Maintaining Game-Day Readiness Across Your Athletic Venues
Before fans arrive or recruits tour, custodial teams work behind the scenes to deliver a clean, welcoming experience. To support four athletic venues, The University of Akron partnered with Cintas for reliable facility solutions that streamline operations and enhance guest comfort.
After beginning service at the Polsky Building in August 2024, Cintas’ proven dependability led to an expanded partnership with the athletic department a year later. Now, with multiple Division I sports venues spread across a one‑mile radius, the university benefits from efficient, game‑day‑ready hygiene support — a win for both the school and its fans.
Key Takeaways:
- A customized facility services approach addressed fluctuating attendance, multiple venue types, and the need for reliable, game‑day‑ready operations.
- Standardized, durable dispensers and proactive inventory management reduced equipment failures, supply gaps, and staff interruptions.
- Cooperative purchasing and scheduled service visits simplified vendor management and minimized administrative and operational burden.
- Cleaner, more consistent restrooms, locker rooms, and suites improved the fan experience, supported recruiting efforts, and enhanced the university’s public image.
The Problem and Challenges
The University of Akron’s athletics and facilities teams faced ongoing challenges managing hygiene supplies and equipment across four athletic venues with vastly different sizes, layouts, and attendance levels. Crowd sizes fluctuated significantly based on sport, opponent, and time of year, making it difficult to accurately forecast inventory needs and ensure restrooms, locker rooms, and suites were fully stocked at all times. Inconsistent dispenser styles, frequent breakdowns, and occasional vandalism led to empty or out‑of‑order fixtures during events, resulting in fan complaints and emergency fixes.
Custodial teams and facility leaders spent valuable time repairing dispensers, responding to radio calls, and managing supply shortages instead of focusing on overall cleanliness and event readiness. These issues also affected the university’s image during high‑visibility moments—such as rivalry games, homecoming, outside rentals, and campus visits by recruits and their families—where poorly maintained restrooms or mismatched equipment could negatively influence perceptions of the athletic facilities and the institution as a whole.
The Solutions
To address these challenges, The University of Akron partnered with Cintas to develop a customized, campus‑wide facility services program tailored to the unique demands of Division I athletics. Working closely with athletics leadership and facility managers, Cintas conducted on‑site walkthroughs of each venue to assess layouts, peak attendance levels, product needs, and operational workflows. This collaborative planning ensured all restrooms, locker rooms, training areas, and suites were equipped to support maximum capacity during high‑attendance events.
The solution included the installation of standardized, durable hygiene dispensers throughout public and back‑of‑house areas to create a consistent look, reduce maintenance issues, and improve reliability. Inventory levels were carefully planned based on event types and seasonal fluctuations, with scheduled service visits established to proactively restock supplies and inspect equipment. Backup dispenser units were incorporated to enable quick replacements and prevent downtime during games or events.
Additional enhancements—such as logoed floor mat service for branding, as well as upgraded hand‑soap dispensers in premium suites—helped elevate both functionality and presentation. By leveraging cooperative purchasing through OMNIA partners, the university streamlined procurement, avoided the RFP process, and gained faster access to a comprehensive, scalable solution.
Together, these efforts created a clear service roadmap that simplified operations, improved preparedness, and ensured athletic facilities remained clean, cohesive, and guest‑ready from pre‑game setup through post‑event cleanup.
The Results
With a comprehensive facility services program in place, the University of Akron achieved greater consistency, reliability, and efficiency across its athletic facilities. Restrooms, locker rooms, training areas, and suites remained fully stocked and operational during high‑traffic events, including rivalry games, homecoming, and outside rentals. Standardized dispensers and proactive inventory management significantly reduced equipment failures, supply shortages, and mid‑game maintenance issues.
Custodial teams experienced fewer disruptions and were able to focus on cleanliness and event readiness instead of emergency repairs. Athletic staff and ushers reported fewer complaints, while fans, alumni, and season‑ticket holders noticed improvements in restroom hygiene, appearance, and overall facility quality. Enhanced suite presentation and branded floor mat services elevated premium guest experiences and reinforced campus branding.
These improvements supported stronger game‑day operations, improved athletic facility management, and a more positive perception of the university among recruits and their families. Overall, the solution delivered measurable gains in operational efficiency, guest satisfaction, and campus‑wide facility standards—helping the University of Akron maintain clean, safe, and professional athletic environments at scale.
Connect with our team to create a scalable, standardized service model for your facility.