Spanish sport is experiencing one of its finest moments, and with it, sports facilities are evolving to meet the demands of an increasingly discerning user. Under this premise, Megablok and Grupo Henneo organized the meeting ‘The new sports facility model: more experience, more efficiency’ in Madrid, a conference where leading professionals analyzed how spaces dedicated to sport are changing and what the key factors for their development will be in the coming years.
The gathering brought together representatives from various sectors, such as Sergio Piñonosa, expansion and development director at Aba Espacios Deportivos; Rafael Bernabéu, general manager at J’hayber; Belén Montes, director of international expansion and strategic alliances at Greenset; and Juan Valle, our sales and marketing director at Megablok, to debate the new challenges facing gyms, sports centers, clubs, and other spaces dedicated to physical activity.
The sports sector is experiencing full growth
The holding of this forum comes at an especially positive time for the sports industry. According to the Sports Habits Survey in Spain 2024-2025 by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, 62.7% of the population practices sports regularly, while the use of specific sports facilities has also experienced significant growth compared to previous years.
This evolution is driving the opening of new gyms, functional training centers, specialized studios, padel facilities, and increasingly modern sports spaces. But beyond growing in number, the sector is also changing in quality. Today, offering just a place to train is no longer enough: users seek a complete experience that combines comfort, well-being, technology, and design.
User experience drives the future
One of the main messages shared during the conference was that sports facilities are no longer competing solely on their services or sports equipment. Differentiation now lies in creating spaces capable of generating a memorable experience for the user.
The profile of those who practice sports has also evolved. There is an increasing diversity of ages, interests, and needs, which forces the design of more versatile, accessible facilities adapted to different training styles and ways of understanding well-being.
The participants agreed that this new reality demands much more careful planning of all the center’s spaces, including those that traditionally received less attention, such as changing rooms.
The changing room takes center stage
For years, the changing room was considered a purely functional space. Today, however, it is an integral part of the overall experience the user enjoys before and after training.
Its design, material quality, spaciousness, order, hygiene, and comfort directly influence clients’ perception of a sports facility and can become a major competitive differentiator.
Furthermore, from a management perspective, a well-designed changing room also represents a profitable investment. In environments subjected to intensive use and high levels of moisture, choosing high-quality materials like those engineered by Megablok helps reduce maintenance, minimize replacements, and significantly extend the service life of the facilities.
During the panel discussion, Juan Valle, our sales and marketing director, explained how this transformation is also reaching equipment.
‘There is a growing demand for more refined equipment because managers need to offer a differential value in an increasingly competitive market,’ he stated.
As he explained, this evolution is reflected in greater attention to design, materials, interior layout, finishes, and furniture customization—aspects that influence both the center’s image and its long-term profitability.
Innovating with a long-term vision
Innovation was another core theme highlighted during the event. Experts emphasized that the sports sector is constantly evolving and that facilities must adapt to emerging trends, materials, uses, and management models.
It is not merely about incorporating novelties, but rather committing to solutions that deliver real value and offer long-lasting performance. In an increasingly competitive market, investing with a forward-looking vision means prioritizing quality, functionality, and reliability from day one.
Megablok: equipment prepared for the sport of today and tomorrow
At Megablok, we help create sports spaces that combine design, functionality, and maximum durability.
We manufacture equipment solutions for gyms, sports centers, swimming pools, clubs, multi-sports complexes, and all types of facilities where intensive use and moisture demand top-performance materials. Our lockers, benches, phenolic cabins, and other equipment are designed to offer a long service life, minimize maintenance, and ensure excellent performance even in the most demanding environments.
Furthermore, we develop fully customized projects, adapting to the image of each facility through a wide variety of materials, finishes, colors, and configurations. Because we know that equipment is also part of the user experience and helps differentiate every sports space.
