5 Things to Know Before Buying Basketball Court

There is nothing like being able to play your favorite sport in the comfort of your backyard. Basketball combines strategy, physical ability and determination into one fast-paced activity. Sure, you could drive you kids to a local park or gym, but there’s always the chance that all the courts will be taken. Having a high-quality basketball court in your own yard gives you peace of mind of where your kids are; in the convenience and safety of your own backyard!

Once you’ve settled on the idea to construct a basketball court, you’ll need to think about some considerations. Review the information below to see all that goes into building a court and how doing this can benefit your lifestyle.

Outdoor Basketball Court Considerations

Creating the perfect basketball court will require you to think about your applications. Are you investing in a home court to improve your skills or to enjoy time with your kids? Someone training for high school, college or traveling teams should follow league regulation dimensions, while families wanting to enjoy some time together may be more lenient with the court size and layout.

Recognizing your uses will help you finalize the design and construction specifications of your outdoor basketball court. Here are a few additional questions to ask yourself:

 

1. What type of surface do I want for my basketball court?
2. What league dimensions will I follow?
3. Where do I want to place the court in the yard?
4. What do I hope to gain from having my own basketball court?

You can expect a backyard basketball court to cost anywhere from $11,000 to over $70,000 depending on site preparation, size and features you include.

Court Flooring Options for an Outdoor Basketball Court

We have all seen outdoor basketball courts made of concrete or asphalt. These materials are some of the most common for home-court construction, but they are far from the only options. The type of surface you select will affect the safety, performance and even aesthetics, maintenance and lifespan of your court.

Review the general options of surface material for outdoor basketball courts:

• Asphalt Basketball Courts
• Multi-Purpose Outdoor Basketball Courts
• Advanced Outdoor Basketball Courts

CBA Sports can help you decide the best surface material for your outdoor basketball court application.

Asphalt Basketball Courts

You can find asphalt basketball courts within public parks and community centers. Builders choose asphalt because it is the usually the least expensive option. These courts are made by mixing stone and tar.

Asphalt is susceptible to cracking. It can be cosmetically repaired or resurfaced, but once a crack develops, it is structural and will return year after year. One other thing to keep in mind about asphalt basketball courts, is they are unforgiving. Jumping or pivoting on hard asphalt surfaces may result in injuries.

Multi-Purpose Outdoor Basketball Courts

Players who will use their basketball court for more than one activity might consider a multi-purpose court surface. These installations are excellent at minimizing the chances of injuries since they are made with shock-absorbing polypropylene materials. Courts are typically built on top of flat concrete slabs. Surface materials can be created in various colors along with graphics and game lines.

Multi-purpose outdoor basketball courts offer exceptional traction for players. The surfaces are forgiving on the body unlike asphalt or concrete courts. A multi-purpose court allows you to play multiple games, including pickleball, volleyball and soccer, making your purchase more versatile. Also, this court type survives in hot and cold environments without jeopardizing performance.

Advanced Outdoor Basketball Courts

Advanced court systems are similar to multi-purpose installations. The main difference is that an advanced court surface is engineered with enhanced features to provide a true ball bounce, traction and shock absorption. An advanced outdoor basketball court system will be similar to playing on an indoor performance sports floor.

How Thick Does Concrete Need to Be for a Basketball Court?

All the court materials mentioned will require a concrete base level. You should expect to build an outdoor basketball court on a slab that’s no less than 4 inches thick. Rebar reinforcements are recommended to prevent the concrete from cracking, thus providing years of maintenance-free enjoyment.

Home Basketball Court Dimensions

Basketball court dimensions change according to age group and league level. It’s common for different high schools, gyms and recreation centers to have unique court dimensions based on who is using the court. If you’re in the process of figuring out how to turn your backyard into an outdoor basketball court, the dimensions below will be helpful:

1. Official NBA court: Professional basketball courts measure 94 feet long by 50 feet wide.
2. High school regulation courts: High school games are played on courts 84 feet long by 50 feet wide.
3. Junior high school regulation courts: Middle school-age courts are smaller, measuring 74 feet long by 42 feet wide.

Backyard residential basketball courts can be built in as little as a 26 foot by 26 foot space, and go all the way up to a full size 60 foot by 110 foot NBA full court.

How Far Is the Three-Point Line?

The distance of the three-point line in basketball changes in relation to the court dimensions. An official NBA court has the three-point line 23 feet and 9 inches away from the center of the rim. NCAA athletes shoot 22 feet 1 3/4 inches, while High school students shoot three points from 19 feet and 9 inches away.

Where to Position Foul Lines and Key Lines

All basketball foul lines sit 15 feet from the front of the backboard. Make sure you measure from the backboard surface and not from the basket. Professional NBA courts feature a 16-foot key (width). High school regulation courts should have a 12-foot wide lane.

Backboard Size for Outdoor Basketball Court

There is room for flexibility in your backboard installation. Official NBA backboards measure 72 inches wide and 42 inches tall. However, manufacturers make smaller backboard sizes for home applications. You might choose a more compact backboard to save space if you’ll use your court for multiple sports or if you have limited space.

Where to Construct Your Court

Your yard layout will come into play when building an outdoor basketball court. The court’s location is entirely up to you, but it helps to choose an area that’s relatively flat from the get-go. How will the court impact existing drainage? How close can you construct in relation to tree lines? Do you have any underground utilities or other obstacles to consider? These are questions that a professional court builder can assist you in answering.

Possibilities and Benefits of a Home Court

Having a home basketball court is a great idea, as you’ll see in the benefits below:

1. You will always know where your kids are.
2. Invite friends and family over to play tournaments.
3. Play basketball anytime you want when you install an outdoor lighting system.

Should I Construct the Court Myself or Hire a Professional?

You’ll be using your outdoor basketball court for family time, recreational games and in some cases practice, so it’s important that your investment meets your design expectations. Having a professional team create your outdoor court ensures your installation is done correctly and its’ surface and components are responsive to competitive gameplay.

Choose each component of your outdoor basketball court when you work with CBA Sports. We serve residents in Atlanta to help make backyard dreams a reality.

Count on CBA Sports for Your Outdoor Basketball Court Installation

CBA Sports has over 30 year of experience building custom outdoor basketball courts. Choose the best surface materials for your project, and rely on our experts to make recommendations for courts of any size. Contact us today for a free consultation or to learn more about our capabilities.

Here in Minnesota, we have a lot of impressive professional sports stadiums. U.S. Bank Stadium, Allianz Field, and Target Center all attract thousands of fans each year. Not to mention all of the sporting complexes for high schools, colleges, and community centers across the state!

There are many reasons someone might be interested in building a sports complex. Maybe a local high school needs a new gymnasium, or the interest in a particular regional team is growing. Whether you’re looking to make a profit, enrich your community, or both, as yourself these 8 questions before you move forward with building a sports facility.

1) One Sport or Multiple? ⚽🏀⚾

The first thing you should consider when building a sports complex is how many sports it will accommodate. For example, are you intending to build an indoor complex only with volleyball courts? Or do you have a vision for a much larger complex with multiple fields, courts, and swimming lanes?

Deciding on this factor will inform many of your remaining decisions about:

• Where to build the complex
• Budgeting needs
• Design specifications

2) Which Turf Material Will You Use? 🌱

If you’re building a sports facility for football, soccer, baseball, or lacrosse, you’ll need to consider if you want to use natural grass or artificial turf.

• Artificial Turf: Turf is most common for indoor sports complexes, but it’s still an option for outdoor stadiums. There are a few materials you can choose from, with “field turf” being the most popular.
• Natural Grass: Many athletes prefer playing on natural grass as it’s softer than turf. It’s most commonly used for outdoor complexes; however, it comes with more maintenance needs than artificial turf.

✅Pros of Artificial Turf

• Field turf doesn’t require mowing
• Irrigation systems can handle draining easily
• Lower maintenance costs
• Much less water usage since turf doesn’t need to be watered

❌Cons of Artificial Turf

• Turf can get hot and make the playing area feel hotter
• Some bacteria can live on turf for 90+ days
• Not as soft as real grass, so many players don’t enjoy playing on turf

✅Pros of Natural Grass

• Soft surface that’s safer for athlete’s joints
• Most athletes grow up playing on natural grass, so it feels the most comfortable
• Can use natural resources already in place if constructing an outdoor playing field

❌Cons of Natural Grass

• Gets muddy and slick in the rain
• Requires consistent maintenance (watering, mowing, etc.)
• Requires an irrigation system to prevent flooding or to keep the soil from drying out

3) Are You Fundraising or Creating a Budget? 💸

In order to build a sports facility of any size, you’ll need money. Take time to flesh out the details of how you’ll obtain the necessary funds.

Will you fundraise in your community? Take out a business loan? Or seek funds from investors?

Be sure you have a crystal clear idea of the type of complex you’re going to build, any amenities included, and the contracting team you’ll partner with before you start fundraising.

The best way to know how much the project will cost is to work directly with a general contractor, which brings us to our next point…

4) Which Contractor Will You Work With? 👷

It’s vital to work with an experienced commercial contractor when building an indoor sports complex. Think about it: a contractor that primarily builds houses will be quite different than a contractor who is comfortable with a large-scale construction project.

Choosing the right contractor can make or break the success of your project, as a shoddy team can cause you to go over budget and miss deadlines.

Vet general contractors by reading online reviews, noting how well they communicate, and asking about similar projects they’ve worked on in the past. Don’t be afraid to look outside your city or state if you’re coming up short.

5) Are You Familiar With Local Codes & Regulations? 📋

Each municipality has different codes and regulations that you must follow when building a sports facility. Thankfully, a reputable contractor will handle obtaining the necessary permits and following regulations.

You’ll need to present your plans to the local municipality and meet with their zoning department for approval before you can move forward.

6) What Lighting Will You Incorporate? 💡

Whether you’re building an outdoor or indoor sports facility, be sure to work with your architect or design-build contractor on the lighting.

Installing effective floodlights in an outdoor complex will allow you to schedule games at night and make more money out of your investment. Indoor facilities need lighting whenever the building is in use. Consider using LED lights to reduce your energy bills in the long run.

7) Is a Parking Lot in the Picture? 🚗

Many people forget to consider parking lots in their project plans. It may seem fine to have guests park down the street, but the lack of a parking lot can actually be a major deterrent for spectators.

Plan to incorporate a parking lot right next to your complex or as nearby as possible. Be sure to build one with enough parking spaces to accommodate the average number of fans anticipated at each sporting event.

8) How Will You Accommodate Severe Weather? ⛈️

If you’re planning to build an entirely indoor sports complex, you don’t have to worry about severe weather as much as with an outdoor complex.

For outdoor sports, lightning is a common and dangerous weather condition. Be sure to install a lightning detection system and lightning horn when building an outdoor or open-air field.

Consider also incorporating shade structures for outdoor and open-air stadiums. Shade structures allow players and spectators alike to stay cool during extreme heat.

Work With APX to Bring Your Sports Complex to Life

Arguably the most important consideration on this list is choosing a reputable commercial contractor. A skilled and experienced general contractor will be able to guide you through the necessary steps and helpful tips for building a sports facility.

Whether you’re looking to build a stadium that seats 60,000 spectators or a new basketball court for a local school, reach out to APX Construction Group. Our general contracting and design-build services have executed hundreds of incredible commercial buildings across Minnesota and beyond. Call us today for a free consultation and see how we can help you build your dream sports complex!

FAQ

Can you make money owning a sports complex?

Yes, it is possible to make money owning a sports complex. The total profit you can make depends on factors such as the size of the complex, its location, services offered, and the number of customers that use the facility. Another way to generate additional revenue is through sponsorships and events held at the complex.

What does a sports complex include?

A sports complex typically includes a range of facilities such as playing fields, courts, tracks, and pools. Some facilities offer amenities such as locker rooms, meeting rooms, food service areas, and retail spaces. Depending on the type of complex, it may also include additional features such as climbing walls and zip lines.

What are some possible constraints of building a new sports arena?

Some possible constraints of building a new sports arena include the cost of construction, the size of the arena, the environmental impact of the project, local zoning regulations, and neighborhood opposition to the project. Other big factors to consider are the amount of available space and access to funding.