Mini Pitch Systems

Throughout the United States, many areas have a scarcity of parks and green spaces, which are essential for recreational activities such as soccer, basketball, and other fitness pursuits. Even when parks or facilities are available, they may not be well-maintained or past their useful service life, which can discourage people from using them. Worse yet, broken equipment, unsafe conditions and a lack of upkeep can contribute to significant safety issues.

Recognizing this challenge, Musco Sports Lighting’s Mini-Pitch System™ was designed to help create safer places to play in areas with limited space. Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, this innovative, all-in-one modular sport court system offers an ideal solution for communities to rejuvenate abandoned courts and underutilized areas, creating a fun and active place for local youth and families to come together in the spirit of teamwork, empowerment, and fitness.

The innovative Mini-Pitch comes in nine pitch sizes— ranging from 40’ x 84’ to 60’ x 120’— and multiple surface types, while customizable signage provides opportunities for branding and logos. A range of add-ons allows the system to be equipped for additional sports, including basketball, pickleball, and tennis and even offers an option to control lights instantly, from anywhere, with the touch of a smart phone.

With a reputation for reliable durability in providing sporting equipment, and transportation/ infrastructure lighting since 1976, Musco appreciated that hot-dip galvanizing provides lasting corrosion protection for heavy use and high-impact applications. The Mini-Pitch was designed to be both low-maintenance and durable, with a protective galvanized finish that can withstand a wide range of climates and weather conditions. This makes the system cost-effective and suitable for urban areas with limited maintenance resources.

As a testament to its durability, the Mini-Pitch system includes a robust 10-year parts and labor warranty to fully cover maintenance costs on the lights and structure. To assist in achieving their 10-year warranty, hot-dip galvanizing is the only coating offered on the Mini-Pitch product.

In addition to being a versatile and space-efficient solution, the Mini-Pitch can enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban areas. Musco soon realized the product’s galvanized zinc patina is easily integrated into the overall design of parks and recreational spaces, making them more attractive and inviting.

Even with the Mini-Pitch’s numerous benefits, proper fabrication was key to the success of the system. Early in the product development process, Musco worked closely with their galvanizer on the design of the court’s structural components. The Mini-Pitch is primarily made from tube steel so proper design for ventilation and drainage was crucial to the aesthetics and overall quality. With the guidance received from their galvanizer, Musco ensured a successfully coated product and highly durable finish engineered to last the design life of the installation.

Since its introduction, the Mini-Pitch is rapidly gaining in popularity and has had a positive impact on the hot-dip galvanizing market and the communities they serve. By encouraging engagement and social interaction, they’ve become focal points for residents to come together, lifting communities and enhancing the options for children across the country to “get out and play!”

This project was powered by CIC Pittsburgh Galvanizing furnace technology.