Nation’s First Safe Standing System with Integrated Seating Unveiled at Banc of California Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., June 26, 2018 – Fans of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) have a new reason to stand up and cheer. The Club’s brand new 22,000-seat stadium, which hosted its inaugural match in mid-April, features the country’s first “safe standing” supporter section with integrated seating. Custom designed by Trex Commercial Products, a national leader in the engineering and manufacturing of ornamental railing systems for commercial building applications, the system features safety railing with folding seats that enable supporters to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, creating an electrified and unified stadium atmosphere on match days.
“The vision for this project was to create an unrivaled in-stadium environment and sporting culture for the devoted supporters of the LAFC,” explained John Lewis, president and CEO of Trex Commercial Products. “With that in mind, we were inspired to think beyond safety and to re-imagine the safe standing concept in a completely new way that elevates the fan experience.”
Dubbed the “North End,” the safe standing section at Banc of California Stadium features a unique design inspired by nearly two years of intense research, design workshops with club owners and supporters, and extensive analysis of top projects around the world. Pitched at 34 degrees, it is the steepest in MLS, a key factor in the design of the seating rail system engineered by Trex Commercial Products. A fascia mounted metal railing frame angles back slightly, creating a comfortable lean rail for standing supporters, while also increasing headroom for seated patrons. The slim profile, tip-up style seats provide comfort and maximum standing room for passionate supporters, as well as enhanced crowd control within the section, allowing for greater fan safety and easier access in an emergency.
“Seeing the seating rail system installed for the first time at the stadium really put into perspective the slope of the section and the need for this one-of-a-kind custom system,” said Lewis. “Supporters will feel like they are right on top of the action.”
Augmenting the appeal and value of the revolutionary Trex Commercial Products design is the fact that the central portion of the section encompasses a removable stage – built in to allow the stadium to host concerts and other events, beyond MLS matches.
In addition to the 4,200 linear feet of railing in the North End supporter section, the stadium also features 14,425 linear feet of Trex Commercial railing throughout its interior, as well as fan entrance and exit areas. Railing types include aisle rail, cane rail, painted rail, cable rail, glass guard rail and concourse drink rail.
Trex Commercial Products worked in conjunction with Gensler Sports (architect), PCL (general contractor), Danny’s Construction (installer) and GlasPro (glass manufacturer) to design and install the state-of-the-art railing systems for Banc of California Stadium. For more information about Trex Commercial Products, visit www.trexcommercial.com.
About Trex Commercial Products
Trex Commercial Products, based in Minneapolis, Minn., is a national leader in architectural railings for commercial applications. The company engineers and markets pre-engineered railing systems, aluminum systems and custom railing solutions. Trex Commercial Products has built an industry-leading reputation for quality and dedication to customer service since 1990. To learn more about Trex Commercial Products, visit https://www.trexcommercial.com/
About Trex Company, Inc.
Trex Company, Inc. [NYSE: TREX] is the world’s largest manufacturer of high performance wood-alternative decking and railing, with more than 25 years of product experience. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex outdoor living products offer a wide range of style options with fewer ongoing maintenance requirements than wood, as well as a truly environmentally responsible choice. For more information, visit trex.com. You also can follow Trex on Twitter (@Trex_Company), Instagram (@trexcompany), Pinterest (trexcompany) or Houzz (trexcompany-inc), “like” Trex on Facebook or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).
Contact: Allison Kurtz
L.C. Williams & Associates
800/837-7123 or 312/565-3900
akurtz@lcwa.com