Football Focus Issue 69 | Page 9

Creating the ultimate spectator experience whilst maximising revenue is one of the most pressing issues facing football clubs today .
Creating the ultimate spectator experience whilst maximising revenue is one of the most pressing issues facing football clubs today .
Corporate hospitality is an obvious and lucrative route – and keeping guests in ultimate comfort is key if a premium price is to be charged .
Ferco Seating designs , manufactures and installs seating in some of the most iconic sports venues and stadiums across the world , including the London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre , the Maracanã in Rio and Emirates in London .
And its luxurious Riviera and ARC range , developed to meet the demands of corporate clients , can be seen in VIP areas at many other grounds .
This executive class seating has been developed with ergonomics and comfort in mind , with a wide seat , high back and plush padding , as well as an extensive list of customisable features including integrated seat heaters , built-in cup holders and personalised embroidery for sponsorship opportunities .
“ It is extremely popular for director and corporate areas and can be seen at Chelsea and Leicester City ’ s grounds and has just been installed at the
Lusail Multi Purpose Arena , Qatar
redeveloped Anfield main stand ,” said Simon Wake , Head of Sport & Stadium at UK-based Ferco .
“ Corporate hospitality continues to grow and is an increasingly important income stream for clubs but discerning guests expect the best .
“ Our seating meets the highest expectations of luxury , style and comfort – enhancing the sporting experience and enabling premium prices to be set .”
Simon explains that Ferco ’ s standard stadium seating is also leading to cost savings , due to its durability and low maintenance .
The company offers the sector ’ s broadest range of plastic and upholstered stadium seats , all meeting British standards and rigorously tested for toughness , not only inhouse , but by real fans in some hotly-contested matches .
Strong and aesthetically pleasing , general admission sports seats such as the FCB-M , recently installed at Northern Irish national stadium Windsor Park in Belfast , are designed for heavy and consistent use and are still comfortable to sit on .
And attrition rates are excellent , at less than 0.05 %, meaning that at stadiums such as the Emirates , where Ferco installed 60,000 seats over a decade ago , there has been no need to order any replacement seating .
Emirates Stadium manager John Beattie comments : “ We are very pleased with the huge reduction in replacement seats required . This has
resulted in lower operating costs whilst providing fans with greatly superior seating .”
Since Ferco ’ s inception over 30 years ago , the firm has continued to invest in research , design and development .
One of its most impressive innovations is the Railseat , created in response to fans ’ demands for areas of safe standing , and having recently been installed at Celtic Park .
Developed to allow people to stand safely at domestic club matches and sit at international and European matches , the unique slim-line system has been approved by both UEFA and FIFA for Champions League and World Cup matches .
The Railseat has proved immensely popular with fans who wish to stand and has enhanced the famous Celtic atmosphere . The club has control over the safe standing section , with ground staff quickly able to convert the upright seat to a sitting position when required .
Robin Buchanan , Stadium Manager , said : “ Celtic Football Club introduced the first ever Rail Seating area in the UK for season 2016 / 17 and have been delighted with the outcome of this . The Club ’ s objective will always be the safety and comfort of its supporters and the new Rail Seating section allows fans to stand safely at matches .”
Derby Arena
London 2012 Aquatic Centre
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