Beacon BallieldDimensionsGuide-2024-WEB - Flipbook - Page 9
BALLFIELD LAYOUT
THE RIPKEN EXPERIENCE Pigeon Forge, TN
An open park-like setting is very player- and fan-centric. Fields with unique
dimensions and character all point in one direction to minimize sun issues.
Which Layout Makes Sense? |
D E S I G N I N G A M U LT I - F I E L D F A C I L I T Y
It’s a balancing act. Designing a multi-field sports facility involves meeting the needs and expectations of various stakeholders — athletes and
coaches, tournament operators, facility owners, and families and fans. To serve everyone successfully, your facility design must strike a balance.
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Athletes & Coaches
The primary focus for athletes and
coaches is to ensure a safe and
high-performance playing surface.
This involves meticulous field
orientation, accounting for factors
like sun angles. Additionally, they
require preparation facilities such
as bullpens, batting cages, and
practice infields. Strength and
conditioning areas are crucial, along
with proximity to parking for easy
equipment movement.
■
Tournament Operators
They need a reliable playing
surface, especially during and after
inclement weather. Efficient flow
of teams through the complex —
from warm-up to post-game — is
essential. Outdoor team meeting
spaces and an operations center
for tournament management are
also key considerations. It’s also
important to provide locations for
tournament swag sales, which is vital
for generating additional revenue.
■
Facility Owners
Whether artificial or natural, facility
owners need a reliable playing field
surface to minimize downtime. They
often focus on maximizing income
during events through extensive
concessions operations and on-site
attractions that keep teams and fans
on-site between games. Properly
sized maintenance facilities and hard
surfaces for efficient traffic flow
and spectator positioning are also
significant considerations.
■
Families & Fans
Ensuring the safety of families and
fans is paramount for any facility. That
includes protection from balls leaving
the playing field. Fan comfort is also
crucial with considerations for shade,
sightlines and restroom accessibility.
Providing options for children, such
as playgrounds, is essential, as is
having a variety of concessions and
minimizing the distance from parking
lots to fields.
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