Toadvine Blog

Each year thousands of people, many of whom are young children, are seriously injured or killed in falls from bleachers. These tragic events occur for a variety of reasons ranging from poor maintenance to a change in code that didn't require stringent rules surrounding guardrails or smaller openings around the footboards. Schools and universities should be held to a standard of care to proactively maintain their equipment, reducing accidents and legal risks by improving safety for students and community members. Here are some suggestions that will help reduce risk and improve safety. 

Inspect bleachers before and after they are used

Inspections should be made every time telescoping bleachers are rolled out and put away to ensure proper working order. Any noted damage or repair should be repaired immediately. 

Regularly Perform Thorough Inspections

Thorough inspections should be conducted on a regular basis, at least once a month, or once a week if they are heavily used. Use a checklist to make sure key components are not overlooked. Checklist can serve as a routine for future inspections and a record of issues and repairs.

Conduct Annual Inspection With a Certified Technician

While you and your staff can regularly inspect bleachers and grandstands, it is also important to have annual inspections performed by a certified technician. If you are considering installing new bleachers, ask the company to include a 10-year annual inspection service in the contract. Send an employee to shadow the inspection to give you insight into what can be done to keep bleachers up to code.

Clean Underneath Bleachers Regularly

Outdoor bleachers can accumulate a lot of debris and trash if not cleaned regularly. Keep the surrounding area free of trash to help reduce risk and improve safety. With indoor bleachers, trash and debris can potentially clog parts and cause operating problems. A powerful blower is helpful to make sure areas are clean underneath after indoor bleachers are used.

Post Safety Signage

Although mandatory, signage is often overlooked on bleachers. Post warning and safety signs to help ensure proper treatment and use of bleachers. 

Train School Staff

Maintenance staff and designated school staff should be trained to properly operate indoor bleachers. There should, however, be a limited amount of people authorized to operate the bleacher system. Teach operators and controllers how to spot issues when operating, so problems can be reported immediately.

Institute a Preventative Maintenance Program

Having a preventative maintenance program in place will allow schools to track and schedule items that are not in immediate need of repair, to be scheduled for maintenance. Using an automated, computer-based system is especially useful as projects can be created and work orders can be tracked.

Toadvine Enterprises offers maintenance services that ensure your stadium seating and bleachers are working as they should be. Learn more here and use the contact form to get in touch with us about our maintenance program. 

We provide nearly every product you could possibly need for your sports complex or facility. More than that, we design sports facilities from simple to complex. We provide our clients with more than seating design and basketball and football goal placement. We walk with you through the design-build process to the installation and completion of the project.

Anyone can design a rectangular building, throw bleachers against the wall, and install a few hoops with a scoreboard attached to the wall. It requires a company like Toadvine Enterprises to consider the detail of how every fixture and piece of equipment should complement the function of the whole facility. We have been in sports facilities where 20 percent of the spectators had their view of the scoreboard or the athletes blocked by the scoreboard or some other facility component. Subtle changes in design can make the user experience improve dramatically. Considering how spectators enter and exit a facility, or how they access concessions and restrooms can make a huge impact on the performance of your facility. Most people do not expect their facility to serve them well, beyond  it being a place to a house a sporting event. What if the experience of the event was drastically improved? What would that mean to your program?

Knowing what works and what doesn't is an art and a science. We have every detail in mind when we design a sports facility. We have to consider the spectator experience and at the same time the environment we are creating for the athlete. Everything has to work together to exceed expectations.  That is the main reason we have partnered with the companies we have. They share our commitment to excellence and innovation. Companies like Nevco, Porter, Gill Athletics, Interkal, Dant Clayton, Seating Concepts, and List Industries. We have to be selective because we are only as good as the product and service we can offer our clients. Choose more for your facility design and improvements, choose Toadvine Enterprises.  

Did you know that Toadvine Enterprises can help you customize your scoreboard? We can help you piece together a scoreboard that is right for you based on your budget. And now is a great time to start thinking about a new scoreboard for your facility. We are running a special on scoreboards: buy two indoor scoreboards and receive a free indoor school name sign. This offer is valid through November 16.

Here are some trends we're seeing in the scoreboard arena: 

• Many facilities are adding protective nets and screens. It may not happen often, but an object can strike the scoreboard causing damage to the lighting or the overall functionality. Putting up a net or screen in front of your scoreboard is a simple measure many are taking to protect their investment.
• Electronic team names are becoming very popular, especially for facilities that host tournaments where it may be confusing who the home and guest teams are. 
• Custom caption plates are another way to differentiate which team is which. You can have caption plates made that are easily removed from the scoreboard and can be rearranged for every game. It is a simple change out.
• Nevco has created cable switcher systems that allow score keepers to score multiple games at the same time. Suppose you have two or three basketball games or volleyball matches happening simultaneously. Now you have a system that will let you access many score boards at the same time. This system is for wired systems only and are ideal for larger facilities with multiple courts.

For more information about Toadvine's scoreboard special, contact us today.

Are your bleachers and stadium seating up to code? There are new requirements for bleacher safety, and any facility with bleachers and public seating (indoor or outdoor), must be inspected annually. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following bleacher safety guidelines: 

• Provide routine inspection and maintenance, at least twice a year, in accordance with the bleacher's owner's manual.
• Use only trained personnel to open and close bleachers following instructions provided in the owner's manual. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS OR UNTRAINED PERSONNEL TO OPERATE BLEACHERS.
• Install bleacher guard rails as a safety precaution and as an indication that the bleachers are fully extended.
• A licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or company that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers and provide a written certification that the bleachers are fit for use.
• The option of replacing bleachers as opposed to retrofitting should be considered.

Toadvine Enterprises and Vine & Branch introduce a maintenance and safety inspection program for all of your indoor and outdoor seating and equipment. Vine & Branch is fully staffed with manufacturer-certified service technicians to ensure the safety of your seating. If you have not complied with your states regulations, you run the risk of having your facility closed. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also requires that all outdoor grandstands and folding or telescoping seating be inspected annually by an engineer, registered architect, or manufacturer-certified inspector. It just makes sense to have your equipment inspected by someone who is an expert of that equipment. Call us today to schedule an inspection of your bleachers. (502) 241-6010

They are the center of school spirit and pride. They give definition to who your school is and add personality and distinction to your program. The mascot is one of the most crucial decisions any school has to make. Here is our top list of the most uniques mascots in our region.

Kentucky: The Western Kentucky Hilltopper is always a great conversation starter. How can you make a mascot out of the top of a hill? You make a rounded pyramid and give it eyes and a mouth. Big Red, as he is affectionately referred, is always ranking high on the national scene as a favorite, and although he doesn't strike fear in his opponents, he holds a special place in our hearts.

Ohio: The Dayton Flyers is a very unique mascot. He has a moon boots, a flight suit, and flying goggles and leather helmet—but there is no plane. He ranks high for originality and his full teeth grimace can help the crowd get behind their team with intensity. Akron has Zippy the Kangaroo, and just like Big Red, he does not strike fear into his opponents... but he is unique and fun. Having a mascot that people enjoy can be a real advantage.

Tennessee: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders gets honorable mention. With a lightning bolt for a tail and bright white wings, their mascot certainly stands out in a crowd. "Lightening" as he is referred to, eludes to the schools aerospace programs and also points to the region's history of breeding walking horses. East Tennessee State has a Buccaneer as their mascot. Buccaneers are not all that uncommon as mascots. We found it interesting that most schools that have a buccaneer as a mascot are usually located on the water. "Bucky the Pirate" is his name and he has a parrot named Pepper. Say that 10 times fast. 

Indiana: Purdue has the Boilermakers as "Purdue Pete." What is a Boilermaker you ask? A Boilermaker is someone who makes boilers or a metalworker in heavy industry. And according to Wikipedia, (LINK) The nickname Boilermakers goes back to 1891 when the Purdue football team defeated nearby rival Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana 44–0. 

Mascots have become even more popular than some teams. They can have big impacts on a schools' tradition and branding. Many schools revamp their mascot's look every 10-15 years to keep them looking modern. Although some mascots need no improvements because they are simply timeless. Let us know what your favorite mascot is.

In the a new era where college programs are shuffling from conference to conference, why is the SEC conference so strong and stable? Money isn’t the only factor, but in a recent article from OTB, they shared that SEC dominance in football began in 2005-2006 when two schools ranked in the top 10 of revenue generating programs; Florida and Georgia. By 2010 that number grew to five out of the top 10; Florida, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, and Alabama. OTB reported, “Nine SEC schools generated more money in ’10-11 than the ACC’s No. 1 revenue-producer, Florida State.” That is an impressive stat, however, it doesn’t all come down to revenue.

What about the wins? The Business Insider wrote a few days ago, “The SEC has won six BCS championships in a row. And a look at the USA Today preseason top 25 poll shows us that the coaches don’t think that is going to change anytime soon.”

Football is clearly a strong suit for the SEC conference, but what about the other sports that can fly under the radar? Rant Sports reported, “In the six years since the SEC captured its first BCS National Title, the conference has won 33 national titles. As a matter of fact, the SEC has won titles in every sport offered by the NCAA – except volleyball.” Thirty-three is an awfully large number of national championships.

Why are they so dominant? They have recruited some amazing talent in every sport and have some tremendous coaches. That is certainly a huge factor. How do they do they acquire such tremendous coaches? That is where the conversation comes full circle and we talk about money again. A key to the SEC’s success is their ability to leverage TV and viewership. The SEC was able to generate $1,066,935,731 in a annual revenue. That is number one in college sports conferences. We know championships are won and not bought, but we know Calipari didn’t go to Kentucky because he liked the food better than Memphis. The key to any program, at any level, is to develop new ways to generate more revenue to hire the best coaches who can recruit the best talent and retain them.

Your facilities need to be improving, your programs need to be improving, and you can not stay where you are or you will be left with more of the same.

Picture source: http://www.stadiumbleachers.com/products/banners

Dant Clayton, our manufacturer for stadium seating, has recently launched a new website, making it even easier for visitors to see their projects and the markets they serve.  

Because Toadvine works closely with Dant Clayton on a number of projects from elementary schools up to the collegiate level, we wanted to share this new video from Dant Clayton. We feel it encompasses the various types of projects and customers they have, as well as the quality of the seating itself.

You can read more about Dant Clayton here.

Contact Toadvine for any seating needs you have or request a quote online.

Interkal LLC is a spectator seating company known for its design innovations as well as its ability to deliver products on time. Interkal has a rich history in spectator seating thanks to its dedicated employees and the fact that of all the products are made right here in the United States. Interkal's engineering advancements have also helped them be a top manufacturer of spectator seating. Because of this, Interkal has created the Self Storing Aisle Rail (SSAR), also known as the F-Rail because of its unique design.

Interkal's aisle rails are not your average rail sold by other suppliers. They're different from competitor products because the rail arms store away in the bleacher and do not protrude out into the “traffic” area when the bleachers are in the folded position. Other manufacturers “P-Rail arm” faces outward causing potential hazard to students and athletes when the bleachers are in the folded position.

The SSAR is also a money saver to your school! The SSAR rail is a one-time installment and there is never again any set-up time. This will free your staff from spending countless hours a year on set-up and take-down of aisle rails. The SSAR isn’t only for new Interkal bleachers, this rail can be retrofitted to all existing Interkal bleachers.

Check out pictures as well as a short video of the SSAR in action.

Call Toadvine at 502-241-6010 or visit our website to see how we can help save your school money while insuring the safety of your bleachers.