The new bleachers installed last week in the high school gym will seat aproximately 588 people, replacing the former which were installed in 1950s.
Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
By Isaiah Huisman
Panther Press
In a whirlwind of construction which required only 4 work days, the wooden bleachers which had been in the secondary gym since its construction in the 1950s were removed and new ones installed as of Nov. 3.
According to NRHEG Athletic Director Dan Stork, the new bleachers are able to seat 588 people, including 7 spots for those who cannot climb stairs. They have two fewer rows of seating than the old ones, which creates both disadvantages and advantages. “We probably lost over 100 seats compared to the wooden bleachers,” says Stork, “but the new configuration does not extend as far into the playing surface, and so is much safer.”
Stork mentions past incidents when referees sometimes collided with spectators, and also points out that people coming and going to their seats would block the line of sight for coaches and team members trying to watch games.
With wider spacing between the front row and the playing floor, Stork believes everyone will be safer. There will now also be space for chairs in front of the bleachers where team members and coaches can sit. Spectators will have room to walk behind them to come and go to their seats. “We had to make decisions based on our priorities,” Stork explains. “And everyone’s safety is the highest priority.”
The original wooden bleachers had been functioning poorly for a number of years. Estimates from various companies indicated that replacing the necessary wheels and other parts would cost more than half as much as installing all-new bleachers, which has cost about $83,000. Stork says the decision was made last spring to acquire the new seats; planning and preparation work have been underway since then.
Hands-on work began the morning of Friday, Oct. 29. Students and other volunteers spent the day disassembling the wooden bleachers and their supporting metal framework. There was no shortage of help with a total of 30-45 students helping throughout the day. There were no injuries despite the difficult work and large number of workers.
The vintage 1” x 10” pine boards, some measuring 20’ in length, were given to the school’s wood shop for use in future projects. Many of the metal pieces were set aside to be used for welding projects in the metal shop. Otherwise unusable metal was sold for scrap, bringing in about $770 toward expenses.
Volunteers enjoyed pizza and beverages provided by school staff. Said one worker, “We had fun blasting music and getting work done!” Stork mentions that work was completed more quickly than anticipated, with everything disassembled and removed by 3:30 Friday afternoon.
Workers from Seating and Athletic Facility Equipment (SAAFE) out of Excelsior began setup right away the morning of Nov. 1, bringing in supplies and equipment. A crew of 3 workers spent three days organizing and assembling all the wooden and metal parts. The new bleachers will have their first public inauguration during the Nov. 22 Marching Band concert, and will receive heavy use during the basketball season, which begins on Dec. 7, according to Stork.