The sphere of influence refers to the area from which a facility or an attraction draws its support. This is often called the 'catchment area'. Think of it like a magnet. The bigger the magnet (facility), the larger the area it pulls from (sphere of influence).

For example, a neighborhood playground has a smaller sphere of influence because it only draws in kids from that neighborhood. On the other hand, a major sports stadium, like the Wembley Stadium in the UK, has a much larger sphere of influence, attracting fans from all over the country and even abroad!

Sports facilities aim to offer opportunities for people to participate in sports. They're often strategically located in areas where they can reach the most people.

For instance, your local gym might be right at the heart of your town to make it convenient for people to exercise. Meanwhile, large sports centers like the Staples Center in Los Angeles are centrally located within the city, making it accessible to a larger crowd.

Low-order sports places, like your neighborhood basketball court, have a small catchment area, and serve a small population. They're plentiful and closer to home.

High-order sports facilities, like the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, are fewer but serve a larger population. They're often more spaced out due to their larger scale.

The order of the sports place increases with the variety of sports it offers. The more sports you can play there, the higher its order!

Consider a playground with a sphere of influence of about 1 km, catering to young kids in the immediate vicinity.

A step up might be a sports center with both indoor and outdoor activities. It could attract people from up to 10 km away.

At the top end, we might find large sports complexes and stadiums serving a larger population from a greater distance. Imagine the Olympics Stadium in Tokyo, which attracts audiences from all over the world.