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Dant Clayton and NJPA Team up to Elevate the Fan Experience at Beaver Local High School

  • 02/06/17

ada compliant high school bleachersIn the great state of Ohio, high school football is king. Such is the case at Beaver Local High School, located in East Liverpool, OH. When the current bleachers were deemed non-code compliant in mid-May 2015, due to the absence of ADA-approved seating and general deterioration, the pressure was on to purchase and install a new grandstand to accommodate home and visiting fans for the upcoming football season. The team’s first home game was scheduled for September 11, giving the school less than four months to come up with a solution.

While school board officials began the funding search, the decision of how to purchase the new grandstands became concern number one. Being so late in the year, the time needed for a traditional bid would result in the team not being able to use the venue for the bulk of the season. Thus meaning the school would have to rent space elsewhere for football games.

It was through discovery talks with the Dant Clayton Sales Rep that Treasurer/CFO of Beaver Local Schools, Stacy Williams, realized there was a viable option to not only meet the deadline, but also have the ability to purchase from a reputable company. A current member of National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA), but with no prior purchases, the school board was quick to agree with the procurement method as it was deemed to satisfy competitive process requirements, and thus placed an order for a 1,500-seat home side with a press box, and a nearly 900-seat visitor side. Each offered many safety and aesthetic features, such as slip-resistant decking, handicap forward seating, and powder-coasted risers with closure panels.

ada compliant high school bleachersWilliams says she and the school board were pleased with how the project came together, especially with such a tight deadline.

“We are extremely happy with the new bleachers,” Williams said. “From start to finish, we had an excellent experience. The purchase process through NJPA was seamless. Without it, there is no way we could have met our schedule. The support provided by Dant’s sales rep was second to none.“

She was impressed that the Dant sales consultant made a visit to the venue to ensure all was correct before the team’s home opener.

It is safe to say that the community is very pleased with the new venue, but perhaps none are as appreciative of the newly designed bleachers as one particular young man. A former Beaver Local High School football player who was paralyzed in a car accident his senior year. According to Williams, “The elevated handicap-accessible bleachers were a real game-changer for our former student,” Williams said. “For the first time, he was able to watch the game from the front row without any obstructions thanks to the raised bleacher design Dant Clayton proposed. It was a wonderful game!”

The revamped visitor side consisted of a handicap forward design that offers superior sightlines for those viewing the action from the accessible and companion seating area. This stand layout was recognized by the Paralyzed Veterans of America in 2013, when it awarded a Dant Clayton venue the Barrier-Free American award, stating that the facility was integrated and seamless between those in wheelchairs and ambulant spectators.

Creating a solution for Beaver Local High School was about more than adhering to building codes and meeting a tight schedule; it was about finding a way to give all fans the full experience of the game. The grandstands remain a sturdy reminder of just how one of our favorite pastimes brings us all together.

NJPA members have access to Dant Clayton’s event seating solutions through contract 100814-DCT. Learn more: http://njpa.co/DantClayton.

Sponsored by: NJPA

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