Managing Sport Facilities - 5th Edition by Gil Fried & Matthew Kastel (Paperback)

About the Book

Managing Sport Facilities, Fifth Edition With HKPropel Access, exposes students to the many duties of sport facility managers and primes them for the responsibilities of the job. Topics span systems and operations, maintenance, environmentally friendly practices, and more.

Book Synopsis

For many sports fans, attending a sporting event is about more than just watching the action unfold. It's a chance to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the venue. Whether it's a multibillion-dollar stadium or a high school gymnasium, each facility's success is a result of meticulous planning, innovative design, strategic marketing, diligent maintenance, and effective management of operations and human resources. When all these factors align, fans leave with cherished memories, regardless of the game's outcome.

Managing Sport Facilities, Fifth Edition With HKPropel Access, exposes students to the many duties of sport facility managers and primes them for the responsibilities of the job. Merging historical and theoretical foundations with real-world challenges, the text features insights from a diverse group of professionals who offer perspectives on a variety of topics, spanning systems and operations, maintenance, and environmentally friendly practices.

Endorsed by the Stadium Managers' Association, this updated edition is now in full color and places a greater emphasis on what facility managers and staff do on a daily basis and how venues are managed. To this end, a new chapter on systems management has been added, covering critical infrastructure such as plumbing, electrical systems, fire protection, life safety, communications, sound, and security. Additionally, a new chapter focusing on technology used in sports venues addresses lighting systems, scoreboard operation, concessions, and electronic ticketing.

The fifth edition offers students expanded opportunities for hands-on application of the material. Related online resources, delivered via HKPropel, include new and updated projects and case studies, encouraging students to apply fundamental concepts in real-world scenarios:

• An updated case study, Gil's Sportsplex, incorporates strategic planning, construction, financial analysis, and more.
• End-of-chapter assignments combine to form a semester-long project related to the construction or renovation of a sports facility.
• A crowd management certification can be obtained by watching a series of videos on this crucial skill and passing a short quiz.
• Day in the Life bonus content asks students to create a day planner for an event.
• A catalog of YouTube videos provides virtual tours and instructive information for students.

Other learning aids include flash card activities to review key terms. Within the text, Facility Focus sections and Behind the Scenes sidebars provide facility management insights and professional advice for facility managers.

With Managing Sport Facilities, students will receive a wealth of practical knowledge, best practices, and professional advice to equip them to make decisions in all areas of facility management.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

About the Author

Gil Fried, JD, is a professor at the University of West Florida (UWF) and Associate Dean of the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business at UWF. He started at UWF in 2021. Prior to his appointment at UWF, Fried was a professor in the Pompea College of Business at the University of New Haven for 21 years and retired in 2021 with the designation of professor emeritus.

Fried specializes in sport law, sport finance, and sport facility management. He received his master's degree in sport management and his law degree from The Ohio State University. He has taught courses and written numerous books and articles on sport risk management, sport facility management, sport analytics, esports, and sport finance.

Fried speaks throughout the United States on issues such as building and financing facilities and dealing with risk management concerns.

Matthew Kastel is the stadium manager of Oriole Park at Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles) for the Maryland Stadium Authority. He is a veteran of managing stadiums and events and has also worked at the Houston Astrodome; Citizens Bank Park; and the Washington, D.C., Convention Center.

Kastel is a past president and former board member of the Stadium Managers Association. He is on the Board of Visitors for the Bolte School of Business at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Additionally, he is part of the adjunct faculty at Mount St. Mary's and teaches stadium and event management to graduate students.