The FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre has established itself by supporting the installation of the key components of basketball arenas and the supply of quality basketball equipment. We now focus on the venue as a whole and, in particular, its use for elite basketball competition. 

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This FIBA Venue Guide serves not only to the FIBA Family but the wider basketball, sport and leisure community including local authorities, architects, venue owners and operators, the venue supply chain and competition organisers. It provides practical guidance for both new and existing arenas. 

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Each basketball arena is unique to its location, resources and users and therefore each project should be aligned with these aspects. With this in mind, we have developed this guide with the aim of  being relevant and adaptable across each of FIBA’s National Federations  This applies across different sizes and uses of arenas- from the top-elite level capable of hosting major FIBA competitions down to smaller arenas which serve their local community. A table is provided towards the end of the document to inform how the content could be scaled over different sizes of venue. It is not intended to be a prescriptive set of requirements.

 

Section 1 starts by setting the scene with the important aspects of planning a new arena or refurbishment project, including the key stakeholders involved and ensuring that fundamental criteria are met.

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Section 2 considers the main users of the arena with the emphasis on ensuring that arenas have the flexibility to accommodate different users and potentially adapt to hosting larger competitions. 

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Section 3 offers a deeper dive into the key components of a modern basketball arena and is sub-divided into four parts:

• the court itself (or field of play):

• the area immediately surrounding the court and systems and services to the court;

• other facilities in the venue which are key to basketball, such as team changing rooms;

• and broader aspects of venue design which require due consideration, such as sustainability and accessibility.  

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Section 4 explores outdoor basketball facilities including their location, court flooring and sub-base. This can be applied to full-sized courts and the increasingly popular 3x3 version of the game. 

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Section 5 covers operational considerations- arguably the most important phase in an arena’s lifecycle. This is split into two parts: the first covers facilities management including maintenance and cleaning with particular emphasis on court flooring. The second part provides guidance on switching between venue configurations and achieving flexibility.

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Finally, Section 6 anticipates the technology trends that we expect to influence the development of basketball arenas in the years to come.

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The FIBA Venue Guide has been written to offer an accessible overview of the key aspects of arena development, with emphasis on the needs of basketball. FIBA recommends that for any major projects that appropriate advice is obtained from competent organisations with appropriate expertise in building design and construction. This is especially important in respect of local legislation, building regulations and safety and licensing requirements.