The future of sports clubs: An evolution towards sustainable, interactive and inclusive meeting places
Sports clubs in the Netherlands have been the beating heart of villages and cities for decades. They are firmly embedded in local policy. The collaboration between public parties, voluntary organisations and private organisations makes the Netherlands unique from a European perspective.
At the club, people come together to enjoy sport and socialising, and feel connected to the community. But like everything in life, the world of sport and leisure is also constantly evolving. It is logical that our beloved sports clubs grow along with these changes, adapt to new needs and embrace sustainability and inclusiveness. In this blog, we describe the main aspects of the sports club of the future and how these continue to align with the wishes of communities for the future.
Want to know more?
Cas de Jong
Sustainability as a core value
A crucial aspect of the sports club of the future is sustainability. It is the key to long-term success. We want sports facilities that not only perform optimally, but also have minimal impact on the environment. Consider energy-efficient LED lighting, solar energy and innovative systems for waste management and water conservation. What is fortunately also becoming important again is investing in high-quality products with a longer lifespan, leaving us with less harmful and higher-quality waste.
Circular as the guiding principle for investments
In renewal, renovations and the redesign of accommodations, circularity is becoming an important guiding principle for investments. Construction and usage materials from recycled raw materials. Think of GreenMatter: Picnic tables, benches and (grandstand) seats, quay revetment and edge boards, but also modular sports floors for public spaces or an air dome and recycled (grass) tiles for terraces, walkways and car parks. We expect producers to also think about the destination of a product at the end of its lifespan.
Interactive and inclusive
In the sports club of the future, interaction is central. We expect a dynamic environment where members are encouraged to participate, learn and grow. This means integrating innovative training methods, such as smart training methods, that offer a personalised and engaging sports experience. Based on data, scores and progress are made visible and apps monitor usage frequency. Clubs also strive for a variety of sports facilities for inclusiveness, where every person, regardless of age, background or skill level, feels welcome.
Partly self-sufficient accommodations
In the surroundings of the accommodations, conscious choices are made for planting that can contribute to the catering and healthy nutritional needs of athletes; think of fruit trees and flower boxes (made from recycled raw materials) with soft fruit, herbs and vegetables. The planting can also contribute to biodiversity, cooling of terraces and dampening of noise to prevent nuisance.
Combining facilities for maximum impact
Another characteristic of the sports club of the future is the smart combination of facilities for both organised and unorganised sport. The traditional sports offering is enriched with, for example, a W&H-court (Winning & Happiness). A complete exercise concept consisting of multifunctional modular floors that can be equipped with various furnishing materials. In this way, a space can fulfil different needs, from sports training to gym classes and other educational sports programmes. By using the recreational space flexibly, resources can be handled more efficiently and these offer more value. Not only to existing members, but also to a broader target group through differentiated memberships or rental. Then you see, for example, parents who come to cheer on their child first making use of a SportBox at the club for their own exercise needs. In addition to rental income, such a court will also generate extra bar revenue. Read more about this via the articles under "Also interesting" at the bottom of this blog.
Meeting place for everyone
Last but not least, the sports club of the future remains a meeting place for everyone. Here, people come together, build relationships and strengthen the bonds within the community. By organising events, programmes and initiatives that increase community involvement, we continue to strengthen the social side of sport and create valuable memories for young and old. Ultimately, this also applies here: Improving is Winning.
