From rails and platforms to converting spaces into VIP viewing areas, Sightline has helped optimize venues from the NCAA to AAA and MLB.
MINNEAPOLIS – The demand for immersive fan experiences continues to dominate the sports arena with venue owners looking for ways to drive attendance and ticket sales by creating more inviting and engaging live event settings. With the 2023 baseball season in the rearview and teams beginning to revamp rosters and strategies for next year, the Sightline Commercial Solutions team is actively working with stadium owners and facility managers planning venue renovations and upgrades designed to transform both the spatial and experiential aspects of ballparks across the U.S.
“From simple additions like drink rails and camera platforms to converting historically underutilized spaces into profitable VIP viewing areas, our team has the experience, expertise and capabilities to optimize any venue,” said Ray Byrnes, a regional sales manager for the premier staging and railing solutions provider.
For inspiration and consideration, following are five stadium projects Sightline Commercial Solutions has engineered and executed to help baseball venues from the NCAA to AAA and MLB hit it out of the park for fans:
Working with the New York Mets, Sightline designed and installed a new fan zone just beyond the left field wall at Citi Field. With a reduced fence height and shortened distance from home plate, the space also creates an opportunity to socialize in a community setting. The company’s SC97 aluminum platforms serve as the base of the party deck while ADA platforms with continuous handrail and a quadruple, slip resistant surface ensure accessibility and drink ledges provide added convenience for fans.
To give San Diego Padres fans something extra to cheer about, the Sightline team installed a VIP Platform infill section at Petco Park. Changing the rise and run of the stadium, this section features larger tiers for a more spacious and premium viewing experience, along with custom guardrails made of anodized aluminum with acrylic infill specially engineered to support TV screens and deliver a high-end, aesthetically appealing look. Paired with cushy seating, cupholders and tables with cloth coverings, patrons can enjoy a comfortable, one-of-a-kind viewing experience.
“The social spaces at both Citi Field and Petco Park not only generate livelier and more energetic atmospheres on gamedays, but also afford fans the opportunity to embrace the action in a more communal setting,” explained Byrnes. “Rather than cramming into standard seats high above the field, they can experience our national pastime in an environment that prioritizes fan comfort and exceptional views.”
Sightline has also had the privilege of working with teams to ensure everyone has access to the best seats in the house. At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, the team recently installed a wheelchair accessible platform section with a slip-resistant ramp, IBC-compliant safety guardrail and aluminum closure panels to create dedicated areas designed to cater to handicapable Cardinals fans. This important aspect of fan engagement not only improves access and sightlines for wheelchair users, but also opens the surrounding area for better traffic flow.
Among the 10,000+ linear feet of custom architectural railing Sightline manufactured for the El Paso Chihuahuas – the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres – is aluminum drink rail utilized throughout the interior and exterior of Southwest University Park to provide convenient support for concessions, beverages and belongings so fans can comfortably enjoy games from anywhere in the stadium.
“Along with our standard drink rail, we now offer a new cost-effective VIP Drink Rail system providing sleek, stylish support for hands-free viewing,” said Byrnes. “It can be incorporated into almost any area of a sports facility, from loge boxes and field suites to VIP lounges, club decks and ADA-compliant sections, and is ideal for use in concourse areas to cater to those who prefer to stand and socialize during a game.”
In addition to drink rail, Southwest University Park boats anodized aluminum picket, mesh and grip rail in the party deck, standing room and berm sections, along with Track Rail™ on the balcony overlook and staircase in the Club Suite area and custom powder coated steel fencing around the perimeter of the facility.
The Club 41-11 seating section at the University of Mississippi’s Swayze Field comprises more than 150 of Sightline’s SC90® Clima-Core® weather-resistant platforms, which are specially designed to withstand outdoor elements and won’t rot, swell, warp or absorb moisture. The platforms rest on a unique, telescoping SC9600 understructure that “bridges” the platforms from all angles to provide a solid base for fans. The semi-permanent system, which is set up and taken down at the beginning and end of each season, can be arranged at multiple heights to accommodate different spatial requirements and offer spectators unobstructed views. To enhance accessibility, Sightline provided modular stair units and ramps that work in tandem with the equipment.
“We actually teamed with REVELxp to custom engineer and deliver this seating system to David Booth Memorial Stadium in time for the University of Kansas Jayhawks’ fall football home opener,” explained Byrnes. “At the end of the 2022 college football season, we relocated it to Ole Miss so Rebels fans could utilize it for the baseball season.”
Through seamless collaboration, Sightline and REVELxp were able to deliver the seating system to both venues quickly and efficiently within tight timeframes. Partnerships like these enable Sightline to add tremendous value to a project and provide turnkey, custom solutions – from social viewing spaces and ADA accessible areas to modular seating systems for every level of a stadium – that cater to spectators of all types.
To learn more about the creative solutions Sightline Commercial Solutions can offer to elevate the fan experience and bolster ballpark attendance and revenue, visit sightlinecommercial.com.
About Sightline Commercial Solutions
Based in Minneapolis, Sightline Commercial Solutions is a leading fabricator and global supplier of architectural railing, metal, glazing and portable platform solutions for the commercial, sports venue, live entertainment and performing arts industries. Since 1990, the company has specialized in providing innovative solutions for the most complex challenges. For more information visit https://www.sightlinecommercial.com.
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