III. Industry Analysis
Basketball currently ranks as the second most popular major participatory sport in the United
States. It has expanded from a seasonal sport into a year-round activity, with travel teams,
amateur leagues, and training requiring the use of basketball facilities on an ongoing basis.
Basketball’s continuous popularity, particularly among younger consumers, has helped generate
a steady revenue stream for the Indoor Sports Facilities industry.
Not only do young people join school and other competitive teams, but the ease of playing the
sport leads people of all ages to regularly play both organized and impromptu games of
basketball. In fact, 8 million Americans reported playing a game of basketball at least 13 times
last year, or approximately once per month. The number of these regular hoopsters, also known
as “core participants,” has increased by 8% over the past four years.
Additional demand will arise from youth development initiatives. One such initiative, called Jr.
NBA Leagues, is a newly-formed national network of youth basketball leagues aimed at
providing equitable access to team participation for children aged 6 to 14.
A major component of organized team sports is the opportunity to compete in tournaments,
which draw significant spectator audiences. It has been noted that families treat these
tournaments, which often require overnight travel, as vacations, and an area’s tourism benefits
when quality basketball facilities are available to host these tournaments.
These factors contribute to the demand for high quality basketball facilities.
