DOES YOUR YOUTH SPORTS CLUB HAVE A FACILITY ACCESS ISSUE? SKYLINE SC

Case Study 4: Skyline SC, CO, USA

LEADERSHIP QUESTION:  What options does a youth sports club have when membership growth exceeds the capacity of facilities for training and games?

In the first three case studies, I have looked at three different responses to the same broad issue. Burlington showed how partnership and shared use can strengthen the model. Indy Premier showed the value of a long-term leased indoor facility. Ballistic showed how persistence and creative local partnerships can unlock a practical solution when traditional options are unrealistic. Jonni Thordsen’s example from Skyline Soccer Club takes the conversation in another direction again. In Denver, the smarter answer was not land, and it was not simply more rented space. It was buying a building that could serve multiple purposes for the club.

Jonni Thordsen is the Executive Director of Skyline Soccer Club in Denver, Colorado. She leads a nonprofit organization serving around 3,000 athletes, supported by 12 full-time staff, 1 part-time staff member, and 276 coaches.

The Issue

Skyline’s challenge was shaped by geography, policy, climate, and cost. The club depends on permitted access across multiple parks and municipalities, which leaves it exposed to strict timelines and very limited flexibility. In Denver, fields open only shortly before each season begins and close on the last scheduled game dates. That means there is very little room for early training and make-up sessions.

Rental dependence is expensive. Skyline spends about $170,000 a year on field rentals, yet still lacks the level of control it needs. In Denver, land costs roughly $1.5 million to $1.7 million per acre, and one 11v11 turf field can become about a $2 million project with limited impact on the club’s overall programming.

The Solution

• Assessed the value of one outdoor field and recognized that a single field would still leave the club renting most of its inventory
• Chose to buy a building instead of land
• Purchased an 18,000-square-foot building for $2.4 million with a $900,000 down payment
• Created a multi-use club base with 8,000 square feet of indoor training space
• Added 4,000 square feet of outdoor training space on an adjacent vacant lot
• Included 5,000 square feet of office space for staff, meetings, coach education, and referee training
• Added storage, parking, and gated vehicle access to support club operations
• Linked the project to both cost reduction and revenue generation, with projected savings of $25,000 in annual rental costs and $25,000 in new programming revenue in the first year

Why it worked

A detailed financial analysis. They looked at the cost, the likely impact, and the limits of that model in a dense urban market.  An indoor facility also solves more than one problem at once: It’s a  training site, a club office base, a classroom for education, storage and a space to generate new revenue.

Leadership Lessons

First, the right facility solution depends on the market. Jonni’s example is a good reminder that in a dense and expensive city, a building may create more value than a field.

Second, do the financial calculations before committing capital. A facility can sound impressive, but still have limited impact revenue and expenses.

Third, the strongest facility projects usually serve more than one purpose. Skyline’s model improves operations and economics at the same time.

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Key Insights

Three Steps Leaders Can Take in the Next 90 Days

SIX CASE STUDIES: Each one focuses on the same core challenge, improving access to the right facilities for the needs and ambitions of the club, yet each leader has approached the issue in a very different way. Together, these case studies demonstrate that the issue is widely shared, and the best solutions are shaped by local context, strategic thinking, and strong leadership.

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