Sharpening Their Buckets
Nicholas Sportsplex team members are swapping their buckets for thinking caps with continuing education coursework.
The Nicholas Sportsplex is regionally acclaimed for its quality facilities, gourmet food and beverage offerings, and cleanliness. Nestled in a corporate campus in Mount Prospect, Illinois, the Sportsplex has not only become a community hub for patrons, but also a launchpad for those seeking a career path in sports arena operations. Through onsite apprenticeship programs and offsite professional development courses, Nicholas Sportsplex creates deliberate career tracks for its team members.
People Make the Place
A well-rounded workforce who understands the inner workings of operations, maintenance, and brand experience is crucial for an elevated guest experience. Therefore, the Sportsplex is boosting productivity and engagement by addressing skill gaps and building an internal talent pipeline.
‘If we wait for the perfect time to formalize a career development program for our team, it will never come,’ laughed facilities manager Colin Van Hauter, who has tripled headcount to accommodate the facility’s growth in recent years. ‘So in 2023 we decided to rip the band-aid off and make it happen because investing in—and growing—our talent is one of our core values.’
To gain momentum on this important initiative, team members from Nicholas Sportsplex were offered two in-depth professional development opportunities in the spring that were focused on best practices in arena maintenance, ice making, and ice painting.
Ice Arena Maintenance
Hosted by R&R Specialties, the Ice Arena Maintenance course focused its days on the maintenance of an ice rink and the machines that service it.
Attendees were taught how to maintain a level ice sheet as well as integrate sport logos within the sheet. Modules on ice edging and resolving arena condensate were also taught.
Because ice can only be maintained with working equipment, half of the course was spent on the Zamboni machine. The Sportsplex’s mechanically inclined team members learned how to maintain the machine’s conditioner and lift bar, and adjust and replace its blades.
Nicholas Sportsplex currently owns three Model 552 Zamboni machines (one per rink), and team members returned versed on the machine’s battery, charger, motors, and controls. Their newfound knowledge in troubleshooting and resolving fault codes has already proven successful, yielding minimal machine downtime so that the facility’s ice rinks are always ready for play.
Ice Making and Painting Technologies
Attendees of the U.S. Ice Rink Association’s course received four days of intense in-class and on-ice instruction. The curriculum was geared toward proper ice making and painting techniques. Sportsplex team members were taught (and then practiced and were tested on) best-in-class ice painting procedures including ice depth measuring, hockey marking paint methods, and in-ice logo creation.
The second half of the course took a more technical stance and dove deep into the relationship between building conditions and ice quality. Everything from humidity and air quality, down to the acidity and turbidity of a facility’s water source were discussed. Lastly, an analysis of energy management systems and its effects on the operations and maintenance (both favorable and non-) within an iced environment were examined.
Attracting and Retaining Talent
Most arenas, especially those with ice like Nicholas Sportsplex, find that their hiring pool is limited in nature. ‘There isn’t a degree for our line of work,’ stated Colin. ‘Most team members have grown up playing sports at an arena and are looking for part-time positions as young athletes. They then age up and seek full-time employment, hoping to build careers where they also enjoy their livelihoods.’
While lifelong employees are rare, a robust workforce development program is imperative to maximizing a team member’s lifetime value. Nicholas Sportsplex management fosters individual growth in both niche and transferable skills so that each member can advance no matter where he or she works.
‘We are focused on adding value to our staff and remaining an employer of choice in our industry. If we can provide an exceptional work environment and continuing education opportunities, our team members can truly chart their own career trajectory,’ Colin explained. ‘When someone is supported in their personal and professional development, it shows in their work, demeanor, and smile. Everyone benefits.’
In 2024 the Sportsplex plans to expand its bench of professional development opportunities beyond the ice and is eyeing synthetic turf, preventative maintenance, and general building maintenance training.