From Title IX to Record Crowds: Designing to Meet the Momentum Behind Women's Sports

For much of modern sports history, women's athletics have been overlooked, underfunded and relegated to the sidelines. Despite a deep-rooted tradition of female athletes competing at elite levels, their opportunities have long been constrained by limited access to facilities, financial backing and media coverage. It wasn't until the passage of Title IX in 1972, a landmark piece of U.S. legislation that mandated gender equity in educational programs, including athletics, that women's sports began to see significant structural support. Title IX was a game-changer, leading to increased participation at the high school and collegiate levels and laying the groundwork for today's booming landscape of professional women's sports.

But legal mandates alone aren't enough. As institutions responded to the demands of Title IX, the environments in which women and other underrepresented groups played, trained and competed also began to evolve. Alongside policy shifts, the rise of universal design played a pivotal role in creating more equitable athletic environments, not by carving out separate spaces, but by designing for the diverse needs of all users. By intentionally considering the full spectrum of identities and abilities, from gender and race to age and physical capability, universal design elevates the experience for everyone, reinforcing that inclusive design is not about special treatment but thoughtful, comprehensive access.

The results of these layered efforts — policy and design working in tandem — are visible across today's sports landscape. Over the past five decades, women's collegiate sports participation has skyrocketed from just 30,000 athletes in 1972 to more than 200,000 today. Professional women's leagues in basketball, soccer, volleyball and other sports have grown in both prominence and profitability, backed by sponsorship deals and record-breaking attendance figures. In 2023, the Nebraska women's volleyball team sold out a 92,000-seat football stadium, setting a world record for attendance at a women's sporting event. That same year, WNBA games featuring Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shattered viewership records, demonstrating an undeniable interest in elite women's sports.

Yet, while the spotlight on women's athletics has grown brighter, the environments in which they compete haven't always kept pace. Women's teams have historically been given hand-me-down locker rooms, played in outdated arenas or trained in spaces originally designed for men. Even at the highest levels, disparities remain stark, evidenced by things like the NCAA's failure to provide equitable weight rooms at the 2021 women's basketball tournament, the lack of dedicated stadiums for women's professional teams or equitable facilities on college campuses. This disconnect between rising performance and stagnant infrastructure has sparked a critical shift in design thinking. As investment in women's sports continues to surge, so does the urgency to design spaces that reflect their status. Today's sports facility designers have an opportunity to create spaces that support, celebrate and elevate women's athletics, ensuring that future generations of female athletes have access to world-class environments that match their talent and ambition.

So, how is facility design evolving to meet this moment? Increasingly, designers are embracing an approach that goes beyond aesthetics or amenities. Sports design is advancing to create environments that support peak performance and transform the athlete and fan experience, from daily routines to game-day rituals. Rethinking athlete spaces, improving the atmosphere and moving away from isolated or second-tier facilities are critical steps toward delivering environments that empower every individual athlete and connect more meaningfully with local communities. Ultimately, the next generation of sports venues must be built with equity, inclusivity and innovation at their core. It may sound wrong, but it is not about "designing" for women — it's about recognizing the additional hard work women have put in to elevate their sport, the path that has been blazed, all the struggles and compromises they've had to make and the gaps that still remain; then, finding new and innovative ways to design in that new image. To elevate, eliminate the barriers, build relationships and continue facilitating their unique paths to success. 

Rethinking Design for Equity and Excellence

Over the last decade, women's sports have experienced unprecedented visibility and popularity. Athletes like Paige Bueckers, Katie Ledecky, Candace Parker, Alex Morgan and Mikaela Shiffrin have captivated audiences and shattered long-standing records, redefining the narrative around women in athletics. Aspiring young athletes can now see, hear, follow and meet their favorite athletes in real time with social media, making them more easily accessible. In addition to filling seats and boosting viewership, this momentum has also sparked long overdue conversations about equity, particularly in the design of sports facilities.

As demand grows at every level, from youth programs to college to professional ranks, the call for more courts, fields and stadiums is clear. But it's not just about building more — it's about building better. Ensuring women athletes have equal access to high-performance facilities is a challenge that remains unmet in many cases. Often, a team will have a piece of the pie but not the whole kit and caboodle. Take the NCAA's recent record: disparities in amenities provided during men's and women's tournaments have highlighted just how far we still have to go. While male athletes often enjoy the combined potential effect of top-tier locker rooms, training resources, wellness support and even generous event perks. Their female counterparts frequently contend with fewer accommodations.

The growing prominence of women's sports is shifting the expectations and responsibilities of designers. There's a real opportunity and responsibility to create spaces that don't just accommodate women athletes but champion their passions.

The question remains: How can designers meet this very important moment?

Creating equitable sports environments starts with recognizing that while performance expectations are the same, women athletes often have different needs — needs that have too frequently been overlooked in traditional facility design. From the start, locker rooms, training spaces and recovery areas must match the sophistication and technological investment typically reserved for men's programs, with things like hydrotherapy, strength training and medical treatment areas treated not as luxuries, but standards. Then, meet the teams' level of engagement.

At the University of Iowa's Field Hockey facility, the team's primary engagement needs are provided with a sequential flow of the interior spaces to meet the team's operational goals. Connections are pushed and pulled from the background and foreground to create the right moments as they work as a team with each other, the coaches, staff and as individuals. Core functions are grouped to complement efficiencies and connections like the student-athlete spaces, learning areas and recovery zones at ground level, with easy access to the main lobby and competition field. This configuration provides time to learn and go deeper to learn more. Coaching and multi-purpose spaces are located on the second floor, adjacent to the team room to support reflection, separation and contemplation of the traditions and culture of the team. Lastly, the visitor and building service spaces are separated from the home team functions to emphasize the key elements for the team.

Privacy and security are key considerations. Women's team spaces should offer biometrically controlled access with private changing zones to ensure comfort and safety. At the University of Minnesota, for example, each locker room and team suite is planned as a subzone within the building and can be controlled. Design shouldn't stop at functionality. These spaces should feel empowering and reflective of the team's identity (not through clichés or paint), but through intentional choices in lighting, materials and branding that celebrate the energy and culture of women's sports. These elements all come together to highlight the rich history that has shaped women's athletics, recognizing those who have come before and paved the way for others.

Importantly, design must also support the holistic lives of athletes. Many collegiate and professional athletes are not just competitors, but also parents, grandparents, spouses, guardians or primary caretakers. That reality often goes unacknowledged in facility planning. Including comfortable, private personal health rooms with amenities like refrigeration, ambient lighting and seating creates a more inclusive environment — one that supports the athlete as a whole person.

Finally, team culture matters. Like men's teams, many women's teams place a strong emphasis on connection and camaraderie. For years, men's programs have included built-in moments and spaces to celebrate the professional success of their alumni. At the University of Connecticut, for example, each locker room features a dedicated area to showcase alumni legacies, whether through recognition walls or designated lockers reserved for returning alumni who come back to train or practice. Facilities that include casual gathering spaces, collaborative meeting rooms and welcoming lounges encourage team bonding and support mental well-being, serving to enhance both performance and the entire athletic experience.

Elevating the Fan Experience and Community Impact of Women's Sports

As women's sports continue to gain momentum, fan interest is rising. But the overall experience at these events hasn't always kept pace. Closing that gap requires more than just filling seats; it demands a reimagining of what the game-day atmosphere can and should be. At the University of Florida, this meant creating a larger amplified concourse and heightened entry so the women's lacrosse team could congregate with the fans before or after a game. Likewise, high-energy production elements — dynamic lighting, hype videos, immersive sound design — are staples at many men's games and should be equally prioritized for women's events. These sensory-driven enhancements create a more electric and engaging environment, transforming each game into a true experience that fans look forward to again and again.

Venue scale is an equally important consideration. Women's teams are often scheduled in facilities that far exceed or limit their typical attendance, leading to sparse crowds and subdued energy. Purposefully right-sizing arenas to better match audience expectations can dramatically improve the atmosphere, making games feel intimate, intense and vibrant. At the same time, elevating the premium experience, through VIP seating, hospitality suites and elevated food and beverage offerings, signals that women's sports are equally worthy of investment and celebration. At Stephen F. Austin State University, the historic Shelton Gymnasium currently serves as the storied home for their women's Volleyball team. But it's undersized, packed to the gills, short on amenities, and offers no accessible access. We're currently working with the university on updates to the facility that would create a dynamic entrance to engage attendees better, as well as suites, upgraded concessions and support facilities to draw in the potential fans and showcase the teams' success. These upgrades not only boost revenue and recognition, but they also help shift perceptions.

But great design in women's sports venues is about more than fanfare — it's about building lasting connections and supporting future generations. Venues can serve as community anchors, offering space for youth leagues, school programs and grassroots development efforts. These multi-use environments help ensure aspiring athletes have the tools and inspiration to pursue their dreams. Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, is a powerful example of this model: a shared-use facility designed to serve both Drake University's soccer programs and the Des Moines Public Schools' girls' teams. This intentional overlap of collegiate and high school athletics maximizes facility use and strengthens connections between student-athletes and their communities.

Looking ahead, resilience is an essential piece of the puzzle. While many women's teams currently share venues with men's programs, we're likely to see more purpose-built environments in the future. These new facilities present a prime opportunity to lead with environmental stewardship, using sustainable materials, efficient systems and thoughtful, sensible construction practices to construct venues that reflect equity, integrity and staying power.

Designing for What's Next: The Future of Women's Sports

The rise of women's sports represents a culture-shifting movement that's redefining the landscape of athletics. As designers and architects, we have the chance to create the kinds of interstitial, sticky spaces that foster team chemistry, banter, connection and team pride for these athletes. The years ahead will usher in purpose-built stadiums designed specifically for women's teams, smarter and more inclusive training facilities and immersive fan experiences tailored to a rapidly expanding audience that is asking for more.

For designers, this moment serves as an invitation to lead. It's a chance to break away from outdated templates and cookie-cutter layouts and rethink what equity in sports truly looks like. By actively engaging with athletes, understanding the nuances of their experience and anticipating where the industry is heading, we can shape environments that inspire and function. The challenge isn't simply to keep pace with change, it's to stay ahead of it because the future of women's sports deserves imagination, investment and bold design that mirrors the ambition of the athletes it serves.

As we look forward, the question becomes: Will we build spaces that merely accommodate women in sports, or will we design environments that help tell their stories and propel them into their next era of greatness?