Being put in charge of managing a stadium is a big responsibility. Not only will you be responsible for staying on top of all the financial considerations, but you will also be responsible for overseeing franchising, public and staff safety, and the hiring and firing of auxiliary staff. If you are going to do this successfully, then there are some things that you need to know beforehand.
Be Approachable
As a manager, you are going to be responsible for overseeing every aspect of the stadium’s day to day operations. It is essential that anyone who works in your stadium, as well as those who are visiting as paying customers, are able to approach you with confidence when necessary. Feedback from your workers and customers can be invaluable in finding the right balance between offering a high level of service and ensuring that your workers aren’t under an unreasonable amount of pressure.
Communicate Clearly
Good communication is essential whenever you are in a management position of any kind. A manager that cannot communicate effectively with their staff is never going to be very effective. In fact, this type of manager can be actively harmful to team morale and productivity.
Always make sure that you are clear in your communications with your workers, and that you explain your decisions when necessary. The more clearly you communicate with your staff, the easier it will be for them to communicate with you.
Always Put Safety First
As the manager of a sports venue, you are ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone. That includes both spectators and players; if anyone is injured because of lapses in your safety protocols, then you will be held responsible. If you are communicating clearly, all your workers should understand how to carry out their duties safely.
However, as the manager, you have a duty to make sure that the environment your staff are working in is a fundamentally safe one. That means that you need to make the correct decisions when it comes to the design and layout of your stadium. You need to know your local fence codes and you need to ensure that all the fencing you use meets the required standards.
Be Organized
If you want to be an effective manager and get the best out of your staff, you need to lead by example. Showing your workers that you value good organization and that you have a plan in place for every eventuality will encourage them to do the same. The more effective you are at completing your own duties, the more effective your staff will be at theirs.
While being responsible for managing an entire stadium might seem like a daunting task at first, it is a challenge that most experienced managers should be equipped for. As long as you remember the key advice outlined above and you are diligent about staying on top of all your many duties as stadium manager, there is no reason that you can’t succeed at running even the biggest of sports stadiums.