Football Focus is thrilled to introduce Arena Group ’ s Dave Withey as a regular guest contributor on all things related to the development and improvement of football club ’ s seating infrastructure .
Stadium Seating
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Pitchside Potential and Seating Sightlines
Football Focus is thrilled to introduce Arena Group ’ s Dave Withey as a regular guest contributor on all things related to the development and improvement of football club ’ s seating infrastructure .
Dave ’ s career began forty years ago with Arena Seating , Arena Group ’ s division specialising in the sale and rental of permanent and temporary seating for sporting events and venues of all sizes . As one of the most respected figures in the UK ’ s production industry , he has been integral to growing the six-strong team back in 1977 to becoming a global player with over 250 specialist sporting and event infrastructure experts today .
Across four decades he has worked on every aspect of sports seating , from permanent premiership football and rugby stadia to tiny non-league grandstands , to the installation of the award winning temporary 15,000 capacity Horse Guards Parade ’ s temporary Beach Volleyball London 2012 Olympic stadium .
Today we chat to him about the considerations football clubs of all levels need to improve facilities and spectator experiences .
Could you tell us a little more about the different types of seating available ?
Arena Seating has a track record of over 50 years working with a vast range of sporting clients , including over 200 football clubs , so we have fine-tuned and developed our portfolio of temporary and permanent seating products and services to suit all ranges of budgets and needs .
Recognising a growing trend in stadiums looking for ways to create a premium fan experience our in-house CAD designers and structural engineers and project managers develop best value concepts on behalf of clients . At the top level we can look at a project managing a complete stadium refurbishment , or if clubs are extending their capacities , refurbishing a single stand / part of the ground , or upgrading spectator facilities ; we will recommend the appropriate seats and grandstand infrastructure .
Our clearview™ seating system is our most popular cost-effective premium level product , available for sale or rental , this product is increasingly being utilised with bespoke sub-structures by sporting venues looking for a reconfigurable and modular seating system which offers every football spectator the perfect view from every seat in the stadium . Obviously seats come in ranges of colours to suit the club and with padded variations for VIP and coaches
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