The fan experience at major sporting events like the 2024 Summer Olympic Trials goes far beyond the thrill of the competition itself. It encompasses the ambiance of the venues along with the various amenities they offer. Imagine a baseball game without peanuts and hot dogs, the excitement of seeing yourself on the jumbotron, or the rush that comes from watching an event from a luxury VIP suite. For many fans, these elements are just as important as the action on the field or court.
While they may not be the first things that come to mind, architectural railing and staging platform systems play considerable roles in shaping the fan experience. These vital components enable fans to enjoy live events comfortably and safely, while also enhancing aesthetics and functional versatility. Ideal examples of this can be found at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and Target Center in Minneapolis, two venues where the talents and abilities of some of the world’s best athletes weren’t all that was on display during last month’s Olympic Trials.
HAYWARD FIELD: A HISTORIC VENUE REIMAGINED
Home to the University of Oregon’s track and field team for nearly a century, Hayward Field is revered as one of the sport’s most hallowed grounds. The illustrious facility has now hosted eight Olympic Trials, offering athletes an exceptional stage to push their limits, while also providing an unparalleled viewing experience.
Renovated in 2020 ahead of the Tokyo Summer Olympic Trials, the world-class stadium features a nine-lane track, comfortable seating, robust in-stadium amenities and facilities for training and sports medicine, natural daylighting and an iconic wood roof honoring Oregon’s forest lands. Doubled in capacity from 10,500 to 25,000 seats, the venue still maintains an intimate atmosphere with the first row of seats positioned just feet from the outside lane.
Custom-engineered architectural railing—constructed by Sightline Commercial Solutions—allowed fans seated in both the upper and lower bowls to cheer on their favorite athletes while enjoying clear views of the field and the breathtaking surrounding scenery. More than 15,000 linear feet of aisle, glass, cable and drink rail are featured throughout the interior and exterior of the arena, complementing the open and airy design of the state-of-the-art structure.
TARGET CENTER: BASKETBALL ARENA AT THE HEART OF GYMNASTICS CITY USA
Situated in downtown Minneapolis, Target Center also has a rich and storied history. Opened in 1990, the facility is the second-oldest arena in the National Basketball Association after Madison Square Garden and serves as the home court for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Most recently, the venue welcomed tens of thousands of gymnastics fans from across the country for the 2024 Olympic Gymnastics Trials, where more than 6,000 participants—including 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles and returning Olympic all-around champion and Minnesota native Suni Lee—competed for a spot on Team USA.
In 2017, the arena underwent a major renovation that transformed it into a state-of-the-art, Olympic-caliber facility. Among the upgrades were modernized railing systems designed to meet the highest standards of safety, accessibility, sustainability, functionality and aesthetic appeal.
This project called for a variety of specialty glass options, including bent and tightly curved glass, which required meticulous fabrication and close collaboration with the project’s glazing supplier. To optimize viewing, ½-inch laminated glass with a colored PVB interlayer was strategically chosen for certain areas of the arena to help dim the light that comes through the venue’s large windows. These glass railings also contribute to energy efficiency and the environmental sustainability of Target Center by managing natural light and reducing the need for artificial lighting—all while maintaining a sleek and modern look.
OTHER MEDAL-WORTHY PROJECTS
In addition to these high-profile venues, Sightline has been tapped to help transform the spatial and experiential aspects of stadiums and arenas across the country by creating alternative types of viewing options. From field-level and end-zone seating to standing supporter sections, the company is well-versed in converting underutilized areas into revenue-generating fan favorites.
Other Sightline sports projects have included the renovation of Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where it paired custom-engineered glass divider rails with VIP seating at the North End Zone to create a comfortable and exclusive atmosphere. It has also created field-level seating for venues such as Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
In 2018, the company introduced the “standing supporter section” to the U.S., when it installed a standing rail system with integrated seating at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. Inspired by European football stadiums, this type of designated area allows avid fans to stand and cheer on their favorite teams in unity and is ideal for filling otherwise underutilized spaces of a venue. Featuring a fascia-mounted metal railing frame with lean rail and slim-profile tip-up seats, this concept provides comfort, maximum standing room and enhanced crowd control for soccer’s most enthusiastic supporters.
Quickly becoming a standard at soccer venues across the U.S., standing supporter sections can now be found at GEODIS Park in Nashville; Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio; and TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. Standing rail also is being adopted by collegiate facilities and other major league venues, including an upcoming NBA project in Los Angeles.
In the ever-evolving landscape of live sports, the demand for immersive and engaging fan experiences has reached new heights and has the sports arena renovation market booming. By harnessing innovative design principles and cutting-edge technology, professional and collegiate sports venues can implement creative solutions that not only drive additional attendance and revenue but enable fans to forge unforgettable memories.
