They’ve been there since the building was constructed in 1969, but in the summer of 2015, Croy Gymnasium’s bleachers were replaced as part of a plan to increase safety and modernize aesthetics. A renovation in the making for several years, Farnham Equipment Company continually checked in with the University of Findlay’s Athletic Director and, as funding became available, Croy Gymnasium made significant upgrades and renovations, “From a safety standpoint, we need to do this,” Givens explained. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Patrick Kindelin, of Farnham Equipment Company, worked closely with the University’s Associate Athletic Director for Development and Business, Jim Givens. Givens, along with his staff had two priorities for the new seating with the number one requirement being a barrier between the team seating and spectator seating on the Visitors’ Side and the second, to develop reserved seating on the Home Side.
Givens’ decision to work with Farnham Equipment Company became simple when, “they were the only company to provide multiple options for us to review to determine the best seating layouts. The other seating company only want to know what to price out. We knew what we wanted and after several revisions, Farnham Equipment Company, along with Hussey Seating Company, came up with the best solution.” Additionally, “they could also provide new logo chairs and scorer’s tables for a complete turnkey package.”
The Hussey Seating Company Visitors’ Bleacher incorporated an elevated front aisle 54” wide with a front rail the entire length of the bleacher bank, separating spectator seating on the Visitors’ Side and leaving enough room for the scorer’s tables as well as team and coach seating to be on the playing court, creating the barrier they had requested.
Givens and his staff chose Hussey’s CourtSide Seats with CourtSide Spacers featuring cup holders and orange contoured backrests for their reserved seating section. This option maximized available reserved seating, giving the University more opportunity for revenue growth through reserved seating ticket sales.
Additional seating was provided at the end courts with Hussey Seating Company’s Maxam1 Portable Bleachers. The University of Findlay incorporated eleven portable bleachers adding 165 net seats and giving Croy Gymnasium an arena-type feel. The University took advantage of Hussey’s CourtSign Graphics option and added their own graphics to the Maxam1 skirt board for an added touch of school spirit. The graphics varied for each portable Maxam1 bleacher and included the University’s twitter handle, website, and e-mail address.
The renovation included a re-branding of the school logos that were featured throughout the gymnasium to complement the newly painted University of Findlay wall graphics and new conference banners, including Hussey’s CourtSide Logos, seat number graphics, new Clarin Portable Chairs for team seating, and a Nike sponsored Safety End Closure Curtain. The bleachers featured orange aisle rails paired with their black CourtSide seats, completing the look for the Oiler’s new gymnasium.
Farnham Equipment Company provided five 8-foot Allied Scoring Tables with interchangeable graphic panels that were customized by the University’s sponsors.
“Farnham was great to work with from the design to the installation, it all worked out so well. Their installers are top notch.” Jim and his staff thought so highly of the installation crew that they provided several lunches and took them out for dinner. On the last day of installation, the basketball coaching staff gave the crew University of Findlay t-shirts and had a “team” photo of the installation crew.
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