Tents for Sporting Events: Why Do You Need & How to Choose

During outdoor sporting events, tents serve a much greater purpose than just adding fun or visual appeal. They are more like sturdy shelters that work to protect both spectators and athletes from harsh sunlight and unexpected weather. They can even be used to create full sports venues where events are held under cover.
Today, it's easy to see these tents at nearly every major outdoor event, such as a soccer match, a marathon, an outdoor badminton tournament, etc.
In this guide, we mainly focus on the advantages of equipping the right tents for sporting events and how to choose the perfect one from various options. For the success of your event, be sure to read this blog carefully!
Why Do You Need Tents for Sporting Events?
Preparing a tent for an outdoor sports event can really make a difference. It helps to create a more professional experience in the following aspects:
Protect from the Element
Resisting various weather conditions is the basic function of any outdoor tent. And there is no exception to a sports tent. Once it is set up, it will protect coaches, staff, athletes, and other related people from heavy winds, sudden rain, or snow.
It also offers good protection to necessary equipment like timers, water stations, or medical supplies to avoid weather damage. Whether it's a short match or a full-day tournament, having such a tent in place ensures shade for sports and guarantees that the event goes on without any interruptions caused by the weather.
Ensure the Comfort
The sports outdoor tent also functions well in ensuring a cozy experience for everyone involved. You will inevitably be exposed to UV rays when out in open space without added protection.
Even on cloudy days, the UV rays will still be intense, and it's known that even a little UV exposure can have a significant negative effect on people's moods or health - which may further result in heatstroke, sunburn, or fatigue.
Most sports tents on the market today have UV-resistant fabric construction or coating that serves to minimize the adverse effects of the sun and helps make the experience much more enjoyable. So if you set up the sports tent, you are able to provide a shaded area for both participants and staff to get a short break.
Enhance Team Spirit with Team Tent
One big advantage of sporting event tents is that they can foster team spirit. You can design a team tent that features your team name, team logo, or team slogan. A clearly branded tent allows members of the team to easily identify your base after a competition, and it also assists in building a stronger sense of unity.
For example, if your team has an emblem, print the emblem on the top cover of the tent.
Or do you have a great slogan? Just print the slogan in large letters on the sidewalls of the tent! These custom team tents can help foster confidence, team pride, and positive morale throughout the whole event.
Types of Sports Tents to Elevate Your Events
There are different functional areas in a formal outdoor sporting event, such as the competition zone, athlete rest area, and spectator zone. And all of these require suitable tents to ensure everything runs smoothly.
In this section, we'll focus on two options: sporting canopies that serve perfectly as team tents, and larger shade structures ideal for hosting the main event. Read on to discover how they can make the sporting event look more professional.
Canopy Tents for Sporting Events
When setting up temporary rest areas or choosing team tents, both frame tents and high peak tents are good options. Below are their key features and highlights:
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Frame Tent
The frame tent is the most typical structure that you can see during a sports event. It has a pretty simple structure, mainly consisting of a sturdy frame and a top cover. This has made it very easy to transport and set up.

The clean and bland PVC fabric works well to block severe UV rays as well as provide a good surface for customization. Team logos, icons, or slogans can be printed on it with high resolution to showcase your team's identity and spirit.
Though it looks simple, the frame tent is far from fragile. Its solid frame system offers reliable protection against various weather conditions, including strong winds or heavy rain.
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High Peak Tent
The high peak tent is famous for its peaked design. It adds a touch of visual appeal to any sports event. Its central peak and open-sided structure allow for steady airflow to maintain good ventilation under the tent. So it can be a nice choice for events hosted on warmer days.

This style also allows for a lot of customization! You can choose the size, color, and print logos or team slogans to create visibility for your team.
Additionally, the high peak tent can be particularly suited for soft ground conditions of the grass or sand type, as it uses stakes as anchorage. This makes it ideally suited for outdoor sports events occurring in parks, sporting fields, and even on the beach.
If you're looking for a quick and more portable shelter solution, these sports tents might be your best bet. They are designed for instant setup, and no specialized tools or complicated steps are required. Just by connecting the premade units one by one, you can have an easy-to-install tent for sporting events ready on the ground in a few minutes.
Large Shade Structures for Sports
Sporting areas often require large, open spaces. In this case, large shade structures are more appropriate to create venues for hosting games or competitions. Check out the two types of clear span tents below:
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TFS Clear Span Tent
The TFS clear span tent is a strong and robust structure, capable of giving good protection to everyone beneath it. With clear span widths up to 70 meters, you will have a lot of space to host a wide variety of sports games like badminton, ping pong, volleyball, basketball, etc.

The TFS tent is originally designed to meet the standards for storage and military use. This has endowed the tent with excellent durability and stability.
Its frame can handle wind speeds of 120 km/h while the tarpaulin is waterproof and UV-resistant. This combination will allow your event to proceed safely and smoothly, even in tropical rainforests or places with dubious climates.
Despite the robust structure and giant body, it's still very easy and quick to set up. It is typically constructed of aluminum materials, which means that the whole structure is actually lightweight. For a medium-sized TFS clear span tent, you only need a small team of 2-3 people, and the assembly can be completed in just one day.
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A-Frame Clear Span Tent
For sporting events, another common tent style to consider is the A-frame clear span tent. The A-shaped roof gives the tent a clean and sharp appearance. Meanwhile, such a brilliant design also distributes the weight of the tent evenly on each side. This greatly ensures its strong load-bearing capabilities to withstand external pressures.

They are available in widths up to 70 meters. You can also customize the size to meet the specific needs. Since there are no interior poles, it allows for 100% space utilization by maximizing the covered area and providing ample, unobstructed space for free layout.
Additionally, it is a much sturdier structure because of the solid aluminum alloy framed construction and galvanized steel fasteners. Thus, it is able to provide solid stability and good protection in any situation.
🎈You may also read: How to Choose Racing Canopy for Your Sports Events
How to Choose the Best Tents for Sporting Events
Finding the best canopy for sporting events does require a bit of know-how. Here are some key factors to consider that can help you choose the right tent from the many options available:
Intended Use
Depending on how you are going to be making use of the tent, what you might prioritize in a tent's features will vary significantly. For example, if you are evaluating a tent to cover a sports field for an event, your first priority would be to find a tent that offers a spacious area and allows for free interior arrangement.
These large event tents are a significant investment and not just for single use. So make sure to choose one with a long service life. Then you'll also need to consider its stability and weather resistance as the tent must be able to withstand harsh weather conditions and remain securely in place at all times.
However, team tents are quite different. They are often used as shaded rest areas. If you want this tent type, sun protection becomes a top consideration. Moreover, since they are likely to be moved and reused frequently, the more portable, the better. And the design should allow for quick and easy setup.
Material
The quality of a sporting tent largely depends on the materials used in its construction. Many materials can be used to build a sports canopy today. But each type brings different benefits. Therefore, you'll also need to pay close attention to what your tent is made of.
In terms of the framework, we strongly recommend choosing tents made with aluminum alloy.
This material combines strength and excellent resistance to erosion, corrosion, and rust. In particular, the 6061-T6 type would be better. Most manufacturers have chosen it for its superior durability and stability.
As for the tent fabric, you may have various options like polyester, nylon, PVC, etc. In most cases, the thick, 100% weatherproof PVC stands as the best material. Some of those higher-quality models may include a special surface coating as well to block the sun's harmful UV rays and water to give you the best protection.
Setup and Transportation
No matter the large structures or small team tents, it's better to opt for those that are quick to build and easy to transport.
A fast setup saves valuable time, especially when you're on a tight schedule before an event. It also minimizes labor costs and installation errors. Plus, tents that are easy to move between locations offer more convenience for sporting events that involve frequent site changes or repeated setup and takedown.
Most tents today are produced with prefabricated parts. That is, every unit of the tent has been manufactured in the factory. Once you receive your order, you'll just need to connect and attach each piece by the provided manual or tutorial. Having everything prefabricated just makes transportation, setup, and take-down even more efficient and effective.
Customizability
Having a customized tent with your team's logo or other branded elements on it serves a dual purpose by providing an easy recognition point for spectators and participants alike and forming a unified look in the event venue.
To get a professional sports tent, remember to work with a reliable custom canopy manufacturer, as it can offer you a series of expert customization services that go beyond just high-resolution prints.
For example, when you are customizing a team tent, an expert custom canopy supplier will be skilled at helping you to add sidewalls for better protection from the heat. If you are ordering a larger structure to host sporting events, it should also support additional requirements like control systems for temperature control and lighting, flooring, etc.
At Sheltent, we fully understand your needs and try to offer industry-leading customizable options. Our 24/7 service ensures that you can get a free custom quote anytime before you place an order.
Prepare a Sports Tent for the Game Today!
We know how difficult it can be to choose the perfect sporting tent. So we are here to help you through it! As a trusted tent supplier, Sheltent is ready to make your sporting event a success.
Whatever you need, whether a team tent, or large structure to host the games, we have what you're looking for. We offer a variety of products, including frame tents, high peak tents, and clear span tents, to suit your needs.
All of our products are made from quality materials, such as aluminum alloy, galvanized steel, and weatherproof PVC. These lasting materials guarantee a long service life (up to 20 years with proper maintenance) of all our products.
The all-encompassing customization service sets us apart from most tent suppliers on the market. You can personalize nearly every detail about your tent at Shetent, including size, color, sidewalls, and accessories.
If you are ready, contact us to get an ideal sports tent for the game today!
