The success of Squash at the most recent Commonwealth Games in Australia had a lot of people talking about outdoor Squash, but imagine how enjoyable it would be if professional-sanctioned Squash matches took place on an outdoor Squash court?
This may sound crazy or not feasible, but given the number of reductions in available Squash courts in the UK and abroad, perhaps outdoor courts would be a way of increasing participation.
The five reasons why public outdoor Squash courts can work:
- Keeps local parks more appealing – adds to the sports activities in the parks
- Young people would benefit from it – a great way to get coaches and young people outdoors and add to the marketability as a healthier sport
- Would make all-around sports – come summer, players can participate in different weather conditions
- Provide more opportunities to play – widening the participation for people who don’t have the opportunity to play at private clubs
- Solve the indoor Squash court crisis – the best solution to deal with the removal of indoor squash courts saga by leading private and public health & sports club operators.
These reasons make a valid case for how outdoor Squash can improve lives and bring a sense of enjoyment to people of all cultures.
US outdoor Squash is leading the way with the first outdoor Squash court
Hamilton Fish Park, New York (Image credit: Public Squash)
Recently, there was an intriguing development in Squash development across the pond, with the launch of the first-ever public outdoor squash court in New York.
Open last month, the NYC Parks and Public Squash formed a partnership to bring Squash to Hamilton Fish Park, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Public Squash is a charitable and educational organisation with a public welfare focus aimed at promoting Squash opportunities for everyone to learn and play the sport of squash in New York City and around the world.
Private and public collaborations
For some private companies that are struggling with ideas for product diversification, it would make perfect business sense for them to collaborate with the public sector, especially when providing opportunities for young people and helping older people improve their health.
Furthermore, an outdoor Squash court can help sustain a private company in the summer months when their indoor courts are not being used at full capacity.
Also, there could be a hint of fun with outdoor Squash – imagine playing Squash to some upbeat music on a summer day? It could happen and make the sport more enjoyable, along with being very diverse and more appealing to a new audience.
Let’s make outdoor Squash global
With the first-ever public outdoor court in New York, it won’t be long before other Squash playing countries, such as the UK, could follow suit.
Taking it one stage further, why not global professional outdoor Squash competitions? Imagine outdoor professional Squash matches on par with Wimbledon, the highlight of the ATP tour, and the sports Summerfest event in the UK.
The ideal locations in the UK for public outdoor Squash courts are Hyde Park and Battersea Park, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London, given its legacy.
When you look at the outdoor sporting landscape across the UK and other countries that have good weather, it does not take a genius to notice that outdoor Squash would be good and that there could be professional outdoor Squash tournaments.