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The level of technical support provided by Audience Systems has been a key factor in the project's success. "Certain adaptations were needed to the new seating to make everything slot into place," explains Steve Lee, Technical Manager (Operations). "In particular, the retractable system is so big that a lot of special work was required, and the engineering and projects teams have been very good in problem solving how to make it work."
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Steve Lee, Technical Manager (Operations)
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A Cost-Saving Investment"We have used Audience Systems before and found that the seats were very well made, with a very low maintenance requirement." Other seats in the arena had caused high on-going labour costs, and the arena's managers had to pay an engineer to spend a day checking every seat, before each show they put on. With Audience Systems' seats, this was no longer necessary. "We still have not used any of the pack of spares which we purchased with the seating three and a half years ago" |
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Addressing Health and Safety ConcernsThe health and safety of arena staff and audiences are, of course, key concerns, and in this respect, Wembley have found the Matrix system superior to other flat floor systems. "Other systems are nowhere near as easy to use or as lightweight for our crews to manipulate - this is vital for us as we are constantly changing around whole layouts. We have also found that because the floorbars are completely removable, there is no trip hazard. Other types of seating such as loose seating may not have been acceptable to our local authority for health and safety reasons; they are much happier with the Matrix system."
Throughout, the Zenith chairs tip up automatically to leave a wide, safe aisle - vital in achieving the arena's targeted 2.5 minute evacuation for their 12,000 spectators.
FlexibilityThe new seating has already been used for several events, and has given the venue the flexibility it needs. "In terms of layout, we need to provide what the event organisers want for the show. The seating has already been used in quite a number of different configurations."
Spectator ComfortAudience comfort was a "very important" issue in the choice of chair and according to Lee, they have already had "a lot of good comments" about the seats. The Zenith's back is ergonomically shaped to provide comfort even if the spectator turns in their seat to watch the action; to further increase comfort the chairs have been supplied with upholstered pads on the seats.
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