Opening your doors to the public can be a boon for business or a danger to your facility. Controversial in many ways, there are both ups and downs to managing a private and public sports facility. Depending on your operational plans, location, and other vital considerations like property safety and athletic offerings, a thorough evaluation of your current and long-term goals will help you make the best decision for your space. 

Before welcoming anyone and everyone into your facility, take a look at these thoughtful facility considerations and prepare your facility for success. 

How Does Your Facility Generate Revenue? 

Whether you operate an indoor tennis arena or you have big plans to install a new turf football field, the decision to operate publicly often comes down to financial factors. For instance, if your field installation is in a location that has a high demand for a safer practice space, it may be in your best interest to rent your field to neighboring teams. Alternatively, if the goal is to attract people, provide a healthy community space, or to generate interest in other events or offerings, perhaps direct profits are not the primary objective. 

In many situations, a mixed public/private plan can be a viable middleground. For example, if you want to boost your tournament event sales, you can place advertisements for the games at the entry gate. Keep your facility open to the public during the week, and then limit your space to private access on the weekends for the big game and increased concession sales. 

How Will You Maintain & Protect the Property? 

Depending on the direction you take with your facility, your ongoing maintenance and security requirements will vary significantly. Public facilities will require more upkeep and additional facility repair costs due to heavier use and other factors like vandalism. Private facilities may require additional security protocols to uphold your facility’s quality standards. This might include hiring a security staff, installing fencing, and enforcing rules like “no pets allowed” on the field. 

What is the Primary Purpose of Your Facility? 

After evaluating your financial and security considerations, identifying the best-use scenario for your facility can help to guide your final decision to remain private or public. For example, if the space was primarily designed to host professional-quality tournaments, it only makes sense to maintain a private, access-controlled environment. 

On the flip side, if promoting community wellness, hosting charitable events, or inspiring people to sign up for your tennis lessons is the objective, then taking the public approach may better align with your long-term interests. 

With your guests and athletes in mind, consider if a welcoming public atmosphere or an exclusive private space will best support your facility’s priority goals. Ultimately, only you can decide if your facility should be public or private. Whichever direction you go, our experienced athletic turf maintenance experts are here to keep your turf, courts, or track surfaces looking great and performing to the highest industry standards.