Toadvine Blog

It's that time of year again and we'd like to take this opportunity to pause for a moment and let our employees and clients know how much we appreciate them.

The employees at Toadvine Enterprises are incredible. They are the life of our business and we appreciate them greatly. We are also grateful for the loyalty of our clients and for the faith they have put in us to supply their athletic needs. We value your trust and look forward to continuing to build those relationships this coming year. 

Our hope is that the joys of the holiday season will surround you while you spend time with friends and family. As you look forward, may 2014 hold the promises of a happy and successful business year ahead.

From all of us at Toadvine,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bleacher and stadium seating liability continues to be an issue due to the rise in lawsuits from bleacher accidents brought against schools. Keeping spectators safe by having regular bleacher maintenance and inspection performed is a first step in preventing accidents and liability issues. 

The checklist below lists action items you can do to ensure your seating is safe in between scheduled maintenance. Please contact Toadvine Enterprises if you need your bleachers or stadium seating inspected and maintained. 

• Make sure stairs, ramps, and aisles are dry, clean, and free of debris.
• All stairs should be equipped with handrails and tread to prevent falls.
• Loose flooring should be fixed to prevent tripping hazards.
• Seats should be free from splintering wood and loose screws and hardware.
• Safety rails should be installed on the back of bleachers to prevent falls.

Toadvine Enterprises is here to help your school provide a safe environment for fans and players. Contact us today if you need a seating quote of if you have questions about the safety of your school's bleachers. 

Cleveland has the Dawg Pound. It is the place the die hard fans cheer their beloved team across the goal line. The NFL is notorious for entertaining touchdown celebrations. Some of the most dramatic football finishes have not been touchdowns, but instead were field goals from 63 yards with 2 seconds on the clock, like Jack Dempsey's famous game winning kick. These dramatic field goals would be impossible without one crucial piece of equipment; the goal post.

The goal post has gone through several transformations throughout the years. All of these improvements and new features are available for you and your football facility, and Toadvine Enterprises gives you the highest quality and affordability. So while your program is concentrating on the roster and recruiting, don't forget to check off your end-zone equipment needs.

• Goal Posts
• End-Zone Pylons
• Football Stopper Set (netting system)
• Goal Post Padding (with your team name and colors)

We carry an assortment of goals that will meet your specific needs and budget. We have many H-style goal posts, combination football/soccer goal posts, and gooseneck single pole base goal posts that come in aluminum or steel construction. We also carry the Revolution goal post that rotates 180 degrees so it does not interfere with other sports needs on the same field. 

If you need a new ground sleeve or plated system we can walk you through the products that will best meet your needs. Give us a call today at (502) 241-6010 and knock out your end-zone checklist so you can focus on things that really matter, like winning!

Long gone for most sports facilities are the days of creeky wooden bleachers and the flip score board manned by rotating students. The basic requirements of most facilities have not changed much since the days of Roman amphitheaters and arenas; easy and safe access to the facility, a comfortable place to sit, and a good view of the game. Sports arenas of today need to offer these basic benefits but now have more options than ever to appease, entertain, and entice fans back to their facility.  

Gymnasium seating options are numerous. Classic wood is still an option for those seeking the traditional look. For a look that adds a huge visual boost to your facility, telescopic seating can utilize the bleacher system with bleachers opening in the forward direction and the option to display school lettering or team colors. Sculpture seat modules feature solid color seating which is high strength and fade resistant. These seats are available in 15 standard colors to sport team spirit. When seeking a way to honor special boosters or sponsors, consider the VIP wide deck platform with platform chairs when you need a highly functional system with comfortable chairs and wide rows to move around in. For the ultra modern arena cupholders, cushioned seats, and even the ability to order food from an electronic device right from your seat, are the newest in innovations for sports fanatics.

Stadium seating has evolved in the outdoor arena also, with ergonomically-designed flip up seats and lumbar support now available. Wide selections of colors can be alternated and interspersed to visually sport team pride. Sponsorship can now also be secured on stadium seating to honor special donors and designate specific seating areas. 

To find out what seating options are available for your sports facility, fill out the contact us spot on the website and a member of our team will get back with you to discuss your seating options.

Lacey Township High School officials in New Jersey never imagined the dilemma they would face on the evening of September 17, 2011 as a routine high school football game turned quickly into an investigation and the closing of a portion of the stadium. A game spectator broke through one of the stadium bleacher seats and although no injuries were reported, the stability of the stadium was in question and turned the future of Lacey Township High School upside down.

A thorough investigation followed and structural engineers were called in to evaluate the future of the stadium seating. With the stadium closed for investigation, school officials were left scrambling wondering how to remedy this situation. As with most small athletic programs, funds were very tight and extent of the pending repair work could be more than their small budget could accommodate. 

This scenario in New Jersey is not uncommon. Athletic departments and school districts choose where their limited dollars will be spent and often routine stadium maintenance is either overlooked or eliminated and most schools take their chances on the structural stability of their facility and opt out of spending money on routine bleacher maintenance. As with the officials in Lacey Township, this can be a very risky and costly decision.

Toadvine Enterprises offers guaranteed safety and peace of mind with our maintenace and safety inspection program for all indoor and outdoor seating and equipment. Certified and trained manufacturer technicians perform visual inspections of your facility and/or school equipment which includes a detailed report of any findings or actions that need to be taken. Toadvine can perform your annually-required maintenance inspection and can provide yearly contracts that work around your needs.  

To secure the safety of your school families and patrons, let Toadvine perform the maintenance necessary to keep your school free from physical injuries or accidents. Fill out our Maintenance and Safety Interest Form to get started. 

If you have seen the epic film, Chariots of Fire, you may recall the scenes where the runners are preparing for the start of the race. The runners kneel on the ground with little trowels or spades and prepare the ground. They would dig small holes for their feet to gain traction and would not slip. So much has changed from the early 20th century for track and field equipment, including starting blocks.

The first starting blocks emerged in the late 1920s and became a standard and accepted practice in the 1930s. By 1937, the use of starting blocks became mandatory so runners could not have any unfair advantages and all the runners would have "a fair start." The earlier starting blocks would be large enough that the entire length of the runners' feet could rest on the block, but in the early 1970s, starting blocks were modified so the heel would overlap the top edge of the block. The thought behind this was an increased burst because of the calf muscle was more fully engaged.

The former blocks were referred to as high blocks and the shorter versions are commonly called short blocks. There has been a switch back and forth to which are used in recent years, including in the Olympic games. The science behind the start is getting more sophisticated all the time, and although technology is always improving, the most important thing you hear runners saying is they need to feel comfortable in the starting blocks.

Toadvine Enterprises offers the full line of Gill track and field products. We have many great options for starting blocks in every price range, including Fusion, National, Scholastic, Moye, All Surface, and the all-important transporter starting block carts to protect your investment and make moving and storing them easy and safe.

We are at the front of the science of speed and are helping schools get "faster starts through advanced technology." Call us today with your track and field equipment needs. Toadvine Enterprises (502) 241-6010.

Porter has announced its new line of winches that can accommodate your curtain and gymnasium dividers. Tired of the struggle of closing and opening curtains in your facility? These improved winches are the perfect solution. They are easy to use and designed to work with all of Porter's existing control systems. 

The 00709000 is a listed winch that comes with a full 5 year warranty. This winch will be able to span the current range of Porter backstops up to 40' attachment height. This winch has the ability to be raised or lowered manually with a battery-operated drill or socket for install or emergency situations. Porter's goal is to be able to continue to increase its winch line so it can grow the custom engineered product offerings and capabilities. Keep your eyes out for winches that will allow them to design bigger, more unique systems.

Gill Athletics has an entire web page of new products, and one specific product we wanted to highlight is the Ultrak 830 Heat Index. Coaches who are tracking the actual heat index on the field can measure, in real time, if the conditions are safe for the players. This is a great tool and should be a part of every coach's on-field toolbox. With record-setting temperatures this summer, coaches are taking their role seriously to keep players safe. This new tool from Gill Athletics should be a must for every athletic director. 

Additional features of the Ultrak 830 Heat Index:

• Accurately calculates temperature, humidity, heat index, and dew point

• 30 dual split recallable memory

• Measures to 10 hours with 1/100 second resolution

• Presettable countdown timer with auto repeat function

• Time, calendar, and alarm

• LED backlight

• Solar powered with back-up lithium battery

• Water resistant 

• Five-year warranty 

Let us at Toadvine Enterprises know if you'd like more information on either of these new products. 

Iroquois Amphitheater is a beautiful venue for wide variety of events. Some of their upcoming events speak to the diversity of the talent and entertainment they offer our city. They have U of L dance theater coming up for multiple performances followed by rock and roll bands like Umphrey’s Magee and Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zeros. They have events for the whole family like movie nights. The price is right for the upcoming movie night on September 8 featuring The Zookeeper starring Kevin James. The cost is free, and what a great way to spend the evening with the whole family.

Toadvine Enterprises was contracted for the seating project for the Iroquois Amphitheater and there are 2,366 seats in all. The exterior seats are a comfortable way to enjoy this beautiful outdoor venue and all the variety of entertainment they offer.

The Iroquois Amphitheater origins were a result of the Works Progress Administration and was originally built in the spring of 1938. Their website recalls, “After the 2000 performance season, Metro Parks began an ambitious project to modernize the facility while preserving the Amphitheater’s historic features and unique character.” Toadvine Enterprises was proud to participate in the renovation process of this wonderful facility. Since the renovation, they have grown in the scope of their entertainment offerings and have reestablished themselves as one of the favorite local entertainment venues in Louisville.

If you have not visited Iroquois Amphitheater, it should be added to your short list of places to visit in Louisville. You will not be disappointed. Here are a few things they have coming up through September. Check their website for dates and times.

• Gilbert & Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore”
• U of L Dance Theater
• Movie Night: “The Zookeeper”
• Umphrey’s McGee
• Derby City Brass Band
• Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
• The Dark Side of the Wall

MaxPreps just came out with Kentucky’s top 10 most consistent high school football programs. There are no surprises of who made the list, but who has the programs that will shine in 2012? Impressively, Trinity is ranked #12 preseason for the country. Congratulations to them on that accomplishment.

The top 10 according to MaxPreps.com:

(not all the same divisions)

1. Trinity (Louisville)
2. St. Xavier (Louisville)
3. Highlands (Fort Thomas)
4. Male (Louisville)
5. Bowling Green
6. DuPont Manual (Louisville)
7. Lexington Catholic
8. Covington Catholic (Park Hills)
9. Scott County (Georgetown)
10. Bell County (Pineville)

Our congratulations to these awesome high school athletic programs on making MaxPrep’s top 10 list of most consistent high school football programs in the state. Coming into the 2012 fall season we are excited to see what teams will rise to the top and if there will be any Cinderellas in the mix. What is consistent, across the board, for these top-performing programs is great facilities and equipment. Terrence Mann of Field of Dreams said it best, “If you build they will come.” People will come, and so will the players. The best facilities are strong selling points for attracting the best talent.

As we are entering August, start dreaming about your program and how you can eventually find your name among those on the top 10 lists MaxPrep is putting out. Call us and schedule a time we can show you all the new and exciting products we are carrying.