Stadium Painting, Maintenance & Refurbishment
Hosting various teams and tens of thousands of spectators, sporting complexes and stadiums are subject to a fair amount of wear and tear throughout any given year. It’s essential to maintain the aesthetics of these complexes, as painting and decorating play an important role in creating vibrant and welcoming environments. As one of the UK’s largest property services, Bell is expertly positioned when it comes to stadium painting and sports complex decoration.
Utilising Colour Psychology in Stadium Painting & Design
The choice of paint colour when painting a stadium, sports complex, or leisure centre is a decision that should not be taken lightly. It’s important to consider the psychological effects of different colours on mood and behaviour.
One study found that saturated and bright colours are associated with higher emotional arousal, which can also be affected by hue. Another study found that good colour design might contribute to a more positive mood.
It can be helpful to consider colour associations when planning for leisure venue refurbishment or stadium painting. For example, red is associated with boldness, excitement, passion, drama, urgency, and energy, while orange is associated with energy, happiness, warmth, and a welcoming atmosphere. Green is associated with calmness, relaxation, balance, and tranquillity, and blue is associated with coolness, calm, relaxation, and serenity.
With this in mind, it’s possible to use specific colours strategically in stadium design to promote team spirit and enhance the spectator experience. Two fine examples of strategic colour choices in sports complex decoration include:
- Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany: The Allianz Arena’s external ETFE plastic panels are lit up in different colours according to the game being played to create different atmospheres and align the stadium with the team’s identity for an enhanced fan experience.
- AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA: As the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the AT&T Stadium makes extensive use of blue and white to create a sense of pride and unity among fans, with the blue also playing a role in creating an element of calm to reduce anxiety and heighten focus among fans as well as players.
- With more than 35 years of experience, Bell has an expert approach to selecting and applying colours to create the desired atmospheres in stadiums and other sporting complexes.
Tackling Durability Challenges in High-Traffic Areas
High-traffic areas such as entryways and concourses in sporting complexes and stadiums face unique challenges and experience significant levels of wear and tear. This makes frequent maintenance and regular refurbishment and stadium painting unavoidable.
Common signs of wear and tear in these spaces include marks and scuffs, spills and stains, chipped edges, worn-out paint, and colour fading in areas exposed to sunlight. These kinds of wear and tear come with the territory, so it’s important to choose durable paint and other materials which can withstand heavy foot traffic and frequent cleaning.
Use the following tips and best practices when selecting paints and finishes that offer durability for your sports complex decoration:
1. Choose paints formulated to offer durability and withstand wear and tear.
2. Look for paints with abrasion resistance.
3. Select stain-resistant paints.
4. Choose paints with high washability for high-traffic areas.
5. Look for paints with low or zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds).
6. Select the right finish for a balance between durability, washability, and aesthetics, such as satin or semi-gloss. Bell has vast experience in addressing durability challenges in stadium environments, thanks to our work in sports complexes and stadiums.
Enhancing Brand Identity through Paint and Décor
By using the right choice of paint, signage, and other elements for sports complex decoration, it’s possible to reinforce a team’s brand identity through the complex and stadium. Extending these design elements beyond the pitch provides an immersive experience for fans.
Custom murals, graphics, and logos in various places around the complex as part of leisure venue refurbishment can also play a role in creating a unique and memorable fan experience. These elements can be used in wayfinding sign systems, engaging concession areas, and interactive fan zones that lend themselves to photo opportunities worthy of being shared on fans’ social media accounts.
Edgbaston Cricket Ground and Ibrox Football Stadium are two of the venues where Bell’s dedicated team brought the expert touch and helped enhance brand identity through creative painting and décor solutions. Thanks to our decades of experience and thorough product knowledge, we can customise designs to align with any client’s brand image and values.
Ongoing Maintenance to Identify and Prevent Issues
As mentioned, regular heavy foot-traffic and heavy use means ongoing maintenance and regular stadium painting plays an integral role in preserving the appearance and integrity of sports complexes. Use this checklist of maintenance tasks to ensure that any issues are addressed before they worsen:
- Inspect exterior and interior spaces, especially high-traffic areas such as entrances, concourses, concession areas, and restrooms, for signs of wear, stains, scuffing, graffiti, and faded or peeling paint.
- If possible, use an appropriate solvent to remove graffiti, first having checked that the solvent will not remove the original paint.
- Wash away stains and scuffs using the appropriate detergent.
- Repair other surface damage.
Faced with common and recurring issues such as fading paint or mould growth at stadiums, sports complexes, and leisure venues, it’s possible to implement proactive measures to combat or prevent them. Some proactive measures to consider include:
- Choose UV-resistant paints or a clear UV-resistant topcoat to prevent discolouration and fading.
- Use an anti-graffiti topcoat to make it easier to remove graffiti and stains.
- Ensure all drainage systems work properly and trim shrubs, trees, and other vegetation away from paintwork to inhibit the growth of mould and mildew.
- Use gentle detergent and the appropriate cleaning equipment for regular cleaning, which not only removes new dirt but can also help prevent mildew and mould growth.
Choose Bell for Stadium & Sporting Complex Maintenance Services
With more than 1,500 painters and decorators, more than 200 painting and decorating apprentices,14 decorating academies, and teams of other qualified tradesmen across the UK, Bell offers comprehensive maintenance services tailored to the unique needs of sporting venues. Our teams provide personalised, local services with all the efficiencies and reassurance of an established national organisation. Colour trends are for homeowners, not sports complexes.
When it comes to stadium painting, the goal should be to create unforgettable experiences for athletes and spectators alike while ensuring durability and ease of maintenance. Get in touch with Bell for all your leisure venue refurbishment needs.
