The fans are in the stands, the teams are ready, and the atmosphere is electric as tipoff approaches. It’s the moment everyone sees — and the one the Intercollegiate Athletics Facilities (ICA) team has been preparing for behind the scenes.
In the hours leading up to game time, ICA staff are focused on the details that make a smooth game possible: floors cleaned and polished, heating and ventilation systems checked for comfort, restrooms and locker rooms cleaned and sanitized, and lighting systems tested and ready.
For ICA Facilities team leader David Waynick, each tipoff, kickoff, or faceoff marks the culmination of hours — sometimes days — of behind-the-scenes work. “There’s a sense of excitement, and our team is on the move,” he says. By the time the event begins, his team is as prepared as the teams on the field or court. That moment on game day is just one snapshot of a much larger operation.
Ready Round the Clock
The ICA Facilities team supports a complex, fast-moving environment. They maintain more than 10 indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, serving eight men’s and 12 women’s teams — spaces that are in constant use throughout the day and night. “The buildings are always occupied — literally 24/7,” says Waynick. “That means we are challenged with working around busy schedules that include practices, training, and games.” All of this is performed or managed by a team of fewer than 30 people.
That constant pace leaves little room for error. While much of the work mirrors what Facilities Management teams do in classrooms and administrative buildings, athletic facilities present unique challenges. Monitoring HVAC in the Xfinity Center, for example, requires meticulous attention to detail and planning. The basketball court’s hardwood floors can be damaged if the humidity is too high or too low. And temperature changes don’t happen quickly. In a 400,000-square-foot space, it can take several hours to move the temperature just a few degrees.
Prepared When It Matters Most
Even new, well-maintained athletic facilities can experience unexpected failures — often at the worst possible moments. During one sold-out football game, a water pump that supplies water to the upper decks of SECU Stadium failed.
ICA’s technicians responded immediately, rewiring the system and restoring water pressure before fans were inconvenienced. That’s one example of why ICA Facilities team members must bring a broad range of skills to every event, from HVAC and plumbing to electrical and more. On game day, they’re on-site and ready to respond the moment something goes wrong.
After the Final Whistle
But game-day response is only part of the picture. ICA Facilities work doesn’t end when the final buzzer sounds and the fans head for the exits. Cleanup begins immediately with teams moving through the facility to reset spaces and prepare for what comes next.
That work often happens on an accelerated timeline. In one recent weekend alone, the ICA Facilities team transitioned the Xfinity Center from a wrestling match to volleyball to a gymnastics tournament to a basketball game. Pulling off that kind of rapid turnaround requires coordination, stamina, and a team working at full capacity.
It Takes a Super Team
From high-pressure moments during events to the demanding work that happens between them, the role of the ICA Facilities team calls for skill, flexibility, and steady execution. As Waynick puts it. “The team is innovative, creative, and highly motivated. It takes a unique group to manage the significant volume of work and operate all the building systems.”