How to Reduce Sports Maintenance Costs: A Facility Manager’s Guide

Is your facility constantly needing to replace sports equipment, and you’re spending too much of your budget on repairs? Our guide covers tips and advice on how to reduce sports maintenance costs so you can save money and keep your sports facility running smoothly.

Most of the time, regular replacements of sports equipment come down to the quality of the products. If you’re not investing in good-quality or value equipment, it won’t last half as long as it should. This will result in constant replacements and repairs, which can quickly add up to a hefty expense.

Other factors like staff training, storage, and cleaning can also play a part. If you have good processes in place for all of these, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your equipment and reduce maintenance costs.

Here at Edwards Sports, we've been supplying sports equipment to facilities since 1884, so we know a thing or two about best practices for your facilities' sporting products.

If you want to start spending less of your budget, below are some ways to help you do exactly that.

How to Reduce Equipment Maintenance Costs for Your Facility

Your sports facilities equipment can be a significant cost annually, especially if it's undergoing constant repair and often needs replacing. But it doesn't have to be.

If you think your facility spends a large part of its budget on equipment maintenance costs, below are some ways to reduce the spending and make better use of your equipment.

If you’re just starting up your facility, you can also take some notes for when you’re open in the future.

How to Create a Multi-Sports Facility

1. Start from the Beginning: Purchase Quality Sports Products

By opting for the cheapest equipment you can find, you might actually be doing more financial harm than good, especially if you keep having to repair, replace, repair, replace.

Instead, you could choose slightly more expensive equipment that's durable and actually lasts, so you don't have to constantly pay for maintenance and replacements.

That's why we always recommend purchasing your netting, posts, cages, and other sports products from Edwards Sports.

Since 1884, we've supplied sporting equipment to high-profile facilities, clubs, and venues like Wimbledon, the London 2012 Olympic Games, the MCC Cricket Academy at Lord's, and many, many more.

We take great pride in manufacturing our products with the utmost precision, using high-quality, premium materials, and, of course, doing so to all relevant safety standards.

Whether you're a school, local community centre, prestigious event, or high-level club, we have a selection of tennis, football, rugby, and more sports products for you to choose from.

So, consider us as your sports equipment supplier if you're looking to keep your equipment's maintenance costs to a minimum. Shop some of our selection below!

2. Implement Preventive Maintenance

Regularly scheduled inspections and servicing prevent unexpected equipment faults or failures. You don't want to ignore inspections and find all your equipment needs major repairs or even replacements.

This proactive approach also ensures equipment operates efficiently and safely. Without regular inspections, someone could get injured, and your facility might be liable.

By addressing minor issues before they escalate, facilities can avoid costly repairs and downtime.

3. Train Staff Effectively

Ensuring staff are well-trained in equipment use, basic maintenance, and storage can prevent unnecessary misuse and minor issues from becoming major problems.

Regular refresh training sessions will keep staff updated on best practices and safety protocols that might change throughout the year.

This is basic facility management, so we're sure you already have it implemented, but it's helpful to remind you of its importance.

4. Establish a Spare Parts Inventory

Maintaining an inventory of essential spare parts ensures quick replacements, minimising downtime.

This might include keeping a supply of clips, screws, pegs, and flags — anything minor that seems unimportant but actually isn’t.

This readiness prevents prolonged equipment outages and associated revenue losses, so if you haven't already, we recommend stocking up on spare parts.

You can shop a selection of ours below, or browse our website if you're looking for a particular sport!

5. Monitor Energy Consumption

Regularly assessing and optimising equipment's energy usage can lead to cost savings. This refers to fitness machines or any sports equipment that needs power to work. If you have a gym, this applies to you.

If you're close to an equipment upgrade or need to make some replacements, consider opting for sustainable, energy-efficient equipment for your gym or facility.

Energy-efficient equipment not only reduces utility bills but also often requires less maintenance.

6. Schedule Regular Audits

Lastly, periodic audits of equipment performance and maintenance practices help identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

These audits inform strategic decisions to enhance maintenance protocols if it finds a lot of repairs/replacements need to be made.

Doing these multiple times throughout the year will extend the life of your equipment because you'll be able to pinpoint the exact areas that need attention before they're beyond repair.

7. Store & Maintain Your Equipment Correctly

We'll discuss this in more detail below because, arguably, it is one of the most important and effective ways to keep your equipment maintenance cost down.

By properly storing your equipment and cleaning it effectively, it will stand the test of time.

How to Maintain & Store Sports Equipment to Prolong Its Lifespan

Store in a Clean, Dry, Temperature Controlled Environment

Moisture and humidity are the enemy of most sports equipment, especially in the UK, where damp conditions are common.

Nevertheless, storage of storage equipment, especially in the winter, is necessary to prevent it from being exposed to harsh elements that could cause even more damage.

We suggest using dehumidifiers in cold, enclosed storage areas that are prone to damp. We also recommend regularly cleaning your space to stop dirt and debris from piling up.

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Use Racks, Hooks, & Wall-Mounted Systems

Avoid piling items on top of each other, which causes wear and tear. Instead, allocate designated storage units or areas for specific equipment.

If you're limited on space, start using the wall by installing racks or hooks. This would be ideal for lighter equipment or equipment that might tangle if left on the floor, like netting.

Keep heavy items like posts and bases on the ground to prevent potential accidents.

Rotate Usage (If You Can)

If you're a large facility and have the luxury of having multiple pieces of the same equipment, we recommend rotating this as much as possible to prevent overuse of certain items while others stay untouched.

This is particularly important for schools and clubs using equipment across multiple age groups and teams.

If you don't have the equipment to rotate regularly, don't worry; this just might mean you need to take extra care when cleaning and storing.

Always Clean After Use

Encourage cleanliness throughout your facility, for the users, not just the staff.

Ensure users wipe down their equipment after sessions, and give your staff proper cleaning instructions for the end of the day or when matches or sessions have finished.

For shared items like mats, weights, or balls, implement a weekly disinfection routine using non-corrosive products.

You can always machine-wash soft shared equipment like bibs regularly to keep everything sanitary for your facility's users.

Cover & Protect When Not in Use

Finally, to protect outdoor equipment permanently erected, use tarpaulin covers or waterproof sheeting when not in use or during the off-season. This will ensure that constant harsh weather conditions don't affect it.

Where possible, mobile goals, posts, and benches should be stored undercover or inside during extended periods of non-use.

Other Maintenance Cost Reduction Tips for Your Facility

While equipment maintenance can take a big chunk out of your facilities budget, it's important to remember that there are other ways to keep the overall maintenance cost as minimal as possible.

Things like lighting, heating, and court surfaces should all be considered when trying to decrease maintenance costs.

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Just remember, while some of these tips may cost you more initially, they will cost you less in the long run, so you have to weigh up your options and ultimately decide what's best for you as a facility.

Tennis Court Maintenance 101: How to Ace Your Maintenance Procedure

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Equipment to Save Money in the Long Run

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to reduce maintenance costs at your sports facility.

It's not always easy to see where you need to make changes, but understanding that small improvements can make a huge difference to your spending is the first step to keeping away from the top of your budget!

If you're looking for more advice on how to improve your facility, please head to our blog, where we have a number of helpful tips and guidance!

As always, Edwards Sports is here to be your first choice of sports equipment supplier. If you have an issue with your current equipment and need a replacement, or have general questions, please feel free to browse our website or contact us! We're more than happy to help.

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