HOW STADIUM SEATING IS CHANGING THE MATCH DAY EXPERIENCE
ď‚Ą Football
stadiums have evolved significantly over the last 30 years and stadium seating has played a big part in the changes that have been seen. From the original all-standing terraces to the conversion to all-seater stadiums, the style of seating on offer in football stadiums has been developed to improve match day comfort for fans and executives alike.
Seats in football stadiums have traditionally featured a plastic flip-up seat on a metal frame – a
simple and cost-effective seating solution, still widely in use today. This type of seating certainly created an impactful view when it was first introduced as rows of seats in club colours brightened up the previously dull looking terraces. Strategically positioned seats in contrasting colours could spell out a club’s name when the seats were unoccupied to add to the impact.
ď‚Ą As more clubs started to introduce executive boxes there was a requirement for
more comfortable seating for these areas. Manufacturers started to offer padded and upholstered stadium seats, more like those found in theatres but with weather-resistant vinyl upholstery which was more suitable in a stadium environment open to the elements. ď‚Ą With the top clubs continuing to upgrade their facilities, the number of executive
and corporate boxes increased. Clubs looked for more premium seats for these areas as well as VIP seating where club executives could watch the match. Club logos embroidered on seat backs further enhanced the premium look of luxury stadium seats and this started to become a standard requirement for many clubs.
ď‚Ą With demand for upholstered stadium
seats continuing to grow, manufacturers sought to improve their product offering with higher seat backs and more deeply cushioned seats. Additional features such as heated seats added to the luxury and were very welcome on cold match days.
ď‚Ą With executives taken care of, the top
clubs started to offer some additional luxury to their fans and many premiership clubs now have larger areas of executive seating which is accessible to those fans willing to pay more for a ticket.
Luxury stadium seating is also no longer reserved for the premiership as it can now be found in
football clubs across all leagues. Although the majority of fans do still sit in plastic seats, these have also been improved to offer greater comfort. Whilst many fans are happy to stay seated at a football match, in recent years there has been a call
for the introduction of ‘safe standing,’ something which has already been introduced in several European clubs and successfully trialed at Celtic FC. A modern alternative to terracing, safe standing is a form of rail seating which features a safety barrier and a seat which folds up and can be locked away. Several premiership clubs have expressed a willingness to trial this and the government is to commission a review into safe standing, taking into account how football stadiums have developed since the ban on standing areas in the top 2 divisions over 25 years ago. At the opposite end of the spectrum we look to the US where luxury stadium seating has been
taken to the next level. The Hard Rock Stadium, home to Miami Dolphins offers luxury armchair seating to members of its 72 Club where fans can watch the game in home from home comfort in their ‘Living Room’ boxes. Time is yet to tell which way seating in UK football clubs will evolve.
About Evertaut Evertaut is a UK manufacturer of luxury stadium seats and has supplied seating to leading football clubs across the country.
Thank You For More Information Visit Our Website www.evertaut.co.uk