Fried, Gil (2005) Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL.
376 pages. ISBN 0-7360-4483-3

Sport facilities range in size, complexity and are also different in terms of the type of activities that take place within them. This combination of variables creates unique demands on the facility management and maintenance team of any facility. These demands may be similar to those experiences within conventional managerial situations in other industries, but may also differ vastly from one facility to the next within the sport industry. Few visitors who frequent sport facilities, however, think about what goes into managing and maintaining a sport facility – the majority of visitors focus more on the experiences they have when they attend an event at a specific facility. Yet one aspect remains fundamental in this: managing a facility undoubtedly requires a vast array of skills and competencies. This is even further complicated by different needs and requirements of those who use and visit the facility. Fried’s book, Managing Sport Facilities, focuses on the intricacies involved in the planning and daily running of different types of sport facilities. This is achieved through careful but focussed attention to those challenges facilities of all shape and size face and explaining the fundamental principles involved in managing these principles.

The book begins with an overview on the historical development of sport and public assembly facilities. It examines the different contributions that have made to this industry through the ages from the ancient civilisations through to current facility innovations. It continues further by looking at future trends and influences. This is followed by a focus on the role of the facility manager, along with the various duties and aspects which surround this. This link with the third chapter that includes management and leadership issues.

Part II deals with facility development and the complex issues which surround this. Specifically, Chapter 4 focuses on the important issues of needs assessment and feasibility determination. In particular, different facility types, financing needs and options, future planning matters, and the development of a business plan for a facility are highlighted. Chapter 5 deals with the proposed facility site and the specific design issues which relate to this, e.g. environmental considerations, site costs and design specifics. Chapter 6 involves the construction issues of the proposed facility. It is broken into the different construction periods, i.e. prior to construction, the construction period and the handover. It also deals with aspects which should be considered from the point of view of a facility manager involved each of these stages.
Part III focuses attention on the facility’s systems which are active within the facility. Chapter 7 looks in more detail to the internal and external operational systems of the facility which regulate temperature, lighting, ventilation and plumbing. Chapters 8 and 9 examine specialised operational issues which are unique to sport facilities, as well as matters relating to maintenance.

Part IV analyses the facility management process by looking at some of the critical administrative areas under the supervision of the facility manager such as finances, human resources, marketing and legal responsibilities – these all become important key performance areas for successful facility operation. These are handled as fundamental aspects and receive in-depth attention.

Part V looks at three important components in the hosting and presenting of events and activities at sport facilities. These include the preparations that needed in order to host and stage events, and also the processes to ensure that events are hosted safely and successfully. Chapter 15 discusses the development and implementation of a security plan, which includes crowd management and special safety considerations when dealing with large events. Chapter 16 deals specifically with events and the managerial issues involved with event hosting.

The author claims to address the total facility management package in a comprehensive manner. Although, the ambit of the book is commendable, discussions on some of the specific issues per se are sometime rather superficial. There is a definite need to address the “how to” on certain issues, e.g. the undertaking of a needs assessment, especially as incorrect execution of this may be detrimental in the future survival of a facility. This can also be said of the chapter dedicated to marketing and sales, as it lacks in giving concrete advice on the development of marketing plan to name another.

The various chapters include sections entitled “Facility Focus” and “Behind the Scenes”. The former provides interesting but important facts and information on strategies employed by existing facilities. The “Behind the Scenes” focus material presents “unique concerns and strategies that can make a facility manager more successful”. This not only serves to enrich the text, but also aids in making the information much more topical and brings the issues discussed to life, thereby creating opportunity for the integration of the information. The inclusion of case studies would have further enhanced the work, however, the lack thereof does not detract from the overall effectiveness of the book.

Overall, this work provides a solid introductory text for studies in facility management and a welcome addition to the subject matter. Its strength lies in bringing the majority of issues (but all of the more important issues) of facility management together. This dimension, however, is also a weakness, as it skims over some issues. As mentioned, this would be a very good introductory textbook at an undergraduate level to expose those entering the field of facility management with a solid foundation.