Improving The Design And Performance Of Campus Sport Arenas: A Comparative Case Study Approach

Abstract

Sport arenas play vital roles in shaping the physical, social, and recreational life of university campuses. In Nigeria, however, many campus sport arenas fall short in terms of functional efficiency, environmental comfort, and overall performance, owing largely to outdated design approaches, poor maintenance culture, and inadequate consideration of local climatic conditions. This study examines how the design and performance of campus sport arenas can be improved, employing a comparative case study approach to analyse three selected Nigerian university facilities alongside three international benchmark cases. A performance-based evaluation framework is applied across eight criteria: spatial organisation, environmental comfort, safety systems, accessibility, functional flexibility, facility completeness, maintenance performance, and spectator experience. Findings consistently reveal that, while Nigerian campus arenas meet basic functional requirements, they lack adaptability, environmental responsiveness, safety compliance, and user-centred design features characteristic of contemporary international facilities. Based on the comparative analysis, the study proposes practical design improvement strategies tailored to the Nigerian context, encompassing climate-responsive passive ventilation, improved daylighting, universal accessibility provisions, and flexible spatial configurations. The research underscores the need for a shift from conventional facility-provision approaches toward sustainable, performance-driven design practice in the development of Nigerian campus sport arenas, and offers actionable insights for architects, planners, and institutional stakeholders.