The Sports Facility Show is known throughout the sports and play construction industry as being a ‘must see’ event, with its vital advice on funding, construction, design and management of sports facilities.
Organised by SAPCA (the Sports and Play Construction Association), the next Show, in Scotland on 28 October, will have the added benefit of including several key speakers that are practising athletes – which offers the unique opportunity to hear about sports facilities from the people that use them – and speakers from the main Scottish sports governing bodies.
Theevent, being run in conjunction with sportscotland and supported by Bonar Yarns, will have a special focus on 3G pitches. Will the Scottish FA follow the decision set by the English FA in lifting the ban so that they can be used on all League pitches? How will this affect grassroots football? This and other key topics will be discussed in detail on the day by some of Scottish sports most discerning individuals and governing bodies.
The Sports Facility Show is a one-day event aimed at anybody, at any level, involved in the development of sports facilities – from sports clubs and schools to leisure operators and local authorities. It includes a full programme of seminars, an exhibition, demonstrations and expert advice from leading sports bodies and industry leaders.
Chris Trickey, Chief Executive of SAPCA, stresses why the event is a crucial tool to those concerned with the design, procurement, construction, and maintenance of sports facilities. He said: “The Sports Facility Show is an indispensable aid to help those involved in almost every aspect of indoor and outdoor sports facility development. It features an extraordinary array of industry leaders, national sporting bodies, and experts offering essential project advice and guidance to get the most out of your facility.
“Attendance is free and we strongly urge anyone involved in this important aspect of the sports industry to be there. Anyone from schools, universities, local authorities, sports clubs, and sports and leisure centres will learn important information to help get the most out of their sports facility. What’s more, community projects, playing field managers, architects, specifiers, contractors, and sports organisations will find it a valuable educational and networking experience.”
The show is being supported by leading sporting government bodies, including FIFA, the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby, Scottish Athletics and the Scottish Golf Union to name but a few.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said:“sportscotland is committed to investing in quality facilities as part of its drive towards developing a world-class sporting system at all levels. It is vitally important that we are investing in Scotland’s sporting infrastructure because good sports facilities are an important hook for encouraging people into sport and ensuring they stay involved.
Speakers at the event include: Ailsa Wylie (Commonwealth Games Hockey team) and a Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s player; sportscotland; Scottish Golf, Scottish Athletics, FIFA, the Scottish FA and Scottish Rugby Union.
In addition, there will be live maintenance demonstrations throughout the day on the venue’s synthetic grass pitches.
The Sports Facility Show will take place on 28 October 2014 at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell.
For more information and to register, visit www.sapca.org.uk/ravenscraig or call 024 7641 6316.
