How to Design a Sports Bar Floor Plan, Layout and Blueprint

Sports bars are a staple of American culture. You might think that designing the perfect sports bar is about having the best TVs. While that may be important, a sports bar's success, just like a neighborhood bar, a nightclub, or a cafe, relies on having a proper bar or restaurant floor plan. 

Today, many states require restaurants and bars to submit floor plans for permits. This process means that legally, you need to have a floor plan to see your dream sports bar open its doors with the perfect bar layout.

To ensure you get to the exciting stage when you get your sports bar open, we created this complete guide full of tips to simplify the floor plan design process. Each step helps you design a floor plan that gets your doors open and supports all fans as they eat, drink, play pool on a set of pool tables, and party together on the dance floor! Discover the best tips below!

Key Takeaways

• Sports Bar Floor Plans Can be Completed with Software: Available through many companies, software can make the sports bar floor plan process easier and more effective.

• A Designer Can Help Create the Perfect Sports Bar Floor Plan: You’ve alternatively got the option of working with a designer to craft the perfect sports bar floor plan.

• Sports Bar Layout and Sales: By planning each area in the sports bar with attention to detail, you can create the perfect customer experience and receive more sales.

• A Permit as well as Building Code Knowledge Are Needed: You won’t be able to commence the building process until you’ve obtained a permit. It’s also important to have building code knowledge or support to complete the process.

What Is a Sports Bar Floor Plan?

Floor plans and blueprints map out the physical space of your sports bar. This floor plan includes everything, from your indoor seating and eating areas to your outdoor spaces. The goal is to create a map that details how every inch of your sports bar fits together so that you can bring your bar to life.

The sports bar floor plan is going to balance function and aesthetics, flow and visual appeal. In other words, how your guests and employees navigate the bar is just as important as the experience.

There are certain things to always include in your floor plan, no matter the type of sports bar you open. Below is a list of things your floor plan should include:

1. The bar

2. Prep areas

3. Kitchen

4. Entrance areas

5. Waiting areas

6. Dining and seating areas

7. Staff areas, offices, and break rooms

8. Cashier stations and your POS system(s)

9. Restrooms

10. Dish area(s)

11. Doors

12. Windows

13. Televisions and projectors for sports entertainment or music

14. Emergency Exits

15. Accurate measurements of the space

How to Create a Sports Bar Blueprint and Floor Plan

Learning how to conceptualize your floor plan and turn it into a reality is just a few steps away. You can trust your vision and do it yourself or collaborate with a design studio to outsource the extra work. Whether you plan to hire a designer or give it a go yourself, these two options are both viable ways to design a floor plan that supports the sports bar of your dreams. 

Floor Plan Software Options

Want to take a shot at designing your floor plan yourself? Not a problem. There is software preloaded with all the design elements you need to simplify the design process for your sports bar floor plan. SmartDraw, ConceptDraw, and Cad Pro are all reliable software that can develop good-quality custom blueprints.

• SmartDraw: The SmartDraw software is one of the best options for planning and mapping out the bar floor plan. It offers symbols that represent each appliance, door, and window within the sports bar, as well as several customizable floor plan templates.

• ConceptDraw: The ConceptDraw software is full of samples for drawing floor plans, but you can also plan for the exact sizes of each room within the sports bar you want to create. This is all accessible in the DIAGRAM feature of ConceptDraw, helping you visualize each scene.

• Cad Pro: The great thing about Cad Pro is that you can use it as a design novice or a design expert. It’s complete with an automatic dimension (Smart Dimensioning) tool, so this will automate some of the design process for you.

Interior Design Studio to Creare a Sports Bar Floor Plan

On the other hand, you can also hire a designer or studio. They can help you map out your vision by combining their professional design knowledge with your creative flair. It’ll be slightly more costly than using your own approach and design tools. 

But, the convenience and professional assistance are undeniably valuable. They’ll help you determine the placement of the lighting, walls, seating, colors, and other elements in the floor plan. They’ll also help you resolve issues such as the best location for the kitchen, the bar, and other areas.

Consider this bar floor plan design from ConceptDraw as you begin your design process:

SOURCE: ConceptDraw.com

Sports Bar Floor Plan Design Best Practices

You might be raring to go, but before you start the design process, there are a few best practices you must know! Each will help you navigate the process on your own or with a designer. So, let’s look closely at the best practices when creating the sports bar floor plan.

1. Wait Space Allocation: Ensure you set aside ample space for your guests while they wait for tables or pickup orders. You’ve got 60% of the entire floor plan to allocate to customer spaces, such as the waiting area, so use it strategically and make the space inviting for customers.

2. Staff Break Areas: In accordance with industry floor plan best practices, it’s best to allocate a maximum of 40% of the floor plan space to staff areas, which include staff break areas. So, measure the square footage and allocate the right space accordingly.

3. Beverage and Food Service Flow: You’ll want customers to easily be able to navigate the space and offer them a smooth flow of service. This involves ensuring the bar is easy to notice and making the best use of the space to create a circular flow of service.

4. Guest Seating Areas: Consider how the floor plan works with the guest seating areas and save 60% from the total floor plan for this area, according to restaurant floor plan best practices.

5. Carefully Consider POS Placement: This includes identifying where POS systems will exist to conduct transactions with efficiency as well as establish clear communication between the front of house and the kitchen.

Sports Bar Floor Plan: Key Area Sections

The optimal floor plan you’re going to create will have to include several area sections. If you’re eager to get started, add the following areas to your sports bar floor plan or get ready to discuss them with your interior designer!

Bar Floor Plan

While the televisions may take center stage in sports bars, the bar is still an essential feature in your floor plan. Remember to design your bar with bartenders in mind. The bar should support the flow of service, and also be comfortable for your staff to serve customers. Keeping this in mind can ensure bar guests receive the drinks and food and offer efficient services. So, here’s how you can do it:

1. Bar Counter Layout: You’ve got a choice to make. U-shaped or L-shaped? This’ll depend on your aesthetic preferences and the ambiance you want to augment. Remember that your beverages and alcohol will need to have a place behind the bar, and this will require you to think about the shape of the storage you will rely on, too.

2. Service Efficiency: When designing your bar, designate additional space for bartenders and table servers to interact with guests. The goal is to balance out the space in your sports bar to prevent crowding in certain areas. This means creating that all-important circular flow of traffic and having the service area on the opposite side of the order area.

3. Space Allocation Behind the Bar: Unnecessary crowding will only inhibit your team's workflow. This means it makes sense to leave a space of at least 37 inches behind the bar for staff to move around. It's also never a bad idea to consult local pros or trusted employees on how to best design your bar's layout. This’ll help you create the perfect sports bar floor plan that makes an excellent impression on your customers.

Sports Bar Seating Area Floor Plan

Sports bars offer the best of both worlds. They have communal spaces with large tables that can accommodate entire communities of fans. Sports bars also provide more private areas for small parties to enjoy a meal and watch the game. Incorporate these two elements into your floor plan in a way that is accessible for all guests. And always make sure that guests have a view of the screens, no matter where they’re sitting!

Here are a couple of other tips to help with the seating area floor plan:

• Space Allocation Guidelines: You have 60% of the total space to play with, but remember that each guest should have approximately 18 square feet for themselves.

• Spacing Requirements: You’ll need to remember that there should be 18 inches between each chair. But also keep in mind that your choice of tables affects the spacing requirements. If you’re keen on diagonal tables, they’ll need 24 - 30 inches between them. If you’re keen on square tables, they’ll need 42 - 60 inches between them.

Kitchen Floor Plan

Fans come for the games and stay for the eats. So, don’t overlook where your kitchen lives in your floor plan. Placing the kitchen in the right place and setting aside room for each kitchen zone can help with efficient service flow, which is why you should consider the tips below:

• Storage Areas: Every detail matters in your kitchen's floor plan. You will need to account for all the equipment for your cooks and where each piece will live. This approach will help you design a kitchen layout that supports your staff in executing your menu. More importantly, identifying where appliances will live must also align with your plumbing and electricity, which will be a critical aspect when you dive into your permits.

• Food Prep Area: Just like your dining area, be generous with space in your kitchen. You want your staff to be comfortable and able to run the best service they can. So this will mean measuring the space and setting aside an area for food prep, such as a large island in the center or units with clear surfaces that your staff can use. You can add this to your floor plan with the specific dimensions.

• Dish Washing Space: Reserve a spot for the dishwashing space and incorporate a drying area if needed. To do this, remember that 60% of the floor plan is for customers, so the space you’ll be working with when allocating a dishwashing area, just like a restaurant kitchen, is 40% of the entire space.

Staff Area Floor Plan

Staff areas need to be considered since these are the places where your staff will be able to take breaks, store their things, and so on. This helps keep your sports bar organized. Above all, a space designated for staff signals the kind of work culture you promote at your sports bar. Here’s what you need to think about:

• Office Space and Schedule Posting: This space might contain an office or a zone exclusively for staff, where they can plan ahead for events they might hold in the sports bar. The office space may also include zones for schedule posting, which you might also include using employee scheduling software.

• Break Room Space: A sufficient number of comfortable seating is needed in the break room zone. Always stick to the measurements of the break room to ensure the number of seats you include for your staff will fit well and leave sufficient space for employees to move around.

Cashier and POS Station Floor Plan

We suggest that you place point-of-sale POS stations in strategic areas around the bar and dining area so that employees can easily access them and communicate with the kitchen. This’ll make the service flow more convenient and ensure your staff has access to the POS systems when required. 

But another option is to invest in handheld POS devices that your staff can use tableside. This ensures that orders will be accurate, saving time, inventory, and profits. It also means that staff can access a terminal when needed instead of having to return to the bar to receive a payment with top technology.

Restrooms Floor Plan

You’re going to need to design a restroom floor plan that’s usable for all customers. As stated by euansguide.com, 78% of individuals would avoid using a restaurant if it did not have an accessible toilet. This means it’s important to consider the points below when designing your restroom and ensuring it’s accessible:

• Accessibility Requirements: Ensuring your space is accessible involves adhering to the American Disabilities Act. You’re going to need to ensure the lavatories are 17 inches deep and that the restrooms have the right space for individuals to rotate their wheelchairs to access the space comfortably.

• Restroom Location: The restrooms need to be placed in spacious locations that are easy to reach from a seating area in your sports bar. What’s also important is keeping them separate from the staff area. To achieve this, allocate a space to the restrooms that’s tucked away yet features a wide hallway leading to them.

Emergency Exits Floor Plan

Like all public buildings, sports bars must have a fire and emergency floor plan. Fortunately, design software can help you adequately map out mandatory emergency exit routes. These exits are going to need egress paths and meet safety expectations / regulations. Think about the following points when designing the emergency exit floor plan

• Egress Paths: On the floor plan, the egress paths shouldn’t have any furniture within them. They must remain clear for emergency situations so customers and staff can use them to exit the building. Factor in this clear space when you’re planning the egress path.

• Safety Regulations: These paths need to be clearly marked. That means on your floor plan, you should indicate where you’re going to place signs that point out where the exit is going to be. You can do this with a note on your design software or by coordinating with the interior designer.

Accessibility Requirements for Sports Bar Floor Plans

To adhere to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements, you’re going to need to allocate a minimum of 5% of the seating to ADA expectations. Beyond this, wide hallways for restrooms and grab bars in the right places will ensure the establishment is suitable for all of your customers.

You’ll need to cater to those who use wheelchairs, who are going to need ramps for easy access, sufficient space to turn around in the hallways even outside the restroom area, and the right leg clearance at the front of the finished bar. It should cater to those with disabilities and needs to offer at least 19 inches of leg clearance.

How to Choose a Sports Bar Floor Plan?

You might have made the bold choice to work on the sports bar floor plan independently, using software. Or you might have selected an interior designer to help. No matter your choice, the following tips are here to help you. Here’s how to choose a sports bar floor plan.

Available Space

Before anything, you will have to check the total space available. It’s a step that involves taking measurements of the walls and floors, which will give you the square footage you can work with for your sports bar floor plan. After all this is done, think carefully about the number of customers who can use the space without restricted movement. 

With this taken care of, you’ll want to think about your staff. Consider the bar area and allocate space here to ensure that bartenders can use the area without restrictions.

Space Allocation Priorities

We’ve mentioned that critical 60/40 split between the space for customers and the space for staff. And so it’s worth keeping this in mind since it’s the industry standard. But how might this look for your space? Well, if you’ve got a sports bar that measures 3,000 square feet, 1,800 square feet should be reserved for customers, and 1,200 square feet should be allocated to the staff areas.

Permit Requirements

Finally, don’t forget to take the essential and non-negotiable step to obtain the proper permits for bar building and blueprints. You’ll get these from city and state officials, who will also approve your floor plan so that it can become a reality! 

Now, since each state has different regulations regarding permits, don’t forget the importance of reaching out to county officials too. You’ll then get several bar licences and permits, such as building health permits. These indicate the safety of the building and reveal that staff and customers can use it.

Complete Your Sports Bar Floor Plan and Evaluate the Finished Performance with Toast

Once you craft your sports bar’s blueprints and floor plans, it's time to start turning it all into a reality. Plumbers, architects, electricians, designers, artists, and your staff can all assist in bringing the vision to life, contributing to each element and sports bar design choice, and helping you achieve the perfect theme and design.

As soon as the sports bar has been built, you can run it and evaluate its performance with the right technology, as that’ll help you optimize any issues along the way. With restaurant tech from Toast, such as the benchmarking tool, you can see how the sports bar is performing in comparison with your competitors. 

Beyond this, though, we offer a whole suite of technology, too. Our restaurant and bar technology range is vast and ready to help you run your sports bar effectively. Run your sports bar without any hiccups; head to Toast to find more examples of advanced restaurant technology today!

FAQs

How Do You Make a Sports Bar?

This all begins with a concept and knowing what your sports bar will offer that your competitors don’t, such as exclusively showing local sports. It can involve planning your finances to pay for licenses and permits as well as bar equipment and furnishings that you’ll want to include in the sports bar floor plan. It’ll also include constructing the bar and finalizing the furnishings to align with your plan.

What is the Point of a Sports Bar?

This establishment exists to offer a fun and relaxing experience for customers who want to watch their favourite sporting events. The sports bar will, therefore, need to offer comfortable seating, food, drinks, and a range of other furnishings, such as televisions. They also serve the purpose of entertaining customers, who can play pool on pool tables, take part in darts, or play other games.