So I got real interested in building an indoor sport court after my kid kept moaning about the rain ruining basketball practice. Figured it would be cheaper than paying gym fees forever. Started digging around, but everyone kept throwing random numbers at me.
First things first: Google rabbit hole
Typed “indoor sport court cost” like any normal person. Got prices from $10k to half a million. Like how?! So confusing. Saw forum posts claiming steel buildings cost peanuts while PVC crap falls apart after rain. My basement man cave idea started feeling shaky.
Then I talked to actual humans
Phoned three contractors last Tuesday:
- First guy said “minimum $25k for anything decent” – almost choked
- Second dude asked what surface I wanted. “Tiles? Rubber? Concrete?” Like I’m supposed to know? Basic stuff, please!
- Third guy wanted measurements. Ran outside with tape measure yelling dimensions to my wife through the window. Roughly 20×40 feet for basketball
Turns out “depends” is contractors’ favorite word.
The real shocker
Found out heating matters big time. Thought I’d just throw some space heaters in. Contractor laughed at me. “Insulation costs more than the damn flooring!” Add $8k just to not freeze our butts off in winter. Lighting? Another $3k because cheap bulbs cause shadows that make you miss shots.
Here’s the final breakdown from my notes:
- Cheap portable net system: $800 (kid called it “fisher-price junk”)
- Actual sprung wood floor install: $22k (ouch)
- Cheapo rubber flooring alternative: $14k
- Those pyramid lights players hate: $1k
- Pro-level lighting that feels like stadium: $5k
- Surprise ventilation taxes: extra $2k
Almost cried when they mentioned “$5k annual maintenance” like it’s normal. That’s a vacation!
My reality check
Settled for rubber floors + medium lights = $18,500 total. Paid deposit, contractor ghosted for a week. Panic mode. Turned out he was hospitalized after falling off some scaffolding. Felt bad for cursing him in my head.
Started building last month. Already the kids are fighting about whose turn it is to sweep the damn thing. Should’ve made them sign labor contracts first. Still cheaper than four years of soccer club fees though. I guess.
