Renting indoor soccer fields: experiences and tips

First off, my apologies to the moderator if I’ve posted this in the wrong section here.
I did a bit of digging through the forums first, and while there’s a thread about opening a gym, I figured it was better to start a fresh discussion specifically for this idea.

So, I’ve been chewing on the idea of investing in an indoor soccer facility to rent out by the hour, and I wanted to pick your brains:

Does anyone here have any expertise regarding indoor soccer fields or maybe something like Microsoft cageball? My vision is an indoor setup—likely leasing a space, maybe scouting for an old warehouse or a defunct manufacturing plant to renovate and repurpose.

1) Does anyone have hands-on experience starting a business like this? All I know for sure is that demand for field time is massive, and honestly, trying to book a slot in Chicago is basically impossible these days. That’s really what sparked this thought.

2) In terms of flooring, do people actually prefer hardwood or artificial turf?

3) What about cageball? Any thoughts on whether there's much of a market for that?

4) For those in the know, what does the startup checklist look like? I mean the bare essentials—power requirements, necessity of restrooms, lighting setups, permits, and all that legal red tape... etc., etc.

5) And then there’s the money side of things: what kind of ballpark figure are we looking at for initial costs? I’m talking about a lean, minimal investment—I’m not trying to build some high-end, spectacular arena right out of the gate.

Basically, if you have any insight at all, please don't be shy about sharing.
I really enjoyed that previous discussion about opening a gym or fitness center; it was quite eye-opening (for instance, it helped me realize that gym ownership probably isn't my cup of tea).😛😛

Thanks in advance!

wearymoose13 said:First off, sorry if I'm posting in the wrong section,
I did a quick search through the forums and couldn't find anything similar (there's stuff about opening a gym, but I figured a separate thread might be better).

I've been thinking about investing in an indoor soccer facility to rent out, so my question for you guys is:

Does anyone here actually know their way around indoor soccer fields or maybe Microsoft-style cageball? It would be an indoor setup—I'd probably just lease some old space, like a vacant warehouse or an old factory, and convert it;

1) Does anyone have experience starting this kind of business? All I know is that demand for field time is huge, and finding an open slot in Washington, D.C. is basically impossible. That's what got me thinking.

2) Is there more demand for hardwood floors or artificial turf?

3) Cageball—any thoughts on whether people actually want that?

4) If anyone knows the requirements for opening up: minimum specs, power needs, do I need bathrooms, lighting, permits, etc., etc...

5) And obviously, the money side: roughly how much would this cost? I'm talking about a bare-bones investment, not trying to build something spectacular.

Anyway, if you know anything at all, please share.
I really liked the discussion about opening a gym/fitness center; I learned quite a bit from that (like, for one, that it’s definitely not the right business for me).😛😛

Thanks in advance!

Cageball seems more popular down in California, but it could probably take off in Washington, D.C. too. You can fit three cageball courts (16x10 meters) into the space of one handball court. The main issue is the construction cost (three units might run you around $50 total), plus you have to factor in the artificial turf, which could cost anywhere from $15 to $20 per square meter to install. Hardwood is pricier. You'll need to calculate occupancy to ensure you're hitting at least 80% every day from 5 PM to 11 PM. Otherwise, it'll take a few years just to break even.