience. That’s the piece that has surprised me the most.

Q: How will you cover more than two million events annually?

A: There’s no question it’s an ambitious goal, but we think to be truly authentic in the high school space, we have to cover everything. To execute that, though, we certainly can’t follow a traditional sports media model. At the top of our pyramid are the postseason events controlled by the 51 state associations. The network is responsible for producing, distributing and monetizing those through subscription and advertising. At the bottom of the pyramid are the other 80 to 90 percent of the total events in any given year, and that network model won’t work for those. In those cases, we use our school broadcast program. Our software platform gives schools the tools to self-produce their regular-season events, plus post-season events that the network is not covering. There are some kids who can’t make the team, or don’t want to make the team, but do have an interest in participating in athletics through a different outlet. The broadcast is a way that they can do it.

Q: Do you see NFHS Network as a major revenue generator?

A: Funding for high school athletics is challenged, so that’s part of the goal. I also think that there are some pretty realistic expectations that this is not going to generate the type of revenue near term that the collegiate conferences are at this point. But we want to make media a signifi cant source of revenue for the associations and individual schools. Whether that helps eliminate pay-to-play situations or helps fund new programs, this is just a new way for high school athletics to continue to survive and thrive. Ω

79Percentage of self-described Washington Redskins fans who think the team should keep its nickname

53Percentage of those same pro-“Redskins” fans who nonetheless believe the nickname is inappropriate

828Number of NCAA hockey players — 422 men, 406 women — produced by the state of Minnesota this year, the most of any state (by 133 players) or Canadian province

781Number of consecutive University of Alabama football games, dating back to 1946, attended by Crimson Tide fan Dick Coffee, who died in June

33Length, in minutes, that the average Major League Baseball game has increased since 1963 — from 2 hours, 25 minutes to 2:58

13NBA coaching changes in 2012-13, a single-season record

70Combined seasons spent at their respective schools by Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim (37) and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (33), more than the sum total of the bottom 101 coaches on a 351-school Division I coaching tenure list

SOURCES:1-2. WASHINGTON POST3. MINNESOTA HOCKEY JOURNAL4. USA TODAY5. BOSTON GLOBE6. ATHLETIC BUSINESS RESEARCH7. D1SCOURCE.COM

ONEONONE PLAYON! SPORTS CEO DAVID RUDOLPHNFHS Network Draws Up Coverage Scheme


For more insight from David Rudolph, see the online version of this article at athleticbusiness.com/oneonone0813

813-GameOn.indd 11 7/10/13 8:52 AM

need for caution when determining how long an athlete needs to recover. According to Eisenberg, “There may be a subgroup of kids, particularly those who play contact sports who are at risk over the course of their adolescence — those are the ones we worry about.”

The study wasn’t perfect, Eisenberg admits, relying on self-reporting from participants to track when their symptoms dissipated. Results may therefore have been skewed by athletes eager to return to play or resume normal activity. Advancements in concussion tests, based on physical and neurological functions such as speech

patterns or balance, have made it harder for athletes to cover up symptoms, and Eisenberg hopes to use a more reliable test to track victims’ recoveries in future studies. Moreover, there’s the need for further follow-up of participants, long after the initial concussion symptoms have dissipated. Says Eisenberg, “The big question that still needs to be answered is, what are the long-term effects of these concussions?”

— Emily Attwood

Conference Connection

Yes, it’s still summer, but the 32nd annual Athletic Business Conference and

Expo will be here before we know it. Whether you’re a regular attendee or considering attending for the fi rst time, this year’s event is giving you even more reasons to join us in San Diego.

The ABC staff has been hard at work to ensure this is the best ABC yet. In the spring ABC landed Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Ken Dychtwald as the keynote speakers. Magic will bring inspiration and leadership advice not

only from his days running the show for the Los Angeles Lakers, but also from his current experience running his business ventures which are worth nearly $1 billion. Meanwhile, Dychtwald, the CEO of Age Wave, will teach you how all businesses can grow through respecting the buying power of today’s aging population.

Another addition is our new educational track, “Social Media and Technology.” All business owners and managers hear about the importance of social media, but this track will teach you how to effectively use it to advance your business interests.

This year’s show will also include ABC staples such as engaging workshops, facility tours, networking receptions, golf, and the fall’s most comprehensive trade show for athletic, fi tness and recreation

professionals.Finally, registration is now open.

Log on to our website, ABShow.com and register today. You’ll fi nd that our newly revamped site is cleaner and easier to navigate.

At ABC, you’ll meet the industry experts and manufacturers who have successful track records and road maps for a bright future. Join us in San Diego for three invigorating days that will make your organization – and your career – stronger than ever.

— Michael Gaio

Researchers from the University of Alberta pitted CFL

players’ concussion knowledge against university-level

players in a recent study, testing them before and after a

one-hour education session. After the session, all of the

participating CFL players identifi ed the importance of seeking

medical attention for a concussion compared to just 67

percent of college-level players. However, 44 percent of pro

players incorrectly believed that it was okay to return to play

in 24 to 48 hours if no symptoms were present, compared to

only 26 percent of college athletes. The two most important

takeaways both groups took from the education

session: Concussions can be caused by a hit to any

part of the body, not necessarily the head, and MRI

and CT imaging aren’t infallible when it comes to

detecting concussions.

A second study by researchers at Albert Einstein

College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and

Montefi ore Medical Center not only confi rmed

previous reports that frequent heading of soccer

balls can lead to brain injury, but that it also puts

athletes as a greater risk for memory and cognitive

problems. Soccer players head a ball 12 times on

average during a game, and as many as 30 times

during a practice session. “We studied soccer

players because soccer is the world’s most popular

sport,” medical director Michael L. Lipton explained.

“Soccer is widely played by people of all ages and

there is concern that heading the ball — a key

component of the sport — might damage the brain.”

Concussions continued from page 10

e it tos. ABC Quick Facts:

What: 32nd Annual Athletic Business Conference & ExpoWhen: November 21-23Where: San DiegoKeynotes: Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Ken DychtwaldFor more info: ABShow.com


GAMEON

813-GameOn.indd 12 7/10/13 8:53 AM

The largest LED video display in the Mountain West Conference debuts this fall at the University of New Mexico. Designed and installed by Brookings, S.D.-based Daktronics, the new display will measure 32 feet high by 80 feet wide, feature a 15HD-pixel layout and be used for live video and instant replays.

ALSO:The PHIT America campaign is growing, adding a new group of supporters known as Ambassadors. This group includes teachers, fi tness instructors, coaches, sales reps, athletic trainers, individual sports and fi tness retailers, parks and recreation administrators, and other individuals and groups interested in promoting the campaign’s mission by sharing PHIT America news alerts… Ann Arbor, Mich.-based NuStep Inc., an exercise equipment manufacturer offering equipment for multiple age and user groups, is again partnering with ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition television program. NuStep has provided a T5xr Recumbent Cross Trainer to each of the show’s 15 contestants to aid in their weight loss efforts… The National Swimming Pool Foundation is awarding an additional $75,000 in funding to a Purdue University research study to better understand and reduce formation of disinfection-byproduct formation in pools… The National Sporting Goods Association has released the results of its 2013 sports participation reports. The majority of sports saw increased participation during 2012, with indoor gaming activities increasing the most and snow sports seeing the greatest declines… The national trade association of the synthetic

turf industry, the Synthetic Turf Council, has unveiled a new logo and redesigned website. The new logo recognizes the organization’s 10 years of existence, while the new website

aims to be more user-friendly… Finally, the LA84 Foundation, established to manage Southern California’s share of the surplus from the successful 1984 Olympic Games, has awarded $1.5 million to 38 youth sports programs in recent months and is on track to award almost $4 million in 2013. Ω

EXTRAPOINTSBY EMILY ATTWOOD

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HIGH GREEN STRENGTH TURF ADHESIVES

SUPERIOR vs.IMAGINARY

SUPERIOR vs.IMAGINARY

Using a rubber glove or a rubber finger cover, place a drop of NORDOT® Adhesive on your thumb and forefinger; blow to accelerate solvent evaporation; and then press your fingers together. Note after doing so, that your fingers cannot be easily separated or made to easily slip back and forth. With other adhesives, you will probably note that your fingers can be easily separated or made to slip back and forth (negligible green strength), whereas it’s the opposite with a high green strength NORDOT® Adhesive. Solvent-free paste adhesives like other pastes (axle grease, toothpaste, caulks, etc.) are also low in green strength.

The above high green strength test will quickly show that NORDOT® Adhesives are “Major League” and the others are “Little League”.

Don’t believe us or them — Determine for yourself (See below)

The importance of high green strength turf adhesives is finally being acknowledged by adhesive companies because their literature now “brags” about their adhesives having high green strength (grab). However, in our opinion, their claims are a big stretch of their imagination, as compared to NORDOT® Adhesives. This is especially true if their adhesive does not contain any solvent* because “solvent-free” adhesives, do not have high green strength. They are oily and slippery until they cure.

*Solvent is a liquid that thins the otherwise inherently sticky adhesive, so that it can be applied. Without solvent, a high green strength adhesive couldn’t be applied. After spreading, the solvent then evaporates, leaving behind an adhesive that is temporarily tacky, sticky and with tenacious grab and gripping properties.

813-GameOn.indd 13 7/10/13 8:53 AM

LEGALACTIONBY JOHN T. WOLOHAN

Opening a new business is diffi cult and fi nancially risky. One way to reduce that risk is by purchasing

a franchise. When you buy into a franchise, you receive the benefi ts of brand recognition, training, support and a proven business model that helps the franchisee avoid some mistakes.

In exchange for such benefi ts, the franchisee must sign a franchise agreement in which he or she not only promises to pay a set fee but also typically enters into noncompetition provisions and other requirements.

Unfortunately, not every relationship between a franchise and franchisee ends well, and it is the job of the courts to interrupt the franchise agreement, as in the case of Curves International Inc. v. Virginia Chattley Fox [2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66235].

AGREEMENT BROKEN On Nov. 2, 2006, Virginia Chattley Fox entered into a franchise agreement with Curves International Inc., permitting her to operate a Curves fi tness center in Chelmsford, Mass., for a period of fi ve years. Each Curves franchise offers specialty fi tness and weight-loss services to women under a proprietary business model, the hallmark of which is a 30-minute fi tness program. Franchisees also receive a license to use Curves’ federally registered trademarks, including “Curves,” “Curves for Women” and “30 Minute Fitness & Weight Loss Center.”

In addition, the agreement specifi ed that the Curves trademarks belonged solely to Curves and that Fox’s license to use them was contingent upon her compliance with the contract terms. Upon expiration of the agreement, Fox was required to cease using

Curves’ trademarks and return all franchise materials to the company. The agreement also contained a non-compete provision prohibiting Fox from engaging in any similar business within 10 miles of her former facility or any other franchise location for a period of one year.

Neither Fox nor Curves opted to renew the franchise agreement, which expired on Nov. 2, 2011. Fox, however, never closed the club and continued to operate a Curves fi tness center at the same location as her formerly approved franchise facility.

On May 11, 2012, Curves sent Fox a cease-and-desist letter demanding that she stop using Curves’ trademarks and otherwise comply with the non-compete provision of the franchise agreement. Fox refused to do so.

As a result, Curves went to the U.S. District Court in

Massachusetts seeking an injunction against Fox, alleging breach of contract that included a breach of a non-competition provision, misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, unfair competition and trademark dilution.

CONSUMER CONFUSIONIn considering Curves’ injunction request, the court stated that to prevail on a claim for trademark infringement, Curves had to demonstrate that it was the owner of a distinct mark entitled to trademark

protection and that Fox’s use of a similar mark was likely to cause consumer confusion.

When ruling for Curves on its trademark infringement claim, the court found that Curves has a valid trademark and that Fox’s continued use of that trademark beyond the expiration of her license

Trademark Wars

Attorney John T. Wolohan ( [email protected]) is a professor of sports law in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University.

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The court found that Curves has a valid trademark and that Fox’s

continued use of that trademark beyond the expiration of her license

was confusing the marketplace.


GAMEON

813-GameOn.indd 14 7/10/13 8:53 AM

was, without doubt, confusing the marketplace. In fact, the court held that once a franchise is terminated, the franchisor has the right to enjoin unauthorized use of its trademark under the Lanham Act — which prohibits trademark infringement, trademark dilution and false advertising.

In light of the uncontested facts, it was extremely likely that Curves’ trademark infringement claim would succeed on its merits.

Because Curves also demonstrated that it was likely to succeed in

establishing trademark infringement, it was presumed that Fox’s operation of a rogue Curves fi tness facility would cause irreparable harm to Curves unless injunctive relief was granted. In addition, the court found that Fox’s use of the Curves trademark caused Curves to suffer harm to its goodwill and reputation, and that it was unable to protect its other franchisees from the actions of Fox as she portrayed herself as a

legitimate Curves franchisee.In considering Curves’ breach-of-

contract claims, including breach of the non-compete provision of the franchise agreement, the court cited Boulanger v. Dunkin’ Donuts Inc. [815 N.E.2d 572 (2004)] and found that in Massachusetts, a covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is necessary to protect a legitimate business interest, reasonably limited in time and space, and consonant with the public interest.

The court found that the one-year restraint on Fox’s operation of

a fi tness facility within 10 miles of a Curves location was geographically and temporally reasonable. Indeed, Fox acknowledged as much in that agreement. Therefore, since the non-compete agreement was necessary to protect Curves’ business of selling fi tness franchises, it was enforceable.

Finally, the court found that any hardship Fox would suffer if the court were to award a preliminary injunction in favor of Curves would be

due to her own breach of the franchise agreement. An injunction, the court held, merely forced Fox to comply with her contractual obligations: refraining from using the Curves marks, returning Curves’ confi dential business information, and either operating a new gym 10 miles away from her former franchisor’s locations or waiting one year to resume business at her current location.

TWO KEY POINTSIn conclusion, the court ordered Fox to immediately cease operation of a fi tness center using and/or displaying Curves’ federally registered marks; return to Curves, at her own expense, all printed material furnished by Curves to Fox, including all Curves business manuals and advertising material; and immediately cease ownership, or any interest in any business that sells products or services similar to those sold as part of the Curves franchise system within 10 miles of Fox’s formerly authorized Curves franchise location for a period of one year following the date on which the order was entered.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns illustrates two key points for owners of health clubs and fi tness centers.

First, the franchise agreement is a binding legal document that protects both parties. If the agreement is terminated, the franchisee loses all benefi ts granted to it under the agreement.

Second, as the court noted, non-competition provisions are enforceable. Therefore, if the franchisee wishes to stay in the same industry, he or she must either keep renewing the franchise agreement or abide by all the terms of the non-compete provision. Ω

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813-GameOn.indd 15 7/10/13 8:53 AM

FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR THE XTERIORThe second generation of X-Fitness outdoor commercial fi tness equipment from Xccent Fitness features 18 new models. Unique items such as the Tai Chi Wheels are designed to promote meditation and relaxation, while optional hand bikes are available on select pieces of equipment for greater accessibility. Combination stations offer up to four different ways to exercise in one piece of equipment, saving the customer both space and money. The entire X-Fitness line is guaranteed to hold up in almost any environment, both indoors and outdoors. www.xccentfi tness.com (800) 933-4748

KEEP PACEThe new 8 Series Cardio line by Nautilus includes a treadmill, an elliptical, and recumbent and upright bikes. The 8 Series Cardio entertainment touchscreen consoles feature TV/D-TV and iPhone/iPad/iPod connectivity with integrated audio in/out jacks. A bright 10.2-inch touchscreen enables easy scrolling and selection through workout menus and music/TV/movie options without the user having to break stride or pace. The 8 Series elliptical and recumbent and upright bikes all offer self-powered systems on the dot-matrix console models, allowing for cordless movement and ease of maintenance.www.nautiluscommercial.com(800) 874-8941

THE AQUATIC EXERCISE ADVANTAGEAqua Creek Products LLC now offers a new line of affordable, high-quality aquatic exercise equipment to help users achieve a high-performance workout and burn signifi cant calories with minimum joint impact. Unlike land-based activities, the continued resistance of water reduces the session time to just minutes. Made from durable, corrosion-resistant type-316L stainless steel, the equipment line includes an elliptical, a treadmill and aquatic bikes ideal for use in fi tness, recreation and rehabilitation centers. Features include ergonomic and adjustable designs, progressive resistance and non-slip pedals suitable for barefoot use.www.aquacreek.com(888) 687-3552

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EXTENDED PLAYSZipBoard® is the world’s fi rst portable retractable whiteboard that coaches can use to diagram plays and practice drills. Once extended, ZipBoard becomes a rigid writing surface that is waterproof and puncture-proof. It also comes equipped with an erasable marker that is stored within the unit. ZipBoard is available in nine different sport-specifi c styles (football, basketball, soccer, men’s and woman’s lacrosse, hockey, baseball, volleyball and fi eld hockey).www.thezipboard.com(855) 947-2627

TRANSFORMATIONAL TERFEverlast and ECORE Commercial Flooring have introduced Terf, a revolutionary premium turf product designed to transform regular spaces into high-performing sports and fi tness venues. Suitable applications include heavy indoor sports training, including use with football sleds; speed schools that promote speed, power, strength, fl exibility and endurance training; competitive soccer, lacrosse and fi eld hockey fi elds; and multipurpose and portable fi eld installations. Available in rolls or tiles, Terf can transform a basketball court, cafeteria or auditorium without the use of adhesive or the risk of fl oor damage. ECORE’s itstru technology allows a nylon wear layer to be fused to a backing that contains post-consumer recycled rubber, resulting in fl ooring that is quiet, ecological and ergonomic.www.ecorecommercialfl ooring.com/everlast/terf.php(877) 258-0843

INTUITIVE WALL INSTALLATIONGecko PRO™ is a revolutionary perimeter rail system that offers the appearance and functionality of traditional progressive wall systems. Designed for more intuitive installation, Gecko PRO reduces labor costs by more than 40 percent. The fully sized, solid phenolic panels are shipped pre-milled by Spec-Rite Designs. They require no Z-clips, installation machinery or specialized skills. Reveals are adjustable, and the panels are ready to be quickly installed by dropping into place. Gecko PRO™ is the only progressive wall system in the industry to offer panel ventilation, realistic movement allowance and separate expansion and contraction of each panel without stress accumulation from panel to panel.www.specritedesigns.com(877) 249-6864

HAVE A BALL AND BE WELLRecent international health studies show that the biggest improvement people can make to their health is less about dedicating time to physical activity and more about reducing the time they spend staying still. When used in place of a standard home or

offi ce chair, Wellness Ball™ by Technogym addresses this issue by maintaining correct posture, improving muscular fl exibility and toning abdominal and leg muscles. It can also be used in a complete exercise program. Made in Italy using top-quality PVC, the ball features a lower half that is denser than the upper half, which serves as the comfortable sitting surface. The ball is covered with a dual lining — a layer of supporting material beneath breathable honeycomb, similar to a running shoe. A handle allows for easy portability.www.technogym.com(800) 804-0952


813-GO_N_I.indd 17 7/10/13 7:02 AM

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Equipment & Components

Prairie Athletic Club calls itself the largest health club in Wisconsin, and few casual observers would question that

claim. After all, how many clubs in these northern climes can boast their own outdoor water park?

Even Dolphins Cove, as the park located adjacent to the Sun Prairie club is called, is expanding. On July 1, Adventure Lagoon opened with a new 3,474-square-foot pool, including 550 square feet of pool surface and a 12-foot-deep landing

Climbing walls give aquatic facilities a poolside boost. BY PAUL STEINBACH

Paul Steinbach ([email protected], @SteinbachPaul) is senior editor of Athletic Business.

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zone serving a 16-foot-tall climbing wall. Situated between drop slides and basketball hoops, and opposite zip lines plunging into an area that alternatively serves lap swimmers, the tower of clear panels with evenly spaced handholds reaching 13 feet above the water surface embodies Prairie Athletic Club’s atypical nexus of physical fi tness and aquatic recreation.

“Our goal was to add amenities for the older child,” says club co-owner and president Jenny Simon, referring to the custom-painted blue AquaClimb Sport model mounted to the pool wall. “The idea was to have teenagers use it during the day, and then our personal trainers would use it as part of their aqua boot camp programs at night or in the mornings. Our trainers have wanted a climbing wall for a long time.”

Simon admits she was unaware

that climbing had crossed over into the aquatics market when her pool contractor — Neuman Pools Inc., in nearby Beaver Dam — approached her about the amenity’s availability two years ago. The activity, in which climbers scale the wall to a comfortable height and fall into deep water feet fi rst, had actually been gaining a recreational aquatics foothold for years prior to that as the brainchild of AquaClimb founder Russell Moy, a veteran of the dry-land climbing wall industry.

Moy’s research found that there were 295,000 commercial pools in North America, and that every year roughly 4,000 of them are renovated. Recreation industry surveys indicated that swimming remained a popular activity, and climbing was on the rise. Marrying the two seemed to make perfect sense. “Diving boards and

slides have been around since the 1920s, and we’ve had nothing new on the side of the pool since then,” Moy recalls thinking in 2003, when he began to pitch his vision to aquatics industry professionals — a revelation he called “crazy.”

A DIFFERENT WALLAquaClimb, the lone player in the marketplace until PlayCore launched Kersplash two years ago, has been constantly tweaking its product since the brand debuted in 2005. Rethinking the traditional handhold, for example, took some trial and error. “People swimming have very soft feet and hands from the water, so putting an abrasive texture, like that of a normal climbing hold, is absolutely the wrong thing to do,” Moy says. “We learned that, and now we have an orange peel texture on everything. We’ve really tried to perfect this, where it displaces the


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Though users can ascend to

heights approaching 20 feet

above the water surface,

aquatic climbing walls are seen as

much safer alternatives to diving

boards — and three-meter boards, in

particular — for a number of reasons.

Unlike a diving board or slide,

which are accessed from the pool

deck and may entail scaling stairs

and platforms with inadequate railings

(catastrophic falls onto pool decks

are all too uncommon), an aquatic

climbing wall is only accessible from

the water. “Because you have to

swim to a climbing wall to climb it,

you are already a known swimmer,”

says AquaClimb president and CEO

Russell Moy. (Prairie Athletic Club

in Sun Prairie, Wis., mandates that

users of its wall be at least 52 inches

tall and strong swimmers, as they

will plunge into water 12 feet deep,

according to club president Jenny

Simon. Only one climber is allowed

on the wall at a time.)

Walls protrude several inches from

the pool deck, rise at an angle over

the water surface, and typically feature

two feet or more of smooth panels at

the very top as a deterrent to climbing

over the edge. In other words, risk of

contact with the pool deck is all but

eliminated.

“The only danger with the wall

is if another kid gets underneath

the person who is climbing and the

person on the climbing wall falls on

top of that other person,” aquatics

safety expert Tom Griffi ths says. “But

it just shouldn’t happen.”

That’s because a lifeguard should

be dedicated to monitoring the wall,

its drop zone, and nothing else. A

typical drop zone measures 10 feet

out from the wall (about the width

of two lap lanes) and fi ve feet from

either edge of the wall — a much

more controllable space than that of a

spring board. “With diving boards you

can go way out, you can go right, you

can go left, you can go close to the

board, you can go all over the place.

You don’t know where you’re going to

go,” Griffi ths says. “But when you let

go of the climbing wall, you’re going

straight down.”

“And when

you fall into the

water feet fi rst,

there isn’t the

disorientation

like after

dropping from

a slide, when

your body fl ips

upside down,”

adds Moy.

“From that

perspective,

it’s an easier

lifeguarding

operation.”

And more

interesting.

Says Griffi ths,

“Guarding a

wall is relatively

fun, because

you don’t know

what path the

kid is going to

take. You kind

of fi xate on this

kid to see where

Spiderman or

Spiderwoman

is going to go

before falling in.”

Could a wall

catering to

teens, like the

one at Prairie Athletic Club, inevitably

invite users to take an otherwise safe

activity to the extreme — perhaps

challenging each other to see how

far they can launch themselves

from the top, or whether they can

complete a back fl ip? “I know people

dive. I’ve seen them dive,” Moy says.

“We say no diving, but people also

go head-fi rst down a slide, and

they’re not supposed to do that.”

The lack of spring in a climbing

wall, coupled with its relatively

precarious footing, precludes most

major hijinks, according to Griffi ths.

“You have to understand that it’s not

like they’re standing on a deck,” he

says. “They really don’t have a great

platform to do anything too crazy.”

— P.S.

A Safer Aquatics Alternative

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water and there is no abrasion.”Kersplash holds differ from the

dry variety, too, according to Tracy Whitney, director of marketing at Everlast Climbing (a PlayCore company), in that they’re formulated to withstand UV and chlorine exposure. They’re also wider and comfortably concave. “The biggest difference is actually in foot-friendliness,” Whitney says. “When you climb on a land-based climbing wall, you have shoes on. When you climb on the pool wall, you’re in bare feet. Therefore, it’s really important that the handholds be comfortable enough to climb on, while still being easy enough to grab. So we reshaped — and reshaped again — our holds.”

But aquatic climbers aren’t limited to handholds. AquaClimb offers vacuum-molded, three-dimensional panels that climbers can scale without using handholds at all, and the square panels can

be periodically rotated to change a wall’s characteristics and keep the climbing experience fresh. (A ledge becomes a vertical face on a panel rotated 90 degrees, for example.) Moreover, the company recently introduced AquaClimb Crystal Ice, a clear version of its 3-D panel, in direct response to the Kersplash innovation of clear panels. Not only do clear panels look cool in the aquatic setting, they make a wall easier to monitor. “It’s safer, because anyone at the facility can look to see if someone is on the climbing wall at any one time,” says Aquatic Safety Research Group president Tom Griffi ths, who has consulted with both companies.

GREATER POOL USEState health inspectors have been slow to embrace the aquatic climbing wall concept, and that’s a shame, according to Griffi ths. “A lot of pools need help, particularly

standard boring rectangular pools, and a climbing wall can be mounted anywhere to get more people into the pool,” he says. “Health departments need to be a little bit more fl exible when someone wants to put in a climbing wall instead of wringing their hands, and saying, ‘Well, I don’t know about that.’ ”

Soon, few health departments will be able to plead ignorance on the subject. Moy reports that AquaClimb sales in the fi rst four months of this year are 20 times what they were in all of 2005. “America really leads, in my opinion, in creating sport and recreation to make a swimming pool profi table,” he says. “In France, the swimming pool is for swimming. You don’t do anything else.”

“We’ve found that we’re replacing many old and non-compliant three-meter diving boards,” Whitney says. “It’s a great space because the diving well is already in existence

EquipReach Higher



and it provides a fun new feature that gets used.”

Moy points out that, unlike land-based climbing walls, aquatic walls don’t require padded surfacing or belay systems, and as a result give the user a much more rewarding experience. “It’s a controlled perceived-risk activity, and I love that thought,” he says. “Let’s say little kids only go up two meters and they fall in; then they go up two and a half meters and fall in. Eventually they will reach the top. I think that’s a great life experience for them. And the difference between land and aquatic climbing is that when you get to the top of an aquatic climbing wall, you are rewarded with a fall. That’s the reward for the achievement.” Ω

For more on climbing walls, see the online version of this article at athleticbusiness.com/aquaticwalls0813

WHAT’S IT LIKE

Up There?

Aquatic climbing walls are a new

enough concept that a majority of

Americans have never seen one,

much less climbed one. So what’s it like

up there? AquaClimb president and CEO

Russell Moy:

“The reality is if you’re climbing 20 feet

off the pool water level, that looks like 500

feet, and you still have to drop in. And I

must admit, it takes your breath away every

time you do it, because it’s like being on

top of a fi ve-meter diving board. There’s no

way down apart from jumping or climbing

down, and by then you’ve probably lost the

core body strength that you needed to get

up there.”

— P.S.

andd itit pproroviddes a fun new featureththatat ggetets ususeed.”

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For more on climbing walls,see the online version of this article at athleticbusiness.com/aquaticwalls0813

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Arena renovation is a hot market. And with college athletic departments looking for ways to extend the life of their venues, those renovations are usually extensive and involve adding high-quality

amenities, premium seating, open concourses and even a new seating bowl.

Seating remains the most important component of a venue — whether an Olympic stadium that holds 80,000 or a 1,200-seat Division III college arena — but it also remains the most overlooked. The impact of premium seating, the science of seating and how seating is P

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Jim Swords is a principal at Populous, a global sport and convention center architecture fi rm based in Kansas City, Mo.

Why overlooking the most important component of a sports venue renovation

could cost facility operators dearly.

BY JIM SWORDS

ARRANGEMENTS


813-F-Seating.indd 26 7/10/13 8:03 AM

confi gured have evolved signifi cantly over the past 50 years, refl ecting changes in the expectations and demands of today’s sports fans, as well as how they socialize.

A HISTORY LESSONTo understand today’s seating trends, particularly in small to midsize arenas, it helps to fi rst step back into the 20th century. For most arenas constructed during that era, premium seating was neither valued nor considered in the development of facilities. Standard seating frequently featured minimal arm rests, narrower seats and little space

between rows. Just fi ve years ago, the average seat width was 19 inches, and a 33-inch tread was typical.

Now, infl uenced by a variety of factors that include the increasing size of the average American and the demand for more comfort, the average seat size has expanded to 20 inches wide with a 34-inch tread. Arenas compete with the in-home experience, made even more desirable by the proliferation of high-defi nition televisions. Add in rising ticket prices, and it’s no wonder that the days of cramming as many seats as possible into a venue have come and gone.

Today’s spectators want comfort. They want access. Most of all, they want space. Despite only the slight increase in width and tread over the decades, that change still provides a noticeable difference.

SOME EXCEPTIONSAs with most things, there are exceptions to the standard. When considering collegiate arenas’ student sections, the motto seems to be the tighter the seating, the better the atmosphere. Because student tickets often are sold at steeply discounted prices — and because an important part of the venue design is creating an intimidating home court atmosphere — benches, not individual seats, tend to comprise these sections. Students are essential to that environment, and some collegiate venues such as St. Louis University’s Chaifetz Arena, Mizzou Arena and Minnesota’s Williams Arena pack student fans shoulder to shoulder in bench seating sections.

Seating ArrangementsPlanning & Design

FIVE YEARS AGO: 19-inch seat width

with 33-inch treads

NOW: 20-inch seat width with 34-inch treads

PREMIUM SEATS: 25-inch seat width

with 4-foot treads


813-F-Seating.indd 27 7/10/13 8:04 AM

Seating ArrangementsPl

anni

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Des

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The other exception to standard seating measurements occurs in premium seating. Premium seating options vary by venue and target markets, including clubs, suites and loge boxes. Club seats typically are 23 inches wide with a 34-inch tread, while suite seating rivals in-home recliners, with 25-inch seat widths and four-foot treads.

Adding to their appeal, these premium spaces are no longer always located above the seating bowl. Instead, universities are exploring possibilities that bring premium

seating closer to the action, which further drives revenue generation and increases the value of an individual ticket while also requiring some creative reconfi guring.

WHAT’S BEST? Facility owners should have a total seat count in mind well before design work begins on new construction or a renovation. This should not be an arbitrary number picked out of thin air, which actually does happen. Ideally, seating

Cutline

UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, built in 1965, underwent dramatic renovations and additions before reopening with a revamped seating bowl that featured tilt-up seats, room for 1,000 additional fans and better views of the court.

Uuuaresb

Troy University in Alabama completed a thorough market

research study to discover that its old Sartain Hall needed fewer suites, more general admission seating and higher-quality amenities. The new Trojan Arena now seats 5,000.

Troy University in Alabama

The University of South Florida’s Sun Dome was

in dire need of changes, particularly to the seating

bowl. The existing facility was without an interior concourse, which kept the arena from competitively generating revenues to keep up with its peers in the conference formerly known as the Big East. Replacing retractable bleachers throughout the arena with permanent seating for 10,000 left enough space to add two club levels, sideline seating and loge boxes, as well as the fi rst of its kind student club [see “A New Kind of Student Section,” p. 30]. The Sun Dome also now has a full, open concourse with high-quality amenities to allow for additional revenue-generation opportunities.

2

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BEFORE

AFTER 1EXAMPLESGeorgia Tech and the University of South Florida each wiped out their seating bowls entirely to pave the way for a seating makeup uniquely tailored to their fans. UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion also redesigned its bowl, and Troy University built a new arena to accomplish its seating goals. All four facilities opened during the second half of 2012.

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Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, which opened in 1956 as Alexander Memorial Coliseum, signifi cantly increased fan amenities by rebuilding the bowl and rotating it to allow for better sightlines and an expanded premium seating inventory. The resulting facility now touts a 360-degree open concourse, a reinvented seating bowl of 8,900 and a club section that accommodates 500 patrons.

S


813-F-Seating.indd 28 7/10/13 8:04 AM

Planning & DesignSeating Arrangements

Today’s spectators want comfort. They want access. Most of all,

they want space. capacity numbers should be thoroughly researched and derived from a market feasibility study conducted by the university or athletic department and carefully tailored to the primary team tenant and its audience. A market feasibility study involves interviews with promoters, fans and donors, a breakdown of demographics of the current and projected fan base, and an examination of the conference or league.

Why do these factors determine the number of seats needed? Simple: If the client fully understands who its audience is, what it can afford to buy and what its competitors have, that facility’s seating setup can be tailored accordingly and position the venue to generate additional revenue for years to come.

Once a thorough study has been conducted, facility operators will better understand the arena’s needs and can make future decisions accordingly. It’s important to note the seating bowl and premium seating makeup have the biggest impact

S


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Seating ArrangementsPl

anni

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Des

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on a venue’s cost, because they dictate concessions and restroom needs, as well as the size of the concourse, sound system, lighting and scoreboard. Therefore, a decision about the seating and the mix of premium options must be made early on.

Architects build for the average crowd at an average game, not the Big Ten Conference men’s basketball championship. However, there are options to consider in order to accommodate larger events. With the advent of fl exible seating, teams willing to invest can reconfi gure the seating bowl for multipurpose programming and host basketball, hockey, concerts and other community events. This fl exible seating model does not impact the actual size of the seats, but rather the way they are confi gured (or reconfi gured).

WHAT’S NEXT?No single one-size-fi ts-all formula or mathematical equation will allow you to easily determine the seating needs of an arena; it’s something that requires extensive research and an intuitive sense of the current and projected fan base, as well as the desire to think creatively about the type of seating provided. Moving forward, loge boxes, social gathering spaces, and larger, more comfortable and more fl exible seating areas will become increasingly common.

Arenas — and all sports facilities, for that matter — will continue to face challenges as they compete with the in-home experience. The way universities respond to these challenges and increased customer needs will be critical to them remaining viable and relevant. Ω

STUDENT SECTION

The student section at the University of

South Florida runs along the west baseline

of the Sun Dome, which reopened in 2012

after a major $36 million renovation. But what

sets it apart from any other in college basketball

is the 2,000-square-foot Student Club — an

exclusive area located off the playing fl oor and

beneath the seating bowl.

Intended to reward students for their support of

the team, as well as keep them coming back game

after game, the carpeted area boasts couches,

televisions, refreshments, a drink rail and music.

Athletic director Doug Woolard came up with the

idea, and Kansas City-based architectural fi rm

Populous incorporated it into the redesign of the

10,000-seat arena. The space is operated by the

USF Student Council, which determines how it

should be used to maximize revenue and rents itshould be used to maximize revenue and rents it

out to other organizations such as alumni groups

and the campus’s Greek community.

Populous designers say USF’s Student Club is

the only premium amenity space in the country

specifi cally designed for students. But it likely

won’t be the last.

— Michael Popke

The seating bowl and premium seating makeup have the biggest impact on a venue’s cost, because

they dictate concessions and restroom needs.

A New Kind of

S


813-F-Seating.indd 30 7/10/13 8:04 AM

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AB08_ABCspR813.indd 1 7/5/13 8:56 AM

The locker rooms are an integral part of a fi tness facility, serving nearly every user who enters the building.

“The locker room is the piece that people have a personal response to — and hate or love in about two seconds,” says Alan Harmon, a principal with San Antonio-based Brinkley Sargent Architects.

Keeping the locker rooms maintained and updated is essential, but closing them down for any signifi cant renovation is impossible,

leaving operators in the tough situation of fi nding a way to renovate a core aspect of a facility without impacting users.

“New construction is always easier because your members aren’t in your way,” says Bob Conley, vice president of operations at the Madison YMCA in New Jersey, which is renovating its locker rooms this summer. “You build something new and then invite them in when it’s all done. With a renovation, it’s just business as usual and you’ve got to make it all work.”

Though the actual construction only recently began, the YMCA has been working on the logistics of the project for months, putting as much emphasis on planning temporary accommodations for its members as the actual fi nished product.

“Phasing becomes a big part of this type of project, almost bigger than the renovation itself,” says Harmon. “You don’t want to get members so aggravated that they give up and P

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users throughout a renovation requires careful planning. By Emily Attwood

Emily Attwood ([email protected], @EmAttwood) is associate editor of Athletic Business.

Purchasing Guide


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Changing StrategiesPu

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fi nd someplace else to go. You want to make them excited about what’s coming up next.”

FRIENDLY PHASESSimply shutting down and renovating all locker rooms at once is an option, but not a very attractive one. The better option is to break the project down into parts, working on just one piece at a time and leaving at least one locker room open to users throughout the process. That’s the approach being used at the McConnell Air Force Base fi tness center in Wichita, Kan., where renovations began earlier this summer. “We’re moving the men to the women’s locker room and the women to what was the old VIP locker room,” says fi tness center director Bill Hageman. “We have 300 lockers in the men’s room, only 150

in the women’s and down to 50 in the VIP locker room.”

It’s a tight squeeze for locker rooms that are already too small to meet demand, but perhaps one of the upsides of locker room renovations is that members were most likely unhappy with the existing facilities to begin with. Users at the McConnell fi tness center were more than willing to shift into smaller spaces in exchange for the promise of no more 20-year-old, rusted-out and broken lockers or gang showers. What each group is temporarily sacrifi cing in space, they’re recouping in quality, says Hageman. “The VIP locker room is much nicer than the women’s locker room, and the women’s locker room is much nicer than the men’s. It was pretty obvious when we started switching things around that the

women took a lot better care of their locker room than the men did of theirs.”

The Madison YMCA is also taking a musical-chairs approach to its renovation, shutting down two of four locker rooms dedicated to men, women, boys and girls. “Men and boys will be combined, women and girls will be combined,” says Conley. “To accommodate multiple ages, we’re doing temporary work to create segregated areas as needed.”

Not every facility is fortunate enough to have more than two locker rooms. In such instances, more creative planning is required. “One YMCA had a 15-foot-wide corridor that we cut down to a 5-foot path walled off with plywood,” Harmon says. “The rest of it we made into a temporary locker room. We took all

Gender ConfusionNew lockers and updated fi nishes are a standard in

most locker room renovation projects. They will be

included in the work done in the locker rooms at

the McConnell Air Force Base fi tness center, in addition to

one unusual, but much needed, change: the fl oor colors.

“Men’s will be blue, women’s will be red,” says fi tness

center director Bill Hageman. The reason for

the difference? “It’s so that if you’ve got

your head down looking at your phone, not

paying attention, you’ll see the fl ooring

difference,” he explains. “We have a lot of

accidental walk-ins on both sides.”

It happens more often than one might

expect, says Hageman — at least once

a month, the result of users paying

more attention to their mp3 players than

their environment. “We’ve had two guys

come to us thinking they’ve gotten their

clothes stolen, ready to fi le a police report,”

he laughs. “We found their stuff in the women’s

locker room. They must have come at a slow time

when there weren’t any women in there, went all the way

in, changed, locked their stuff up, went to work out, never

realized they were in the wrong locker room.”

The doors, too, will be given an update, with three-foot-

tall logos indicating which room is which. “It’s going to

be very apparent,” Hageman says. “We have small signs

now, but even if you plaster them everywhere, people still

seem to walk by.” — E.A.

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Purchasing Guide Changing Strategies

the lockers out of the locker room and put them out in the transition space.”

While not the prettiest solution, it provided the changing and storage space members needed. In another instance, says Harmon, a facility rented a trailer for use as a makeshift locker room. Family locker rooms can also be outfi tted with extra storage to temporarily accommodate extra users. “You might provide cubbies inside of the aerobics or exercise areas, too,” adds Harmon. “If some members know that the locker room situation is not ideal, they’ll come in changed and ready to go but have keys or a wallet. A cubby system works out for them, and typically ends up staying after the project is complete.”

OPEN UPOnce a plan is in place to accommodate members during the construction process, the next step is to make sure that members know about that plan.

“The Westside YMCA in San Antonio had about 800 members when we started its renovation, and half a year later, they had 3,000 members,” says Harmon. “They did a tremendous job of getting new membership with their ‘new facility.’ It was well developed, well marketed.”

Months before the actual construction started, the Madison YMCA was getting word out via any means available to ensure that members were a part of the planning process. “We put up signs with surveys for people to fi ll out, we had staff hang out outside the lockers for a week or so grabbing members and asking for feedback,” says Conley. “We did a series of town-hall meetings to share how the phasing would go and to get suggestions.”

Staff members should be available throughout the facility during construction to answer questions, says Hageman. “We’ve been putting

ourselves out there as much as we can, talking to customers, making sure they’re going in the right direction.”

The communication strategy is in part about making sure members know where to go throughout the renovations, but it’s also about building excitement in the fi nal outcome. “Every time I was there, it seemed that someone would come up and ask a staff member about the renovation,” Harmon recalls of his experiences at one YMCA renovation project. “The staff member wouldn’t hesitate to walk the person through the facility and show everything that was going on. They were just getting themselves out there and getting the users excited about the space. It was nice on the Y’s end too; it told the community that used the spaces that the organization was listening to them and putting in the things that people wanted.” Ω


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2XL CORP. 2XL Corp. is a recognized leader in innovative products that clean and sanitize all surfaces related to fi tness, rehabilitation and recreational equipment and their associated environments. Stage 2 hand-sanitizing gel and CareWipes hand wipes kill 99.99 percent of germs on hands within 15 seconds without soap and water, and with no alcohol or harsh and toxic chemicals. Both products are ideal for locker rooms, schools, hospitals, municipal buildings and other areas where sanitizing is needed. www.gymwipes.com(888) 977-3726

A-1 TEXTILES & HOSPITALITY PRODUCTSA-1 Textiles offers the complete line of Golden Mills towels. Golden Mills towels come in a range of sizes and six levels of quality to meet any budget requirements, including an economical Standard Terry option, Golden Camelot for softer yarn, and Golden Jewel for thick and absorbent loops. Options include Standard Terry (economical), Golden Camelot (softer) and Golden Jewel (thick and absorbent). A-1 Textiles’ six national distribution points provide quick delivery and lower freight, translating into cost savings.www.a1athletictowels.com(800) 351-1819

ATHLETIC EDGE BY PIVOTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONSThe Athletic Edge line of lockers includes designs and product confi gurations made from wood, laminate and steel. Combining standard product offerings with innovative custom design services, Team Edge offers lockers to meet any size or budget.www.teamedgeathletics.com(800) 743-7738

BRADLEY CORP. Bradley’s Lenox® XL-Lockers come equipped with up to 30 percent more space than conventional lockers, helping customers avoid special orders and long lead times. Manufactured with durable recycled plastic in a patented one-piece welded box, XL-Lockers are available in four locker styles and in 21- or 24-inch depths.www.bradleycorp.com(800) 272-3539

CELARE BY DIGILOCKCelare lockers combine modern design and heightened security for an unparalleled user experience. Lockers feature glazed-enamel steel or tempered-glass doors with soft-close hinges on oversized, ventilated locker bodies. Available in one-, two-, three- and six-tier options to accommodate the storage needs of any environment, Celare lockers are secured by Digilock. www.celare.com(800) 989-0201

DEBOURGH MANUFACTURING CO.DeBourgh Manufacturing’s Centennial Locker is an all-welded steel unit with interchangeable doors of metal, solid wood, plastic laminate, HDPE plastic or clear polycarbonate. The interchangeable door option combines the durability and quality of a welded locker with a sleek and upscale appearance. One-, two- and six-tier confi gurations are available. www.debourgh.com(800) 328-8829



Locker Rooms & Laundry Purchasing Guide

DRI-DEK Dri-Dek’s anti-skid, self-draining surface helps keep potentially wet fl oors dry. Made from oxy-B1 vinyl, which fi ghts the spread of infectious fungus and bacteria in barefoot-traffi c areas, Dri-Dek is ideal for showers, locker rooms, pool areas and saunas. Available in 12 designer colors, Dri-Dek comes in 12-inch-square interlocking tiles, 3-by-4-foot interlocking sheets or 3-by-12-foot interlocking rolls.www.dri-dek.com(800) 847-9341

ENHANCE CARPET & MATTING SYSTEMS INC.Designed specifi cally for the locker room, Enhancemat’s new line of carpet and matting is built with EPA-registered antimicrobial protection, reducing and helping prevent the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and destructive odor-causing bacteria. Carpeting can be inlaid with virtually any logo in any size, making the locker room a point of pride for any university.www.enhancemats.com(877) 318-8625

ERC WIPING PRODUCTS INC.In addition to its national line of equipment- and surface-disinfecting gym wipes, ERC also specializes in towels for gyms, fi tness centers and military facilities. From cost-effective hand towels to bath towels for the locker room, ERC has all products in stock and ready to ship.www.ercwipe.com(800) 225-9473

EVERLAST SPORTS SURFACINGEverlast UltraTile™ from ECORE is ideally suited for athletic and fi tness applications. Tiles are available in 18 standard patterns, and a patented “ultra” wear layer provides unlimited design options. Tiles feature a pedestal underside that allows equipment wiring to be routed beneath, helping prevent clutter. www.everlastsportssurfacing.com(888) 383-7655

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EXTRACTOR CORP.Water brought into locker rooms by wet swimsuits can rust metal lockers, delaminate wood fi nishes, and ruin carpets and furniture with mold and mildew. Extractor Corp.’s Suitmate uses an exclusive high-speed spin process to pull out water and make a wet suit drip-free in seconds, without heat.www.suitmate.com(800) 553-3353

FINLANDIA HARVIA SAUNA PRODUCTS Finlandia has been manufacturing saunas for nearly 50 years, using high-quality materials such as 1-by-4-inch paneling and 2-inch-square bench tops in a choice of clear softwoods. Featuring high-quality heaters incorporating Finland’s latest technology, a variety of precut and prefabricated American-made sauna rooms are available, and Finlandia can also customize sauna designs.www.fi nlandiasauna.com(800) 354-3342

FJM SECURITY PRODUCTSThe Combi-Cam Ultra by FJM Security Products is the fi rst combination locker lock with master-key override and code-retrievable capabilities. Ideal for both wood and metal locker applications, locks are available in black and chrome fi nishes and either 3-dial or 4-dial versions. The easy-to-use knob offers distinct, user-friendly open and close indicators. www.fjmsecurity.com(800) 654-1786

FLEXCOWith its patented vulcanization process using predominantly recycled rubber, Tufl ex® Force™ recycled rubber fl ooring tiles have been keeping sports and commercial facilities in peak condition since 1957. The resilient anti-fatigue surface meets OSHA and ADA standards for superior traction and durability and is NSF/ANSI 332 Certifi ed Silver and FloorScore® certifi ed.www.fl excofl oors.com(800) 862-7539

FOREMAN LOCKER SYSTEMSForeman® Locker Systems’s phenolic lockers have a reputation for hard-wearing reliability and moisture-proof characteristics. The lockers’ unique, function-forward construction and contemporary design redefi ne the standard for lockers, making them a smart choice for facilities seeking superior durability, security and design. With more than 600 installations worldwide, Foreman Locker Systems have a proven track record of performance in the fi eld. www.foremanlockers.com(951) 677-1955

IDEAL PRODUCTS INC.The University of California at Irvine women’s soccer team uses Ideal’s custom-made Epicenter 2000 Series athletic lockers, featuring a natural wood veneer fi nish. This photo shows a birch veneer with a clear satin fi nish, a security vault, a lower seat and lockable storage.www.idealockers.com(800) 844-3325



Purchasing Guide Locker Rooms & Laundry

LAUNDRY LOOPS INC. Laundry Loops® allow garments to stay sorted while they wash and dry. An alternative to mesh bags, Laundry Loops make garments cleaner and reduce drying time.www.laundryloops.com(888) 246-5667

LIST INDUSTRIES INC. America’s Most Complete Locker Line® by List Industries Inc.® offers a large selection of locker styles, materials, sizes, colors and functionality. Metal, wood and plastic lockers are designed to serve the locker needs of any facility, from health and sports clubs to schools and universities to professional sports arenas and stadiums. Demonstrating the company’s commitment to protecting the environment, Superior® Lockers are Greenguard Children & Schools Certifi ed .www.listindustries.com(800) 776-1342

LYON WORKSPACE PRODUCTSLyon’s line of lockers stands up to year-round utilization by sports teams. Since 1901, Lyon has been manufacturing durable, secure lockers and accessories for school applications. www.lyonworkspace.com(800) 323-0082


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MATEFLEX MODULAR SURFACESSoftFlex by Matéfl ex is a unique solution to the need for a fl ow-through drain tile. A soft but extremely durable PVC formula provides comfort, while the lightly textured surface is attractive and promotes safety. The antimicrobial material is perfect for pool decks, spas, hot tubs, locker rooms and wet areas. Tiles are portable; easy to assemble, maintain and repair; and come in a variety of colors. www.matefl ex.com(800) 926-3539

MCARTHUR TOWEL & SPORTSAfter 140 years of service, McArthur Towels continues to offer the very best in customer service and quality. Facilities can opt to have their name printed on towels, helping with loss prevention. Both blank and custom towels are available and suitable for professional sports teams, health clubs, spas, schools and government agencies. www.mcarthurtowels.com(800) 356-9168

ODORBALANCEThe OdorBalance product line was developed by professional lacrosse player Drew Westervelt after years of research and testing. The Offense product cleans and removes the sources of odors, and Defense then provides protection against future odor. LaundryPro detergent was formulated specifi cally for washing high-performance apparel to ensure wicking capability, durability and odor protection. Finally, Overtime spray provides on-location maintenance between treatments.www.odorbalance.com(410) 975-5367

OJMAR U.S.OCS Touch-Locks from Ojmar offer a keyless solution for day-use and rental lockers. Available in black or white, the locks are elegant, durable and cost-competitive. Each OCS lock is designed and built to IP-55 standards to completely seal out water and humidity. www.ojmar.com(616) 392-3006

PELLERIN MILNOR CORP.The 30022 VRJ is the newest generation of Pellerin Milnor’s 30022 V6J 60-pound-capacity washer-extractor. Offering the highly programmable E-P Plus control and RinSave® water-saver software, the new model also features a continuously welded frame, streamlined door design, and easy-to-use door handle. The washer’s cylinder is constructed with tall ribs for enhanced M.A.F. (Mechanical Action Factor) and superior open area, promoting greater interchange of chemistry and water in the load. www.milnor.com(800) 469-8780

SALSBURY INDUSTRIESEstablished in 1936, Salsbury Industries is an industry leader in the manufacturing and distributing of quality metal lockers, wood lockers, plastic lockers and storage solutions. Salsbury Industries carries a wide variety of quality products that can be shipped factory direct from large inventories at the company’s Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio, locations. www.lockers.com(800) 562-5377



Purchasing Guide Locker Rooms & Laundry

SCRANTON PRODUCTSScranton Product offers Tufftec™ and Duralife™ lockers made from HDPE and engineered for strength and durability for a variety of applications. Duralife lockers are the only HDPE locker fully fi re-rated for corridor application and specially designed to meet the demands of the school environment and the harshest daily use. Tufftec’s HDPE lockers are available in a multitude of styles, confi gurations and interchangeable options to create customized lockers. www.scrantonproducts.com(800) 445-5148

SPARTAN CHEMICAL COMPANY INC. Spartan’s Clothesline Fresh Laundry Line represents the newest technology in professional laundry care from a trusted name in the industry. The line specifi cally targets soils and stains to get fabrics clean and bright, while leaving them with a fresh fragrance. It also features the latest in laundry technology, allowing for superior cleaning performance at a lower cost. www.spartanchemical.com(800) 537-8990

SPEC-RITE DESIGNSSpec-Rite Designs is one of the oldest manufacturers of solid phenolic products in North America and specializes in locker systems to fi t any application, including custom athletic lockers, interior and exterior bike lockers, police and fi re lockers, pass-thru lockers and more. The superior performance of solid phenolic panels is combined with the ability to work within a facility’s site geometry to create an attractive, sustainable solution. www.specritedesigns.com(877) 249-6864




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SPORTS LAUNDRY SYSTEMSSports Laundry Systems™ teams high-speed washers, high-performance dryers and ozone injection for unrivaled results. SLS washers produce extract speeds of 387 G-force and feature freestanding designs, outperforming traditional hard-mount washers and removing more water from each load. In turn, dry time is reduced by up to 40 percent.www.sportslaundrysystems.com(800) 256-1073

SUMMIT LOCKERS INC.Summit Lockers is dedicated to deliver-ing attractive and environmentally friendly phenolic and plastic lock-ers for wet areas such as recreation centers, clubs and pools. Summit’s innovative manufacturing features mortised joints, cabinet-style doors and enhanced ventilation for extreme durability. Lockers are available in a variety of styles, sizes and colors and come with a 20-year warranty. www.summitlockers.com(888) 310-7149

TEXON ATHLETIC TOWEL AND SUPPLYFor more than 35 years, family-owned Texon Athletic Towel has supplied

quality and cost-effective towels in various sizes and styles to schools, government agencies, municipalities and athletic franchises nationally. In addition to gym, microfi ber, colored, white and center-striped towels, Texon Athletic Towel also provides laundry supplies such as anti-microbial solutions, laundry carts, trucks, bags and collars.www.texontowel.com(800) 328-3966

TOWEL TRACKER LLCThe Towel Tracker system dispenses and collects towels embedded with a washable RFID tag, which provides each towel with a unique identifi cation number. Members access towels by swiping their ID card. A scanner recognizes which towels were removed, assigning them to the member. As towels are placed into the return bin, the system scans the RFID tags again, and this information is then relayed to the facility’s computer so management can track every towel a member uses.www.toweltracker.com(616) 325-2060

UNIMACUniMac®, a leading provider of on-premises laundry equipment, offers a 55-pound tumble dryer equipped with OPTidry™ over-dry-prevention technology. Reducing labor, energy and linen-replacement costs associated with over-drying, OPTidry accurately senses dryness levels throughout an entire load. The machine will automatically

shut off once desired dryness levels have been reached, increasing throughput and energy savings. In addition, linens experience 31 percent less fi ber loss when over-drying is eliminated. www.unimac.com(800) 587-5458

UNITED COMMERCIAL UPHOLSTERYUnited Commercial Upholstery’s standard line of cushions adds comfort and aesthetics to new or remodeled locker room suites. Its new ProCushion series also features antifungal and antibacterial properties for users’ protection. The fabric is treated with silver ion technology to provide a natural germ-fi ghting defense. Cushions also can be customized with logos.www.ucuinc.com(507) 232-4224

ZEPHYR LOCKZephyr Lock’s line of high-quality locks offers simplicity, reliability and cost-effectiveness. Locks are available in many options — including electronic RFID, electronic keypad and mechanical push-button — ideal for high-traffi c areas with shared-use lockers. Zephyr Lock manufactures locks for lockers in every kind of setting, including recreation centers, health clubs and any ADA-compliant facility. www.zephyrlock.com(866) 937-4971



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AB08_ABCkeyR813.indd 1 7/5/13 9:10 AM

ADVANTAGEADVANTAGEHome Field

New York Yankees outfi elder Curtis Granderson already has a reputation as one of the nicest guys in baseball. His Grand Kids Foundation has awarded nearly $80,000 to programs that focus

on improving the educational experience of youths nationwide and re-establishing baseball opportunities for inner-city athletes — causes that helped earn Granderson the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, named after the longtime Major League Baseball Players’ Association president and given to “the player in either league whose on-fi eld performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement.”

Now the three-time Major League All-Star’s alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago, will directly benefi t from his generosity through a $5 million donation toward the new $7 million Curtis Granderson Stadium, home to UIC Flames baseball. In keeping with Granderson’s commitment to helping disadvantaged kids, it also will host numerous youth games throughout the spring and summer, giving kids the opportunity to play at a fi rst-class facility. Construction will begin this fall and be completed in time for the Flames’ 2015 Opening Day.

Meanwhile, halfway across the country in a much smaller city in New Jersey, work continues on another baseball stadium. The home of the Millville High School Thunderbolts might not be as, well, “grand” as UIC’s facility, but the much-needed upgrades come from the same well of gratitude and philanthropy.

Mike Trout, a 2009 Millville graduate and current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfi elder, donated his $20,000 Rookie of the Year bonus to refurbish the school’s baseball facilities. BodyArmor SuperDrink, with whom Trout has a sponsorship deal, kicked in another $10,000 in his name.

“We’re tickled,” says Millville athletic director Dave LaGamba. “We’re just really happy to see Mike succeed. We never thought about a donation.”

‘GRAND’ PLANSAthletic directors might want to start thinking more about donations, because pro athletes are giving back to their alma maters and other important organizations in their lives.

Consider the list of amenities that Curtis Granderson Stadium will boast: an estimated 1,200 chair-back seats and grassy areas for additional spectator seating; a level of disability seating; an open-air, brick-and-stone facade; and enhanced press amenities. Plus, two existing fi elds are being resurfaced, which will allow several games to be played simultaneously.

“We’re expecting between 6,000 and 7,000 kids to be playing at our facilities every season,” says Flames coach Mike Dee. “It’s our goal that every team in the Chicago Public Schools system play a game here. We’ll also offer coaching and offi ciating clinics.”

MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and Urban Youth Academy programs are the chief partners on this project. Since 1989, RBI has established more than 300 programs in more than 200 cities around the world, giving 200,000 disadvantaged male and female participants the chance to play baseball and softball each year. MLB and its 30 clubs have designated more than $30 million to RBI, and Dee works with RBI through UIC’s relationships with both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.

But just an everyday conversation is all it took to get the ball rolling on UIC’s stadium, Dee says.

“Curtis lives a block away [from UIC] in the offseason, and he comes here to work out,” he explains. “We were talking about how he had wanted to start a baseball program in Detroit through Grand Kids, but then he got traded to New York. I was already working with RBI. It took off from there.”

“I started playing baseball when I was six years old, and friendships I had at that point I still have today,” Granderson told CSNChicago.com following a press

A pair of Major League Baseball All-Stars help alma mater programs survive in tough times. By Laura J. Gallagher

Laura J. Gallagher is a freelance writer based in Madison, Wis.


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conference held in his hometown Chicago in February. “You learn teamwork, leadership, discipline and also how to fail and succeed — things you don’t realize at the time how benefi cial they are going to be moving forward. You’re going to have to set goals and work hard to accomplish them. That’s what baseball has done for me, and hopefully that’s what baseball will do for the youth in Chicago.”

“It’s really a perfect pairing,” Dee adds. “Baseball is very important to Curtis, obviously, but education is as well. When he was growing up, it was never ‘if you go to college,’ it was ‘when you go to college.’ So, along with giving kids the structure and discipline baseball can bring, he’s also getting kids who might not otherwise be on a college campus exposed to higher education.”

THEY LIKE MIKESo far, the $30,000 donation from Trout and BodyArmor SuperDrink has netted the Millville Thunderbolts baseball team new uniforms, new infi eld sod, a new

batting cage down the

left-fi eld line, repainted bleachers and a repainted press box, repaired dugouts and a rebuilt pitcher’s mound and home plate. The school board has rechristened the facility Mike Trout Field.

“I know it’s going to be humbling,” Trout told The Philadelphia Inquirer in March. “Driving by and seeing my name up there, it’s going to be a good feeling. My dad played there. All my buddies played there. The coaches who brought me up are still there. I want to be able to give back, to have the kids there be able to play on the best fi eld.”

But when Trout proposed his donation, school offi cials were hesitant to commit. “We were thrilled,” LaGamba says. “But any time you’re dealing with an educational institution, you’re dealing with a bureaucracy. The school board was concerned with what kind of precedent might be set, what BodyArmor might want in return. We needed to think differently and accept this wonderful gift that an alum was offering. Everyone in Millville loves Mike, so people were willing to have the meetings, work through any red tape, to allow this donation to go through.” Ω

Home Field AdvantageFundraising

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Stanford Stadium got wired for wireless in 2011. Penn State’s Beaver Stadium did so last year. Auburn (2011) and Alabama (2012) were already bringing Wi-Fi to the football game day masses

when Southeastern Conference offi cials estimated this spring that it would cost member schools $2 million each to improve stadium cell phone and Wi-Fi connectivity. They now see it as critical to enhancing the fan experience and fi lling stadium seats well into the future.

“Our next generation of fans is used to staying connected. They should be able to communicate in real time with somebody on the other side of the stadium,” said University of Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart in the run-up to the SEC annual spring meetings in May. “It’s quite an investment but we have to make it.”P

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Incorporating Wi-Fi into the stadium experience now seen as a must. By Paul Steinbach

LOGISTICAL CHALLENGEIt can also be quite a logistical challenge, according to Bill Schlough, CIO of the San Francisco Giants, the earliest adopters of the stadium Wi-Fi concept. Whereas fewer than 100 Giants fans were online on a typical game day in 2004, plugging cards into their laptops to connect, today roughly 12,000 mobile-device-toting fans (or about a third of the average AT&T Park crowd) are connected at any given moment during a game. In between, there have been numerous “rip and replace” upgrades to stadium infrastructure as the technology improves. Ten years ago, 139 Wi-Fi antennas dotted the park. Between the 2012 and 2013 seasons, the number of antennas — inconspicuously located under upper decks and underneath seats — more than doubled to 821.

Paul Steinbach ([email protected], @SteinbachPaul) is senior editor of Athletic Business.

NetworkNEWS


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Media & Technology

Network News

But Schlough contends that the Giants’ journey has been comparatively easy. “It’s really challenging to do it in a football stadium. A college football stadium? I can’t imagine a bigger challenge on earth,” he says, citing the sheer size of such facilities and the short seasons they host. “This technology is not plug and play. It’s not like turning on a TV. This is something that needs to be tuned and adjusted and monitored and updated every year, and baseball lends itself so well to that, because we have so

many games. With football, it’s a huge challenge to do that for such a short season and to make that kind of investment. But it’s a quandary, because if you don’t, then that means your fans at the stadium can’t stay connected. And if they can’t stay connected, will they come to the games? I would say no. More and more, I say no.”

“Installing a Wi-Fi network in any stadium is a very complicated engineering problem — far more complicated than people initially believe it to be, including us and our technology partners,” says Kevin Blue, Stanford’s associate athletic director of business strategy. (Like the Giants, the Cardinal partners with AT&T.) “Having a limited number of opportunities to refi ne network performance does make it diffi cult.”

The Giants, who boast the longest home sellout streak in Major League Baseball, draw from a tech-savvy fan base that has gotten ever more comfortable with staying connected

at the park. On June 17, a social media gathering place — @Cafe — opened behind AT&T Park’s centerfi eld scoreboard. There, fans can keep up with Giants-related buzz as it appears on Twitter and Facebook, as well as view posted Instagram photos — all on high-defi nition screens. “Fans are transferring 74 percent more data per device this year versus last year,” Schlough says. “That could be anything from a text message to browsing the web to accessing or sharing a photo or a video. So you’re seeing more and more multimedia use, because fans can do it and they enjoy it. Instagram is becoming very popular. People want to take pictures and share those pictures.”

HIGH EXPECTATIONSMore sports entities are sharing the big picture when it comes to stadium Wi-Fi. Next year, the San Francisco 49ers’ Levis Stadium will open in Santa Clara, Calif., with the ability to simultaneously accommodate the full Wi-Fi needs of capacity crowds, regardless of what those 68,500 fans are doing online — a concept once considered unimaginable. “The goal is to provide you with enough bandwidth that you would saturate your device before you saturate the network,” Dan Williams, the team’s senior director of technology, told Ars Technica in March. “That’s what we expect to do.”

Expectations are particularly high in the Silicon Valley, admits Blue, adding, “We don’t want Stanford Stadium to be the one place in the Silicon Valley that doesn’t meet this expectation.”

So far, Stanford Stadium — with its 305 antennas installed on signs, light poles and overhangs — has been able to accommodate 30 percent of fans with a Wi-Fi experience that varies depending not only on what each fan is trying to do on the network, but on potential interference from frequencies serving coaches’ communications equipment, police scanners and walkie-talkies. “It is possible to provide the connectivity that fans expect, but the stadium environment presents challenges that make it diffi cult to replicate the connectivity experience people receive in their offi ce or home,” Blue says. “We strive to meet their expectations, even though this is a very diffi cult engineering problem to solve, limited to high-mass situations. Very few have actually solved it. There isn’t an easy-to-follow blueprint or a wealth of experienced engineers who have installed a signifi cant number of Wi-Fi systems in football stadiums.”

That, no doubt, will change in the coming months and years, as stadium operators scramble to remove from fans’ lists one more reason to watch games from home. “We’ve been working on this for three football seasons and are still learning a signifi cant amount,” Blue says. “The user experience is not perfect yet, but our fans appreciate the fact that we’re trying to innovate and solve this problem.” Ω

BROADER BANDSSimultaneous stadium network

connections

2012 Super Bowl, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

8,2602012 Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.

10,0002013 Super Bowl, Super Dome, New Orleans

30,0002014 Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.

68,500Source: Ars Technica

WIDE RECEIVERS Stanford Stadium can accommodate roughly a third of its crowds with Wi-Fi service.

For more insight from Bill Schlough, see the online version of this article at athleticbusiness.com/mediatech0813


813-F-College.indd 47 7/10/13 8:25 AM

How does your program get the word out about its facilities, classes and events? What about when something is cancelled or rescheduled? Parks

and recreation departments are quickly realizing that the standard arsenal of websites and email notifi cations, print and digital catalogs, direct mailings and other print media aren’t having the impact they once did.

It’s something Choton Basu, professor of information technology at the University of

The future of parks and recreation user engagement.BY EMILY ATTWOOD

Emily Attwood ([email protected], @EmAttwood) is associate editor of Athletic Business.


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Going MobileM

edia & Technology

Wisconsin-Whitewater and director of its Global Business Resource Center, recognized years ago. “Tech-wise, agencies were not keeping up,” he says. “This whole idea of brochures and catalogs from parks and rec — I knew they were going to be obsolete. My son never brought home a brochure or catalogue; I heard about programs from other parents who had signed their kid up. There was this peer-group effect that helped people fi nd out when things were happening.”

Basu recognized that the way people communicate was changing. Wheels spinning, Basu approached the National Recreation and Parks Association with an idea to create a mobile program that would allow users to know instantly what was going on — not only in their own community, but in any community across the country. The mobile application, Strive, was unveiled locally this spring, with plans to expand not far off. “Right now, we show data from a couple parts of the country,” he explains, “but we’re being very deliberate in how we roll out Strive because we want to make sure we’re capturing the customer experience in the best way possible.”

GETTING STARTEDWhen it comes to mobile platforms, the possibilities are almost endless; apps can do just about whatever a developer wants them to. That doesn’t mean an app should do everything — at least not in the beginning. “It’s good to start out gradually with the integration of technology,” says Tony LaFrenere, executive director of the Schaumburg (Ill.) Park District. “Start with the basics and build on that to make sure the quality stays intact. Look to your users to fi nd the information they want most and focus on that.”

Schaumburg’s recently unveiled ParkFun app is essentially a directory of all of the park facilities in the area, complete with photos, amenities found at each, hours, contact information and map information. “We were looking for the app to be an

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obile applications aren’t free; they require time and

resources to develop and maintain, and that cost must be

paid somehow. Some applications charge a monthly fee

or collect a convenience fee for registrations paid via mobile app.

Some include ads or sponsorships.

“Today, mobile advertising is one of the most sought-after pieces

of advertising real estate,” says Gregory Nasto of Royal Oaks,

Mich.-based Mousetrap Mobile. As such, Mousetrap has built

sponsorship into its SMART platform and text alerts. The revenue

generated is split between the parks and recreation department, the

Michigan Recreation and Parks Association and Mousetrap. “We

give 15 percent of the gross revenue back to the community for its

programs. If the park system wants to bring in the sponsor, it gets

an additional 15 percent.”

One of the concerns with including ads is whether the content

fi ts with the organization’s image, but it’s a concern most developers

will understand and heed. “We have a family-values clause,” explains

Nasto. “No alcohol, no strip clubs, nothing like that. Programs also

get fi rst right of refusal on whether a sponsor goes or not. We also

ask for a sponsor exclusion list. Maybe a program has a contract

with Pepsi and we can’t advertise Coca-Cola.”

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opted to outright purchase Mousetrap’s text alert service, taking

over all of the sponsorship work and pocketing 100 percent of

the profi ts. Moreover, the business-savvy city understands that

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information resource,” LaFrenere says. “We have a lot of facilities and parks within Schaumberg and wanted to make sure our users have the most up-to-date information.”

The next step is allowing users to sign up for events and activities. “We haven’t gone down the registration road yet,” says LaFrenere. “We’ll get there. Right now we really want to make this information-based. Upcoming features will integrate the news and events portion. We’re looking at quick links to sports leagues and other notifi cation settings.”

Beyond the ability to instantly access park facility information, apps can give users the opportunity to customize their interaction with an organization, opting into the information most relevant to them. “The biggest success point is viewing conditions for things like the pool, fi elds or ice rink,” says LaFrenere. The ParkFun app allows users to receive notifi cations related to specifi c activities or events. “It will notify you if your son’s tee-ball fi eld is open or closed, or if the pool is open or closed.”

SPREAD THE WORDMobile technology is set to eclipse more traditional means of accessing the web in the near future, and organizations need to adapt to the changing communication habits of their users. “People don’t answer their phones

anymore,” says Gregory Nasto, president of Royal Oak, Mich.-based Mousetrap Mobile, which has partnered with the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association to bring its text messaging system and SMART Parks & Recreation app to any community in Michigan that wants it. “If you want to reach someone, you send them a text.”

Most of the Michigan communities Nasto has worked with are eager to utilize the company’s text alert service, even if they’re not ready to commit to a mobile app. The text system allows parks to send out notifi cations about activities, cancellations or closings, public events, surveys, reminders, weather conditions and more — users can opt in to as many notifi cation lists as they want.

One of the service’s more critical purposes, says Nasto, is public safety. “We’re able to communicate with people at an event should there be an emergency. A parent can upload a picture of a missing child right to event security, and they can distribute that information to all the fi eld security people instantaneously.”

The communication model shouldn’t be constrained to individual communities. Mousetrap is working on different applications that bring together common interests throughout the state — an app specifi cally designed for all of the state’s municipal golf courses, softball leagues or even farmer’s markets, for example.

It’s similar to the concept Basu is aiming for with Strive, which will allow users to know not just what’s happening in their community, but wherever they go. “The day is coming when you will be able to access any parks and recreation program in the country,” he says. “If you’re in Colorado, you should be able to use your Strive ID to see and sign up for activities whether you’re visiting for a week or vacationing there for the summer.”

Being able to share information, not just with users but between users, is key to building community engagement, says Basu. “Kids aren’t easily motivated to get up and go for a run, but if they know their friends were out there, they will go out and participate,” he says, noting that Strive is integrated with Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to easily share what they’re doing. “It takes away the barriers of parks and recreation agencies to get the word out and lets the community do the marketing for you.” Ω

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More online: Building a successful website for your parks and rec agencywww.athleticbusiness.com/rec0813



Instagram? Google+? Vine?Finding the right online media platforms for your facility.

BY ROB BISHOP AND BARRY KLEIN

Rob & Barry

Have you heard about Vine? It’s a social media service from Twitter that allows you to create and share

six-second looping videos. Really. We’re sorry if you didn’t know

about Vine until today, because now you feel worse about social media, don’t you? The advent of Facebook was bad enough, you might argue, but at least you’ve come to understand it. Twitter is okay, too. What about Instagram? And Pinterest? And Google+? And YouTube? And now Vine? (Which is actually really cool.)

If you feel like you can’t take it anymore, you should know that “most small businesses feel like they are wasting their time on social media.” That was the recent conclusion of a survey by a company called Mantra, a social network for small businesses.

Mantra reports that 61 percent of small businesses don’t see any return on investment on their social media activities, yet almost 50 percent say they’ve increased the time they spend on social media.

That sounds an awful lot like many health club members, doesn’t it? “I just don’t get it,” they will say. “I work out every day, but I don’t lose any weight.”

To such a member we might ask, “Well, what are you doing when you leave the gym?”

And to these unsatisfi ed business operators using social media we would ask, “Do you have any idea why you are on social media in the fi rst place?”

INVEST WISELYAs gym owners and managers, we encourage you to embrace social media, but we don’t want you to

be Kool-Aid drinkers. Never invest in social media (or anything else, for that matter) without knowing what benefi ts it will bring to your business. We believe you can have reasonable goals with social media and achieve them with reasonable time, money and effort. (This sounds more and more like you talking to your members, doesn’t it?)

The fi rst thing to recognize about social media is that it is extraordinarily complementary to what you already offer. Your fi tness facility is already a social gathering place, which leads to a logical way to fi t social media into your business. It may sound overly simple, but be — wait for it — social. We think of social media as a way to expand our relationship with our members beyond the walls of our clubs,

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Rob Bishop ([email protected]) and Barry Klein are owners of Elevations Health Club in Scotrun, Pa.See Rob and Barry at the Athletic Business Conference & Expo, Nov. 21–23, in San Diego.


813-F-Rob_Barry.indd 51 7/10/13 1:00 PM

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allowing us to interact with them more than we otherwise would. While doing that, we know we’re also going to reach a lot of other folks. Whether those nonmembers become members is secondary to bolstering our reputation, becoming more visible and building a community.

Our goals are simple: We want to communicate, be social and be present in our members’ and followers’ lives, even when they are nowhere near our buildings. A marketing consultant might call this “mindshare.”

Our website and email campaigns always include our social media icons, and we occasionally use the Internet and emails to proactively highlight our social media activities.

For example, we’ll tell members about new platforms we are using, and we’ll encourage them to follow us and tell their friends. We want people to read our emails, and from there visit a page on our website. Then we want them to visit our Facebook page, where they might see something on Instagram or Vine.

We do virtually nothing with Twitter, which seems just fi ne with our members. However, a few years ago several prospects told us, “We checked you out on Twitter and you hadn’t tweeted in weeks.” We resolved never to let that happen again, and that’s one of the reasons we love Instagram, Pinterest and Vine. They Tweet automatically, so when we use those other platforms, we also look alive and well on Twitter.

COMPELLING CONTENTInstagram, Pinterest and Vine are great ways of creating compelling content. Plus, because they are so much less formal than Facebook — we know it’s odd to think of Facebook as “formal” — you can appropriately use a motivated staff member to help create and curate photos, images from the web and short videos.

Then, if you’re ready for it, cross-pollinate by putting your Instagram and Vine content right onto Facebook

and Twitter. For the record, we do not automatically post from Instagram and Vine onto our Facebook page; instead, we provide web links to those services from only our best content on Facebook.

Google+, which is similar to Facebook, is in our future, but only because a presence there can help with results shown in Google search engines. And our YouTube presence is nothing more than a repository of videos that we use on our website. Think about what you are trying to achieve and which platforms can help

you achieve it.Back to Vine and why it helps

us achieve what we want. You’d be amazed at how compelling a six-second video can be, especially because Vine allows you to string together several images in a stop-action sort of way. It’s perfect content to use on Facebook, because people click on it, comment on it, like it and share it. We started with simple videos with scenes from in-and-around our clubs on any

given morning. We posted them on Vine, which generated tweets, and then we posted the web links on Facebook, where we also encouraged people to follow us on Vine. The “likes” and comments fl owed, and we were happy.

WORK THE ROOMWe’ve often likened social media to a cocktail party where you need to know the rules. You can’t just show up and start shouting about your business and expect people to buy from you. You need to schmooze. You

need to be conversant. That wasn’t so bad when there were only one or two of these virtual cocktail parties, but today there seems to be a new “must attend” party every day.

The trick is to make it seem like you attend all of the parties that make sense for your business. And when you’re at those parties, know why you’re there. Build relationships and expand your community. Be a little cool, too. Good things will fl ow from that. Ω

rryyy

Social Mixers

Three Things to Avoid Doing on Facebook

1 Do not have your Facebook posts managed by one of your young staff people. We’ve heard that suggestion made to health club owners over

the years, and it makes us cringe. Facebook is not the place for a young person to cut his or her teeth in marketing. Your posts on Facebook must be correct in tone, grammar and style, and responses to comments must be customer-service savvy. In short, Facebook is not a sandbox. 18 hours ago - Like

2 Do not rely on outsourced or canned posts void of personality. Your followers on Facebook know inauthentic when they see it, and they will

punish you if they are disinterested. How? By ignoring your posts. Having uninspiring content will kill your presence on Facebook, because Facebook controls what your fans see in their newsfeeds. Content that doesn’t get a reaction is worse than not having content at all. Even worse, your fans might choose to not “like” your page anymore or comment negatively on your content.6 hours ago - Like

3 Do not make posts containing just your thoughts or web links. Facebook users primarily engage with images and videos, and the majority of

your posts should include one or the other. That said, make sure all of your photos and videos — just like your written words — are an authentic, positive refl ection of your business.2 hours ago - Like — RB & BK

Write a comment…


813-F-Rob_Barry.indd 52 7/10/13 8:05 AM


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List Industries Inc. ..............................................................39

Lyon Workspace Products ..............................................39

Matefl ex Modular Surfaces ..............................................40

McArthur Towel & Sports .................................................40

Odorbalance LLC ..............................................................40

Ojmar U.S. ...........................................................................40

Pellerin Milnor Corp. ..........................................................40

Salsbury Industries ............................................................40

Scranton Products .............................................................41

Spartan Chemical Company Inc. ...................................41

Spec-Rite Designs ............................................................41

Sports Laundry Systems ..................................................42

Summit Lockers Inc. ..........................................................42

Texon Athletic Towel and Supply ...................................42

Towel Tracker LLC .............................................................42

UniMac .................................................................................42

United Commercial Upholstery .......................................42

Zephyr Lock.........................................................................42

813-INDEX.indd 53 7/10/13 9:47 AM


FORWARDPROGRESS BY EMILY ATTWOOD

STONE AGE CLIMBING GYM (right) in Albuquerque, already the largest facility of its type in New Mexico, has broken ground on a new facility that will offer more than twice as much space as its current location. Expected to open in January 2014, the $4.2 million project will span 23,000 square feet with climbing walls reaching heights of 43 feet. EDWARD FITZGERALD ARCHITECTS of Albuquerque is designing the new facility.

Construction begins this month on the HUB RECREATION CENTER in Marion, Ill. The 72,000-square-foot facility will feature basketball courts, a walking track, a six-lane lap pool, a therapy pool and offi ce space. BAYSINGER ARCHITECTS of Marion designed the project, expected to be complete early next year.

Christian sports league UPWARD SPORTS has broken ground on a new 60-acre sports complex in Spartanburg, S.C. The 120,000-square-foot STAR CENTER will offer six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, batting cages, golf swing analysis, a running track,

fi tness areas and studios designed for dance, cheerleading, aerobics and yoga. The organization has also partnered with Spartanburg Regional Health Services to offer onsite strength training, rehabilitation and orthopedic services. The fi rst phase of construction will include four sand volleyball courts and six multipurpose turf fi elds. MCMILLAN, PAZDAN AND SMITH ARCHITECTURE of Spartanburg is designing the complex, slated for completion in September 2014.

Construction has begun on a new HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER at Antioch College. The $8 million project will renovate the former Curl Gymnasium, built in 1928. The new center will house fi tness equipment, racquetball courts, multipurpose

studios and a pool. MACLACHLAN, CORNELIUS & FILONI of Pittsburgh, Pa., is leading the project, which is the college’s third major renovation since reopening in 2011.

Work begins this month on renovations to Bowling Green State University’s STUDENT RECREATION CENTER (below). The $11 million project will be the fi rst major renovation since the facility was built in 1979. THE COLLABORATIVE INC. of Toledo, Ohio, provided three design options for the university, which opted for a plan that included a new recreation center entrance, expansion of the mezzanine for additional cardio training, upgrades to the gym area, reconfi gured locker room space, additional storage space and upgraded fi nishes and lighting.

Breaking Ground

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FORWARDPROGRESS

University of Texas at San Antonio soccer team members fi nally have a place to call their own as they begin practices this month. The fi rst phase of construction of the Park West Athletics Complex (above) is now complete and features a new soccer fi eld to be used for practices and games, including bleacher seating for 1,000 fans. A new track and fi eld stadium and parking lot were also included in the $22 million project. Future phases of the project, designed by HKS Architects of Dallas and San Antonio-based Overland Partners

Architects, will add facilities for tennis, softball and baseball, as well as additional fan amenities… A $2.4 million renovation of the gymnasium at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., is now complete. A new HVAC system has been installed in the 70-year-old building to improve air quality and prevent moisture damage to the newly refurbished fl oors, restrooms and locker areas. The renovated gym offers an increased capacity, new fi tness equipment and a training room. Outside the gym, a new Physical Readiness Test Pavilion

will provide a sheltered workout space… The new Gaithersburg High School opens this month in Maryland, and along with it, a new set of athletic facilities. A new, larger gymnasium is accompanied by a weight room that offers twice the space as its predecessor. Once construction of the school is complete, the old building will be torn down to make way for parking and new athletic fi elds… The Veterans Park

District celebrated the grand opening of its George A. Leoni Complex in Melrose Park, Ill., last month. With the opening of the 34,000-square-foot facility featuring an indoor soccer fi eld, batting cages, a walking track and two multipurpose rooms, users will be able to engage in athletic and fi tness activities year-round. Ω

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First PitchThe Sparta Township in Michigan has purchased 80 acres of land to build a new Community Recreational Complex. The $3 million project will provide a single playing location for all of the community’s various sports. The fi rst phase of the project will construct baseball and softball fi elds, as well as one soccer fi eld and one football fi eld. Two additional phases will include a sledding hill, a nature trail, a disc golf course and an indoor sports facility… The Marathon County Youth Hockey Association is attempting to raise $865,000 to fund renovations to Marathon Park Ice Arena in Wausau, Wis. The upgrades are intended to

make the arena more fan and player friendly, adding six more locker rooms, showers, restrooms and new bleachers… A statewide fundraising effort is under way to provide a much-needed facelift to the 30-year-old Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. The majority of the $12 million needed for Phase I has been raised, but an additional $18 million is needed for Phase II. The fi rst round of renovations will include new seats in the lower bowl, a new hardwood court, new video boards, lights and a sound system. The existing training rooms, locker rooms and media rooms will also undergo a complete overhaul.

Grand Openings

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

303-470-8661 * www.ballardking.com

*Needs Assessment

*Feasibility Studies

*Operations Pro-formas

*Start-up Planning

*Community Input

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Sports ArchitectureBoston, MA 617.742.5440 Los Angeles, CA 310.229.2700 St. Louis, MO 314.241.6250 Victoria BC 250.388.0115 Washington DC 703.907.2300

cannondesign.com

www.dewberry.com/Architects/RecreationWellness

309.282.8198...specializing in Sports, Wellness, + Recreation

ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS CONSULTANTS

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[email protected] / 800.325.7910

S p o r t s & R e c r e a t i o n F a c i l i t i e s

IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL BEING THROUGH DESIGN

architecture

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urban designwww.perkinswill.com

sports planning and design architecture landscape architecture civil engineering planning interior design graphic design 617.926.3300 www.sasaki.com

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813-ProfDir.indd 56 7/10/13 7:01 AM


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813-ProfDir.indd 57 7/10/13 7:01 AM


Straight lines tend to dominate the geometry of team suites made up

of what amounts to rows of boxes: locker rooms, meeting rooms and

coaches’ offi ces. Dartmouth College’s basketball suite, an adaptive

reuse of a 4,000-square-foot fi tness center, has some of that, but

its face to Berry Sports Center visitors is a graceful curve. Moser

Pilon Nelson Architects of Wethersfi eld, Conn., pushed the entry doors

eight feet in from the corridor wall so that they fl ank a large glass-walled

semicircle, half the circumference of the team meeting room within. The

dome above bears the inscription “Dartmouth Basketball,” while the curved,

plush couches below reinforce the room’s shape. Dartmouth is using this

eye-catching design to show its commitment to its men’s and women’s

basketball programs, give its athletes a comfortable and high-profi le

meeting space, and provide recruits with an eye-popping fi rst impression of

its athletics program. Ω

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SEND DESIGN DETAILS IDEAS TO [email protected]

BY MICHAEL POPKE

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