outdoor bleacher seating Archives - Carroll Seating Company

In an outdoor environment, even the best seating choices can wear down over time. Wonder how to make the most of your budget? Here are a few options you may want to consider.

Bleachers or Fixed Seating?

The first choice you have to make is whether you want to go with bleachers or fixed seating. While both have their benefits, the real dictator of which is right for your environment is going to depend on your available space. Fixed seating is durable and comfortable and very able to withstand the elements with the right coating, but it may not fit in every stadium. Careful measurement will be key. Bleacher seating can be far more space effective in some cases.

The Right Material

The type of seating isn’t half as important in terms of durability as the material your seating choice is constructed from. You have two basic options – aluminum and a surface coated in vinyl. Both are very durable when it comes to weathering, but there are a few things you may want to be aware of as you make your decision. Aluminum won’t rust or corrode, so it tends to last a bit longer than vinyl coated choices, but there’s one big drawback – the sun. In the summer heat, aluminum bleachers can get very hot, forcing your spectators to make other choices when it comes to seating. Vinyl clad seats will last almost as long, but they’re cooler even in the heat of the summer and quite a bit more comfortable too.

Outdoor environments have it much harder than indoor arenas when it comes to seating, but once you make the right choice, you’re certain to enjoy the roar of the crowd in the middle of a great game.

Outdoor seating has gotten a bit of a black eye over the past several years. Thanks to a number of wind incidents, storms, and a variety of other accidents, outdoor bleacher safety is a fairly hot topic these days. Whether you’re an athletic facility, a concert venue, or something completely different, the last thing you want is to put your patrons and entertainers or athletes in danger, so both choosing the right outdoor seating solutions and performing regular maintenance on your existing seating is a must.

Selecting the Right Outdoor Bleachers
Selecting the right outdoor bleachers is the first step to maintaining a safe environment. You should consider capacity, available space, and sightlines as you develop the right outdoor seating plan. Remember that outdoor bleachers don’t simply have to be hard metal benches anymore. Instead you can customize your solution with backrests, various colored powered coats, and even customized seating arrangements that will make your area work for almost any event. There are even press boxes you can choose to sit on top of your bleachers.

The key to getting the right ones for you is to talk carefully with the company you’re considering. You want to let them know about your needs as well as your safety concerns at the outset. There are all sorts of different solutions to consider, from tip and roll bleachers (ideal for pools and other venues where bleachers may need to be moved) to customized grandstands. Talking with your company about exactly what you want will help you design the perfect solution from the outset.

Bleacher Safety
Even after you select great outdoor bleachers, proactive maintenance is going to be an ongoing need. It will help you lower your long term costs, and it could ensure you reduce your accident levels, as well as any legal risks you may face from those potential accidents. You need to not only take into account the general safety of those who may be using your bleachers, but also whether or not they’re in compliance with local and state codes. Don’t forget to document all of your inspections and repairs carefully, and if your seating company suggests any aftermarket products to protect your investment, you should certainly consider it.

Outdoor bleachers can be the perfect place to cheer for the home team, but quality seating has to be part of the equation. Make the right choice at the outset, then maintain it well.