Beyond the tin shed – The Community Power of Indoor Stadiums
Many Australians grew up playing sport in recreation centres that were little more than sweltering tin sheds—functional, echoing spaces that were often closed unless pre-booked. But today’s indoor stadiums can be so much more: engines of economic growth, cultural meeting points, and vital pillars of public health.
Some still see indoor stadiums as just polished floors in a basic shed—but with thoughtful planning and design, they can become much more. These facilities offer communities opportunities that extend well beyond sport.
Indoor multi-use court, Swan Active Midland
Community & Cultural Value
In today’s competitive funding landscape, it’s critical that recreation centres offer both community and economic return. When well-designed, these facilities can act as bridges between cultures, generations, and lifestyles—delivering real benefits in health, social connection, and regional development.
Far from being single-purpose venues, indoor stadiums can become:
Sources of community pride
Drivers of local and state economic activity (returning up to $7 for every $1 invested)
Catalysts for long-term wellbeing and social cohesion
With the right approach, indoor stadiums support outcomes such as:
Improved health, cognitive development, and reduced effects of inactivity
Social inclusion, intergenerational engagement, and increased volunteering
Crime reduction and community safety
Stronger urban fabric through connected, activated neighbourhoods
Pathways to elite sport and career development
Increased visitation and sports-based tourism
Designing for Flexibility & Functionality
To truly serve their communities, modern stadiums must balance competing priorities—being attractive yet secure, multi-use yet purpose-specific, and high-quality yet cost-effective. Key challenges include:
Designing spaces that are both welcoming and operationally efficient
Delivering high performance within strict budget constraints
Achieving comfortable environments without compromising running costs
Creating flexible layouts while maintaining safety and accessibility
Solving these challenges unlocks genuine mixed-use functionality, from school graduations to exhibitions, performances, corporate events, and of course, sport. Technical considerations include:
Varying occupancy requirements for sporting vs. non-sporting events
Managing acoustics for speech clarity and noise control
Ensuring intuitive wayfinding and user flow
Adequate, secure, and accessible storage
Material choices that enhance durability and ease of maintenance
At Carabiner, our designs anticipate and resolve these challenges, creating flexible, future-ready facilities
Commercial Viability
Co-locating commercial tenancies—such as cafés, childcare, allied health, or retail—within recreation precincts enhances community convenience while generating income that offsets operational costs. This mixed-use approach supports long-term sustainability and transforms centres into vibrant community hubs.
Events hosted in these facilities can also draw visitors from outside the region, contributing to economic development and positioning regional towns as activity centres.
Health, Inclusion & Activation
Indoor stadiums support resilience by encouraging frequent physical activity and social engagement. Designing for multiple codes—basketball, netball, futsal, volleyball, badminton—broadens community access. Purposeful programming ensures activation throughout the week, across age groups and interests.
Evidence shows that attracting the community for one purpose increases the likelihood of participation in others—including sport
Community-Led Design
The key to designing successful community infrastructure is genuine engagement with the people who will use it. At Carabiner, stakeholder collaboration is central to our process.
Take Swan Active Midland, a recent project for the City of Swan. Community consultation directly shaped the facility’s design, leading to expanded gym spaces, tailored programming, and integrated amenities—delivering both strong community adoption and financial sustainability.
A well designed facility will attract the community through the other offerings and once there, evidence confirms that this will in turn encourage greater participation in sport.
Swan Active Midland, gym
Conclusion
With the right approach, indoor stadiums can offer far more than shelter for sport. They become hubs of health, connection, and growth. Through inclusive design and community-focused planning, local governments can deliver infrastructure that improves the wellbeing and prosperity of their regions—far beyond the court.
Learn more about sport and recreation facilities that offer more to the community:
Cockburn Bowls and Recreation Centre
References
Australian Sports Commission. (2017). Intergenerational Review of Australian Sport 2017. Canberra: ASC.
Australian Government. (2018). Sport 2030: National Sport Plan. Department of Health.