Be Seated

Felton Industries’ Select Grandstands have transformed the Gunnedah Showground.

Julia Saluja explains what sportsgrounds should consider when choosing spectator seating

Whether you are looking to upgrade or build a brand new sportsground, an essential component of planning involves spectator seating. Chiefly, how best to incorporate seating into the layout of the ground and what types of seating offer optimal experience and greatest value. Getting seating right has an influential role in determining the status of the sportsground as a preferred venue. Purpose of the Sportsground Identifying the full purpose of the sportsground is key to understanding the practical implications for seating requirements. What level of competition is expected to be held at the facility? Are there key specifications from sports governing bodies in relation to the new facility that must be met in order to be fit for use? What are the council or state requirements for seating, accessibility and quality at spectator venues of this size? Is the sportsground primarily for one sport and one target audience, such as a sole usage baseball field or will it be used by multiple groups and as multi-purpose facility for a range of different activities? Are there regulations regarding sizing that must be taken into consideration at the very start of the design?

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intended purpose alongside the future growth potential of the sportsground will greatly aid decision making surrounding spectator seating provision. Sportsground Usage Defining the extent of usage that can be expected in the sports area is paramount. Will it be used daily for many hours and have different participants throughout winter and summer? Or will it have recovery time in between heavy usage. Is it for training primarily or to be used as a principle venue for matches and competitor games. Outlining how the sportsground will be used in the upcoming months and years will help identify the type, positioning and capacity of seating required. Maintenance of Seating Maintenance of the seating facilities is another aspect for consideration.

For seating a low maintenance material such as aluminium is a definite advantage for cost and upkeep. Aluminium is lightweight, strong, and very durable making it an outstanding

Felton Industries off er wide-ranging options for spectator seating in community locations.

choice for spectator seating. Due to its non-corrosive nature, its finish, strength, and durability, aluminium needs very little assistance to keep in good condition and maintain its original quality.

Further to aluminium’s natural low maintenance properties, adding a marine grade clear anodised coating make it highly resistant to wear and tear or vandalism. Anodising can increase the hardness of the untreated aluminium surface by more than three times. Even strong physical actions like bashing, kicking or scratching will not impact the seating due to the anodised finish.

The quality and composition of the aluminium seating is another factor that will influence longevity and maintenance of seating. To ensure outdoor seating has a maximum lifespan with minimal maintenance, look for seating that uses premium quality aluminium with a higher percentage of aluminium per seating length. Inclusiveness and Accessibility Alongside suitable access to paths, the field, toilets and changing room facilities, implementing provisions for wheelchairs in seating plans are essential. Sportsgrounds should also include a provision for those who require to sit in standing spectator areas and provide a clear line of sight of the event. Spectator Seating Design and Style Not all seating is equal. As well as the maintenance and quality of seating materials, the design of the seating is fundamental. It should make the best use of space, offering maximum capacity without sacrificing the quality of seating for spectators. It should meet the highest of safety standards and offer outstanding durability. Seating should be designed to create a superior spectating experience with outstanding sightlines to the event from every seat.

Two styles of seating that are top sellers for spectator seating at sportsgrounds are bench seating and grandstands. Bench Seating Bench seating is one of the most versatile forms of seating in terms of its design and usage and this is what makes it particularly popular with sportsgrounds. Length and height can easily be customised, bench seating can be fitted with or without backrests, armrests and can be permanently fixed to the ground or remain free standing.

Training grounds for example typically benefit from aboveground, inground, or free stacking bench seating depending on whether the facility is publicly accessible or privately owned. For public facilities inground or bolted down bench seating with or without backrests are popular choices. Bench seating can be used for team benches to accommodate substitutes, staff and coaches or can reside outside the field of play to house small numbers of passing spectators. Bench seating is also predominant in changing room facilities within the interior spaces of sportsgrounds. Grandstands When a sportsground is to hold regular sports matches and events, grandstands are an essential seating addition. Grandstands like benches come in a variety of sizes and styles. At Felton Industries we specialise in providing a range of premium quality aluminium grandstands to meet any sportsground requirements.

Our latest edition is the Elite Portable Grandstand which comfortably seats 55 people, offers exceptional portability with fork tine (a type of forklift extension) access and a towable sled base, and its raised height guarantees outstanding views with uninterrupted sightlines.

Another of our most popular grandstands is the Sunsafe Select Grandstand which comes with shaded shelters to ensure spectators can enjoy the game regardless of the weather. This structurally engineered all-in-one unit provides shade and shelter for up to 40 spectators.

Our extended range of spectator seating can be found at ovals and sportsgrounds all around Australia, from large-scale grandstands through to portable solutions, ideal for putting up temporary seating, wall-mounted seating for indoor settings, and covered seating, to help keep the sun off the crowd.

All Felton Industries grandstands are built to provide superior sightlines and to the highest levels of comfort, durability and safety. Our grandstands are 100% Australian made and typically feature 20% more aluminium to offer greater strength and value. Our grandstand seating is used at indoor and outdoor venues, schools, sportsgrounds and entertainment attractions throughout Australia. Julia Saluja is Marketing Manager for Felton Industries. Felton Industries are specialists in providing and customising bench seating of all varieties for sportsgrounds for participants and spectators.