Deepak Verma, Head of Business, Pacecourt shares how sports surface expectations have shifted toward performance, safety, and lifecycle value, in conversation with Tejaswini Paranjape. He breaks down key selection parameters, material innovations boosting shock absorption and weather resilience, design shifts for multi-use recreational spaces, and emerging trends like sustainability, pickleball growth, and customisation driving Indiaโs next generation of sports and recreational flooring.
How have expectations around sports surface materials evolved over the past decade?
Over the last decade, expectations around sports surfaces have evolved significantly from a focus on basic durability and aesthetics to a much broader emphasis on performance, safety, longevity, and user experience. Today, developers, educational institutions, sports academies, hospitality projects, and public authorities increasingly seek surfaces that are weather-resistant, UV-stable, low-maintenance, and capable of delivering consistent performance throughout the year.
There is also greater awareness about the role sports surfaces play in injury prevention, player comfort, and overall facility quality. Certification standards, once largely associated with professional venues, are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions across grassroots and community-level projects. At the same time, users are looking for greater flexibility in design and customisation, reflecting the growing importance of sports facilities as community and recreational spaces.
What are the key performance parameters developers and facility operators evaluate when selecting sports flooring solutions?
Selection decisions today are based on a combination of performance, safety, durability, and lifecycle value. Key parameters include grip and traction, shock absorption, ball response, weather resistance, UV stability, drainage efficiency for outdoor facilities, and ease of maintenance. Facility operators also evaluate how well a surface performs under different usage levels and whether it can maintain consistent playing characteristics over an extended period.
Durability and structural stability are particularly important, given Indiaโs diverse climatic conditions. Increasingly, stakeholders are taking a lifecycle-cost approach, considering not just installation costs but also maintenance requirements, expected lifespan, and long-term operational efficiency. Compliance with recognised performance and quality standards also plays an important role in the decision-making process.
How are material innovations improving player safety, durability, and all-weather performance?
Material innovation has significantly improved the performance of modern sports surfaces. Advances in acrylic resins, cushioning systems, UV-resistant coatings, fillers, and surface engineering technologies have enhanced shock absorption, reduced wear and tear, and improved consistency across varying weather conditions.
From a player safety perspective, improved cushioning and surface stability help minimise stress on joints and reduce injury risks. Durability has also improved through the use of advanced materials designed to withstand heavy usage, UV exposure, and environmental fluctuations without significant degradation. In addition, developments in moisture management and weather-resistant technologies allow facilities to remain operational for longer periods while reducing maintenance requirements, resulting in more reliable and cost-effective infrastructure.
With the rise of multi-use recreational spaces, how are surface requirements changing across projects?
The growing popularity of multi-use recreational spaces is changing the way sports surfaces are designed and specified. Urban projects, schools, residential communities, and sports complexes are increasingly looking for facilities that can accommodate multiple sports and activities within a single footprint.
As a result, there is growing demand for versatile surfaces that can support different playing requirements while maintaining durability and safety. Surface systems are now expected to accommodate multiple court markings, varying usage intensities, and diverse user groups ranging from recreational players to competitive athletes. This shift is encouraging more flexible and integrated design approaches that maximise space utilisation while ensuring long-term performance and ease of maintenance.
What trends do you see shaping the next generation of sports and recreational flooring solutions in India?
Several trends are expected to shape the future of sports flooring in India. Sustainability is becoming a major consideration, with growing interest in environmentally responsible materials, resource-efficient manufacturing practices, and longer-lasting surface systems. There is also an increasing focus on player safety, injury prevention, and comfort across all categories of sports infrastructure.
The rapid growth of emerging sports such as pickleball, coupled with rising demand for multi-sport and community-focused facilities, is driving innovation in surface design and functionality. At the same time, advances in material science are enabling greater customisation, improved performance, and lower maintenance requirements. Looking ahead, sports infrastructure development is likely to focus on creating inclusive, resilient, and future-ready facilities that combine global performance standards with local usage requirements.
