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In the evolving landscape of youth and amateur sports, the integration of medical partnerships and staffing within sports facilities has become a cornerstone for facility development, promoting athlete health and safety, and fostering community well-being. Facilities like these detailed here provide a case study for the opportunities for collaboration between sports and healthcare.
In many cases, these healthcare partners are go-to resources and referrals for athletes and their families, but not exclusively. Even with medical partnerships developed during the construction of the facility, many facilities leverage local relationships and independent contracts with certified trainers, or use services like Go4 to source trainers on demand.
The unifying factor of these partnerships is the unwavering commitment to athlete safety. According to Stanford Medicine, there are approximately 3.5 million children age 14 and younger who are injured while playing sports or recreational activities, and about three million of these require an emergency room visit. Luckily, most injuries are minor and include sprains, strains, concussions and fractures.
All sports pose varying risks of injury, with football and soccer at the higher rate of injury versus swimming and golf on the low end. Today, many events and facilities offer or even require onsite certified Athletic Trainers (ATs) for major tournaments and events.
ATs provide immediate injury response, ensuring that concussions, fractures and other sports-related injuries are handled properly. Their expertise in concussion management is especially crucial, as returning to play too soon can lead to long-term brain damage. They can also help prevent injuries by promoting proper warm-ups, hydration and conditioning.
Heat-related illnesses are another concern, especially in warmer climates. Young athletes are more vulnerable to heat stroke, but ATs can recognize early symptoms and take action before it becomes dangerous. They also play a key role in safe return-to-play decisions, ensuring that athletes fully recover before resuming activity. Beyond safety, having an AT onsite reduces legal liability for event organizers while giving parents peace of mind.
Game Changing Partnerships
Emerald Acres Sports Connection is a game-changer for the community of Mattoon, Illinois. This top-notch facility was funded through a combination of public and private investments, including the expansion of an existing Business Improvement District (BID), future property tax incentives and private equity contributions. The total development cost for the sports facilities was approximately $65 million.
One of the standout features of Emerald Acres is its partnership with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, which was a major donor to the project.
The Sarah Bush Lincoln Mattoon Walk-In Clinic has moved into the complex, making healthcare easily accessible for athletes, local residents and visitors. That means quick medical attention is always within reach, helping to keep everyone safe and in the game.
But the collaboration goes beyond just having a clinic onsite. By bringing healthcare directly into the sports environment, Emerald Acres is fostering a culture that puts health and wellness front and center for the entire city of Mattoon.
A Forward-Thinking Approach
In Overland Park, Kansas, the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to sports facility development. This 420,000-square-foot complex is designed to cater to a wide array of sports. The facility’s naming rights and operational partnerships with AdventHealth underscore a commitment to whole-person health, integrating medical services directly into the sports environment.
Because health facilities are co-located within the Bluhawk development, this partnership creates an opportunity for participants to have quick access to top-tier medical care, from injury prevention to recovery. Over the next year, the sports park will finish building a custom, onsite suite for PT Solutions Physical Therapy, a department of AdventHealth, to offer onsite physical therapy solutions. A mental fitness initiative is also in the works in concert with AdventHealth to the athletes’ mental health and off the court (or ice, or field).
Financially, the naming rights partnership with AdventHealth provides substantial support for the facility’s marketing and operations. This collaboration enhances the quality of services offered and contributes to the sustainability and growth of the sports park, ensuring that it remains a premier destination for youth and amateur sports.
This isn’t AdventHealth’s first foray into partnerships in the youth and amateur sports space. They have also partnered with AdventHealth Center Ice, located in Wesley Chapel, Florida, with AdventHealth Sports Arena at Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus (also in Wesley Chapel) and have partnerships with youth sports organizations like the Calhoun Recreation Department in Georgia.
Multiple Options for Care
Cedar Point Sports Center (CPSC) is a go-to spot for youth and amateur sports, community recreation and events in Sandusky, Ohio. One of the key development partners was with Firelands Health whose Firelands Lee C. Jewett Sports Medicine Center is co-located on the Cedar Point Sports campus.
This 25,000-square-foot onsite facility includes a physical therapy gym, pool and water therapy, sports performance enhancement programs, golf fitness and analysis, as well as examination and treatment suites. Occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services are also offered on the premises. Firelands Hospital works with the CPSC team to provide CPR, First Aid and AED training to staff to ensure all guests are provided with high levels of care should an issue ever arise.
This onsite amenity helps to fuel a community hub of health, wellness and recovery in Sandusky and activation of the Cedar Point Sports Center property, which is also frequented by non-sports enthusiasts looking to get their steps in on the walking track.
To support their event calendar and athletic trainer needs, the team at CPSC has developed a working partnership with NOMS Advanced Health Therapy. This team is not just on-demand support for tournaments and programs but also provides consultation on training room supplies and updates.
The Broader Impact of Medical Partnerships in Sports Facilities
Partnering with medical providers in youth and amateur sports facilities does so much more than offer onsite event support. These collaborations often help athletes thrive by giving them access to essential health resources like preventive care, nutrition guidance and mental health support.
These partnerships boost a facility’s reputation, making it a go-to spot for events and athletes who prioritize health and safety. Plus, the financial backing from medical partners helps fund new facilities and programs, ensuring players get the best experience possible and creating opportunities for underserved populations.
Examples like those mentioned above illustrate the “win-win” opportunity between youth and amateur sports and medical partners that goes beyond just onsite event support. These facilities are just the tip of the iceberg in the industry.
As more organizations have seen the advantages of brokering successful partnerships with medical entities, they have become increasingly prevalent. Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports in Ohio is has an onsite partnership with Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center to bring health and wellness programming and rehabilitation services into the Hilliard community, and the Rocky Mount Event Center in North Carolina includes a 4,500-square-foot OIC Specialty Care Center health clinic in partnership which offers 3-D mammography exams at low or no cost to women in the area. SDM
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