A Better Experience in the Grandstands

Seating is one of the most important aspects when it comes to purchasing a ticket to your favorite event. The last thing you want customers to do is complain about the fact that they paid money for a subpar seating experience. Usually, there are a few reasons that the seating experience is less than stellar – but being prepared for these objections means you can build a better grandstand.

Discomfort is the primary factor in customer complaints. Of course, no one expects a bleacher seat to be the height of comfort. But there are many options that can make the experience more pleasant, such as superior materials and craftsmanship. Additional seating, such as upholstered backs and other comfort features, can make the experience even more pleasant. Your clients will spend a lot of time in this seating – it should be the best it can be.

Sight lines are another key feature. No one wants to pay top dollar for a ticket and not be able to accurately see what is going on or have access to a visual aid like a jumbo-tron. Take the sightline into consideration when you are designing your seating. Even the cheap seats need a reason to come to the venue. No one wants to pay money for a ticket and stare at a column for most of the time!

Don’t overlook the need to make your clients feel special. Higher paying customers expect to receive an experience that is more valuable than a bleacher seat. Seating is one of the ways an upscale customer judges an event. Whether this means covered seating, box seating or other options, find a way to create an elite clientele who can take advantage of preferential seating in order to generate investment for years to come.

With a few key factors in mind, you can build a better grandstand that leads to an outstanding customer experience!

There are certain steps a company can take to ensure safety when their product is being used. Hussey Seating makes sure to roll the edges of all understructure steel to prevent sharp edges, they have always used closed loop railing so that backpacks, purses and other things can’t get snagged accidentally and cause an injury to someone. What they can’t ensure all the time is that their product is being used correctly every time. They can teach and install to standards, but ensuring that aisle railing were always positioned correctly after the bleachers were extended wasn’t something they could do feasibly. After sitting down to brainstorm how to resolve this problem they came up with the Auto Rotating Center Safety Aisle system. Their revolutionary patent pending system has permanently mounted rails that are turned out in the correct direction by the motion of the bleachers extending. And likewise as the bleachers are pulled back in the railing drops and turns for safe storage. If you are interested in learning more about Hussey’s Auto Rotating Center rail for your school’s gymnasium renovation call our Chicago office design team at 847-434-0909.

 

 

Jazzing up your gym is with customized products is an important part of crafting your school’s personality.  It can increase school spirit, build community pride and really fire up your fans.  The right products will improve safety by blocking access to dangerous areas as well as dressing up your bleachers.  You can use a custom accessory package to highlight your sponsors so it might even amp up your fundraising efforts too.

A customized gym is not limited to a painted floor.  You can take your team logo and mascot from the floor, up the walls, across the bleachers and all the way to the ceiling.  Here are just a few options that could take your space from a drab basic gym to a custom coliseum.

If your gym is a little behind the times and needs a total redo, a total custom package is what you need.  This is a top to bottom makeover with all the bells and whistles.  This graphics package will make an impression on all of your guests, no doubt about it!  Imagine an extreme bleacher logo stretching across your bleachers, open or closed.  From the stair risers to the courtside seats, to the bleachers, rails and media platform, every surface can be branded with custom colors and logos.

Not every space needs the head to toe makeover; some just need a little something extra.  The impact of step signs and graphic courtside seat graphics shouldn’t be overlooked nor underestimated.  This is where the eyes of your fans and visitors will land most often so they’re a great place for a little update.  During the game, all eyes are on the court.  It’s only natural to dress that area well and the courtside strip is too often ignored.

All eyes fall on the stair risers, too.  With each step you can emphasize what means most to your team and school.  Your risers could list your core values, display your team’s name or add punch to your spirit message.  Your aisles can do more than just carry feet; they can carry your message.

Those same messages can also help protect your fans and students.  The ends of your bleachers can pose a danger.  It’s an area that often falls victim to vandalism as well.  No one of any age should be able to easily access this area when the bleachers are out.  An easy to install safety end closure curtain can secure this spot with a sense of style.  They attach permanently on old or new bleachers and could serve as a very visible “billboard” for major sponsors.

For the ultimate in game side seating comfort, a seat back is just the thing.  Since they back your team, treat your season ticket holders or boosters to a little backing of their own.  Courtside seating modules, spacers and backrests can be combined to support your fans as much as they support you.  They are ergonomically designed and provide excellent mid-back support.  Spacers provide about 25% more personal space for your guests and that will get people talking.  You can even add cup holders to cut back on spills and make postgame clean-up less of a chore.

Enhancing your courts makes a difference.  It’s time to take a look at the products that are truly game-changers.

 

School space is at an absolute premium these days. With more students than ever and seemingly less and less money, finding the level playing field gets harder all of the time. More space would help, right? Is it actually possible to find that without converting the janitorial closets into administrative offices? Actually, yes. Your next space saving campaign could start with telescoping gym bleachers.

Aren’t They Uncomfortable?

telescopic seatingFor schools that don’t already have telescoping bleachers, the biggest concern is lack of comfort for patrons and students during games, events, and assemblies. Sure, the hard wooden options of decades ago really weren’t that comfortable, but today’s choice certainly have those beat. With options like added row spacing, tapered sections, custom rises, and foldable platform chairs, these aren’t the bleachers you’re used to.

Aren’t They Harder to Use?

Today’s telescoping bleacher systems are easier to use than ever before. In fact, you can automate the entire process. At the touch of a button, the seating can automatically fill the right space. Touch it again and it retracts for added space. It just doesn’t get easier than that.

How Do They Look?

These seating choices look exactly like you want them to. Customized to fit your space exactly, you can add all sorts of features to help enhance the entire look of your gym. Add your mascot to help cheer your team on. Consider end-closure curtains. Think about doing the entire gym in your school colors. Sure, standard, hard wood bleachers were once the only option you had, but now you can be as colorful as you’d like to be.

To learn more about how we can give your gym a little more space with telescoping bleachers, give us a call today, and explore just how much you can do with that extra space!

Levi Curtis, Project Manager

Levi Curtis,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
In my free time I enjoy hunting, fishing, and working on our farm with my sons.  My wife and I enjoy traveling and the chaos of the boy’s youth sports.

Tammy Winship, Accountant

Tammy Winship,  Accountant email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Kelli Brandon, Project Manager

Kelli Brandon,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
When not at the office I enjoy painting, baking, and spending quality time with my three grandkids.  .

Mandy Kohlbrecher, Project Manager

Mandy Kohlbrecher,  Project Manager email our team
Bio coming soon.

Eddie Scheer, Sales

Eddie Scheer,  Sales email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Dustin Hecht, Project Manager

Dustin Hecht ,  Project Manager email our team
Dustin is a life-long woodworker with a passion for crafting. When he's not in the workshop, he might be found tinkering with cars or hitting the links for a round of golf. Dustin is a family man, happily married to Courtney, and together they have two daughters.

Mike Yager, Sales

Mike Yager,  Sales email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Doug Mead, General Manager KC and STL

Doug Mead,  General Manager KC and STL email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jordon Lanning, Repair & Service

Jordon Lanning,  Repair & Service email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

John Underwood

John Underwood,  Warehouse Manager email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jacob

Jacob Allen,  Rproject Manager & Estimator  email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service  email our team
When out and about I enjoy spending time with my husband Michael and our 5 grandkids.

Brock Christopher,  Sales

Brock Christopher,  Sales email our team
On the weekends and during the evenings, a majority of my time is spent playing soccer with my 7-year-old Kade or working on various projects with my 12-year-old Kael.  During the fall you can find me doing anything related to the KC Chiefs or Mizzou Tigers.

Stephanie Vogl,  R&S Admin

Stephanie Vogl,  RS Admin email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Suzi Johnson,  Project Accountant

Suzi Johnson,  PM Coordinator email our team
I have spent most of my life in Illinois. I enjoy traveling and taking photos. I need coffee to function. My life revolves around my fur child, Norman.

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Kevin Morkin,  Insurance / Warehouse email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant  email our team
I enjoy spending time with my family. 

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator  email our team
When I am not at work I enjoy baking.

PJ Carroll

Ludwig Hoeft,  Project Manager / Estimator email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

PJ Carroll

Sam Shapiro,  Project Manager  email our team

Sam is a safety trained supervisor of construction whose experience ranges from factory to field.

He enjoys hiking, road trips, and rock concerts.

Mike Gillam

Mike Gillam  General Manager & Director of R&S   email our team
My life outside of the office consists of trips to remote locations and spending time with my family and five grandkids.  I love the Lord and doing His work.

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll,  President  email our team
Patrick Carroll, Jr. assumed the positions as President, in 1998.

Alexander Klopp

Alexander Klopp  Sales   email our team
When I am not in the office I enjoy my life in the western suburbs as a Husband of 30 years, father of 2 adult children and an active member in our local Presbyterian church. Passions include family adventures with one-of-a-kind experiences.

Tim Haggerty,  Sales  email our team

“When I am not working, I like to enjoy time with my family living an active life style that includes, live music, sporting events, golfing, fishing, and skiing.” 

 

Evan Carroll,  Sales & Special Projects email our team

Evan Patrick Carroll, following an internship from 2003- 2005, joined as full-time sales in 2008.

Tom Madura,  Controller  email our team

Outside of the office, I love spending time with my wife, 3 kids and our dog!  My hobbies include playing golf and practicing guitar which I keep working at. 

Meredith Pollard (Carroll),  General Manager  email our team

When I am not at the office, I enjoy my life in Roscoe Village, downtown, with my husband Mike, son Cameron and our dog Addy!

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll
President

Patrick Carroll, Jr. assumed the positions as President, in 1998.

email our team