US Squash and NSL partnership: planning courts for club and event use

The industry update

US Squash and the National Squash League announced an expanded partnership in September. The announcement includes plans to connect selected league events with US Squash junior tournaments and places the league’s headquarters at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.

Define the everyday use before adding the event layer

A squash facility may combine coaching, member play and occasional spectator events. Those uses compete for court time and supporting space. When developing a new venue, write down the normal weekly programme first, then identify what changes on event days. This is more useful for procurement than specifying a show court without an operating plan.

The court type should follow that brief. A complete all-glass squash court and a rear glass wall for a conventional court have different supply boundaries. The latter does not replace the front and side walls or automatically include flooring and lighting. Comparing them only by appearance can lead to missing work in the project budget and schedule.

Before you specify a court

For an existing facility, record the current construction and the parts being retained before asking for an upgrade proposal. For a new venue, confirm whether the request covers a full enclosure or a glass back wall system. Send a plan and intended programme so that the supplied package can be distinguished from local construction.