When you look at a top-tier sports facility, your eyes go straight to the “cool” stuff. Top of the line gym equipment, indoor tracks, recovery pools, saunas, massage suits, etc. Owners and coaches ensure that their athletes' every need is covered. However, there’s one part of these facilities that always gets ignored because it isn’t “fancy” or “cool”, and that is drainage.
It sounds basic, but drainage is arguably the most important piece of infrastructure in the entire facility. No matter how much money you spend on a world-class facility, if you don't have a plan for where the water goes, you’re flushing that money down the drain. Whether there is a leak in the recovery pools, a rainstorm outside hitting the entrance, or daily wear and tear of the environment, drains help keep the facility from falling apart.
Drainage is often the “invisible MVP”. When it’s doing its job, you don’t really notice. When it isn’t working properly, you definitely notice. Ruined equipment, warped floors, destroyed playing fields, and the list goes on. Whether you’re running a local public facility, or a professional top-tier facility, there are three main reasons why drainage is crucial to protect your players and your investment.
Player Safety
Player safety is the most important factor when designing and building sports facilities. Whether it’s a recreational complex for casual play or a professional facility, the safety of all players needs to be priority number one.
Excess water that sits on the ground due to lack of proper drainage can cause players to slip and fall. Players aren’t expecting a slippery surface, so if they go for a harsh turn or pivot it can easily turn into a slide or fall that can cause muscle tears or other severe injuries.
On surfaces such as fields, if they aren’t drained properly the soil underneath will compact over time. Once the water finally evaporates, it leaves the ground as hard as concrete. This can cause a fall to go from a little bruise to a severe injury such as a concussion or broken bone.
There is also a hygiene risk to improper drainage. Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria, meaning someone with a cut or scrape could potentially contract an infection if they come into contact with bacteria filled standing water while playing.
Turf & Material Longevity
Drainage is a critical part of protecting sports facilities themselves as well. Materials such as turf on a soccer or football field, a running track, or flooring around pools require proper drainage installed to prevent sitting water from damaging them and causing safety issues for the athletes.
If the facility has natural grass, bad drainage can cause issues with the longevity of the turf. Grass roots need both oxygen and water to stay strong. If the field is waterlogged due to poor drainage, the air pockets within the soil get filled with liquid which “suffocates” the grass. This causes the turf to tear up quickly and easily during games, which makes for a worse play experience for the short and long term. By extension, this will also make your field look cheap and force repeated repairs, which hits your wallet and your reputation.
Facilities that use synthetic turf aren’t immune to drainage issues either. When the sub-base of the turf does not drain properly, water will “float” the infill, causing it to clump and migrate. This leads to uneven mounds and “dead spots”, which harm the playing experience and reduce the long term lifespan of your turf.
The climate of your facility can also cause problems. In colder climates, water trapped within the turf can be a huge issue. When that water freezes, it expands, which shifts the base materials and creates mounds and ripples in the field surface that have to be repaired at a high cost.
Revenue Protection
Damaged material costs money to repair and might require shutdowns of the facility, potentially causing the facility to miss out on more revenue opportunities while it is shut down.
Cancellations will result in huge money losses from sunk costs that you have already paid. Things such as lighting, security, concessions, referees, staff etc. are already paid for. If the game is cancelled a few hours prior to the start time due to an unplayable field, you just lost a bunch of money from a preventable issue.
These cancellations don’t just hurt your wallet, but your reputation as well. Sports facilities often rent out space to leagues, so reliability is important. If you repeatedly cancel games due to an unplayable field surface, customers will start looking elsewhere for other facilities that don’t have the same preventable issues.
For long-term revenue outlook, it is far wiser to invest in a good drainage system that might cost a lot upfront, but will save you tons of money in the long run. Rather than having to constantly pay for repairs to your facility from issues that arise due to bad drainage, you can instead invest in a smart system that will protect your facility for the long term.
The Best Drain for Recreational Complexes
The best drainage system to use for sports facilities is the Slot Drain System. Slot Drains are ideal for sports facilities as their sleek, open top design allows them to be directly integrated into the ground without any protrusion. The design prevents the typical tripping hazards that come from traditional grated trench drains, especially as those grates start to warp from age. This is particularly important for sports facilities as they will see constant high intensity foot traffic from athletes, staff and fans.
Slot Drains can also be an ideal choice for aesthetics as well. Because Slot Drains integrate directly with the ground and have such a minimalist look, they blend in very well with their surroundings, making them much less of an eyesore than typical trench drains. This makes Slot Drains the perfect choice if you’re prioritizing the aesthetics of your facility and want your drainage to be as hidden as possible.
As an added bonus, the Slot Drain design also meets ADA requirements, meaning your facility will be accessible to disabled fans or athletes without the need for additional covers and modifications. This ensures that all fans and players can access your facility and enjoy watching and playing sports with no concerns or issues.
Chosen By Professional Athletes
When the Baltimore Ravens needed a drain for the pool deck in their Under Armour Performance Center, they chose a 4000 Series Slot Drain from Slot Drain Systems. The Under Armour Performance Center is used as the practice and wellness facility by the Ravens. As is the case with everything else in this building, the drains needed to perform at the highest level. The 4000 Series was chosen for its ability to integrate perfectly with the architect's original vision providing a seamless aesthetic and functional design. Not only is this drain nearly invisible to the naked eye, it will protect both the facility and the players for years to come.
Find Your Drain Today
Looking for a linear drainage solution that integrates perfectly with your aesthetic and is available in heel proof and ADA compliant designs? Check out the 7000 Series Slot Drain perfect for: sports fields, pool decks and tennis courts.
Do you need all the functionality of a 7000 Series but you need to run your drain against a wall? No problem, the 4000 Series Slot Drain is flat on one side giving it “wall hugger” capabilities.
Need a curved drainage solution? The 7000 Series Slot Drain and 4000 Series Slot Drain are also available as Radius Slot Drains. Radius Slot Drains are manufactured on a custom radius to follow curved features such as pools or running tracks.
Not sure what you need and want to talk to a drainage designer? Contact our sales team today at info@slotdrainsystems.com to talk about your drainage project and receive a no obligation quote and expert drainage design advice.
