Spring and summer sports are in full swing (some are winding down, too). But look around you and you’ll see parents traveling all over to soccer, baseball and softball games, not to mention lacrosse camp, tennis matches, swim meets, track and field events and pretty soon you can add some pre-season practices.
But for now, let’s discuss the games. They happen everywhere: school fields, community recreation centers, parks and rented space all over. Let’s face it: some of these venues are awesome. And some of them…much less awesome.
So, in the spirit of community improvement, we offer our marketing suggestions for making your venue a happy parent place. If you are in charge of these places (or related to or a friend of somebody who is), feel free to pass along our suggestions. Remember, happy parents means more rental income! Thanks ever so much!
How to make your sports venue parent-friendly:
- Lovely lavatories: We have left a sports field where there were only porta potties to find the nearest McDonald’s. But we have also seen real bathrooms with lights, clean floors, adequate toilet paper and paper towels. We would love to see a facility that had separate bathrooms for the athletes, because let’s face it, they smell and they get their dirty shoes everywhere.
- Delicious delectables: If you sell food and drinks, our wallets seem to open up on their own. But consider always stocking these: hot chocolate when it’s 50 degrees or below, diet soda for the parents, fun candy, and soft pretzels (who can resist these?) Extra credit for kosher hot dogs or plain cheese pizza slices. Also, some concession stands take our debit cards now. Awesome!
- Sunny/shade sections: Some of us are baskers, some of us avoid the sun. There should be seating that accommodates the sun worshipers and the sun-averse.
- Bleachers Bums: We can bring our own chairs, but if the bleachers are there, we can avoid it. We like bleachers with a top row with a back on them (best views and a little back support). Also bleachers with stairs as opposed to having to walk up and down the seats are ideal. And, if the concession stand wants to rent out those portable seats if we leave our driver’s license, awesome!
- Wi-fi: A girl can dream. I know we are supposed to pay attention to the game. But our daughter is only up to bat every 9th kid…