The Best Seats
In The House

As with any of our installations in Canada, this project was designed, manufactured and installed all in accordance with the Ontario and National Building Code requirements. The under structure was designed completely of galvanized steel and featured a clear span design allowing for circulation under the building. Access to the press box was provided via stair case access and landings to the ground level as well as a back catwalk allowing access to the exterior doors as well.

The press box itself measured 8’ x 24’ and featured a divided interior space providing three separate rooms for visitors, home and the media. The space inside the press box was completely finished and fully equipped with vinyl flooring, a suspended acoustical ceiling and painted vinyl gypsum board walls.

The amount of wall padding a gymnasium needs has long been a topic of debate among facility operators and managers. The difficulty in assessing the right answer to this question lies in the fact that there is no regulating body on the matter, and that it can end up being very dependent on the unique needs of any particular gymnasium.

Both educational and public gymnasiums can be utilized for a number of different sports and athletic activities, each having a separate set of safety requirements, especially when pertaining to wall mats and wall padding.

Basketball is a sport in particular that requires a great deal of safety related padding when played within the confines of a gymnasium. Today, our athletes are continuing to grow bigger, stronger and faster and when mixed with a high-speed sport like basketball, the risk of injury increases dramatically. The latest installment of the NFHS rule book states that at least 3 feet of unobstructed space should be available outside of boundaries, but recommends facilities to go with 10 feet of space to ensure outright safety of participants.

In addition to servicing and supplying a wide variety of institutions here in North America, we at Sport Systems are quickly creating an international demand for our product line. One area where we have noticed particular growth is the Middle East, where American style educational and athletic complexes are beginning to be developed at a rapid pace.

We recently were contacted by KAZOU Architectural Products located in Kuwait to supply athletic infrastructure equipment to the newly-built American United School of Kuwait.    

The American United School of Kuwait is an expansive 129 000 square foot educational facility which opened its doors in September of 2013 for students aged Pre-K – Grade 5, and has plans to open its middle school (Grades 6-8) this Fall of 2014. The school has continued plans to expand and open both its Middle & High School portions of the facility in fall of 2015.

When considering divider curtains, different facilities have various requirements that need to be addressed. Whether it is a simple walk-draw divider curtain or a custom designed peak-fold divider curtain, have a divider solution that will fit the specific situation and needs of your gymnasium.

When it comes to speed, strength and durability, our 4050 Centre Drive Gym Divider Curtain is second to none, with one of the most innovative designs on the market today.  This gym divider system utilizes internal tubular motors along with a counterweight, operating without belts, cables, wires or guide systems, fully eliminating the need for large rollers requiring extensive overhead structure attachment.

We design, manufacture and supply a number of unique and highly innovative products to better serve the athletic industry.  When it comes to our line of indoor volleyball, our SkyMaster System is virtually unbeatable. Staying true to its name, the SkyMaster is an electrically-driven, ceiling-suspended volleyball system, that eliminates the need to dismantle and move heavy volleyball uprights in and out of storage.

In a matter of minutes, the entire system, including the volleyball net and uprights , can be raised up and out of the way, freeing up space in your gymnasium, quickly and hassle-free. The driving force behind this state-of-the-art system is its 1hp dual drum direct drive electric hoist, offering a dependable and powerful lift system when you need it most.

The SkyMaster comes equipped with everything you need for a fast and easy set up. The system includes the steel uprights and support structure, custom made upright padding and a premium volleyball net, allowing for a quick transition from installation to regular use. An optional referee stand is also available with the system for larger scale competition applications.

As we move into the new school year, we mark the completion of a record breaking summer season for the replacement of retractable bleachers for us at Sport Systems. Our most recent telescopic bleacher replacement project was a big help in pushing us over the top.

Back in July, we were commissioned by MGP Architects-Engineer Inc. on behalf of the Algoma District School Board. The project required us not only to remove and dispose of their existing wooden bleachers, but also to supply and install our 2400 series KODIAK Telescopic Bleacher Systems in three schools across the School Board.

Given the timing of the project, it was obvious that we were going to be under some tight timelines in order to have the deliverables completed before the start of the school year.

We quickly got to work immediately after the contract was awarded, operating as the general contractor to oversee the removal and disposal of the existing bleachers on site, as well as any corresponding electrical work. The existing bleachers had to be removed in a timely fashion, allowing the care staff at each institution enough time to perform any and all floor resurfacing and maintenance as needed.

We all lead busy lives and time can sometimes seem to fly by for athletic facility operators and managers. We all know proper maintenance is always cheaper than replacement with respect to athletic equipment as a whole, and the same holds true for your facility’s crash pads.

Any variety of gym mat or athletic padding is a very important part of your athletic program, as it is often depended upon to take the biggest beating, and protect its users against injury. As time goes by, crash pads can become slightly worn down, especially on the surface from hours of continued use.

Scuffs, tears and cracks can all compromise the integrity of your padding as well as the safety of your students, athletes and other users. The fact of the matter is, simply because the surface of the padding looks worn, does not necessarily mean the foam and padding are ready for replacement.

This spring, the Town of Collingwood, Ontario was looking to partner with a company that could provide them with a netting barrier to keep spectators and park users safe from stray baseballs. The project was much more than netting in itself, and required a firm that could supply the netting, design and installation ideally prior to the start of the 2014 baseball season.

The Town of Collingwood ultimately turned to Sport Systems, given their experience and track record with installing complex barrier netting projects for both sporting and commercial applications.

By now, most of us have learned the many ways a Gym Floor Cover can save and even make your facility money in the long run, but something that is often overlooked is the proper care of the floor cover itself. A gym floor cover has many uses, and depending on the facility can log many hours protecting your gymnasium floor. The question remains is what to do with it while it is not in use, and exploring safe and cost-effective storage options for your cover.

We spent some time listening to our customers, and a solution to this problem was in dire need, as facilities were finding their covers ended up improperly stored, sometimes resulting in damage to their covers they expect to protect their gym flooring.

As part of the gymnasium renovations at Parry Sound High School, we were commissioned last month by W.S. Morgan Construction on behalf of the Near North District School Board to supply and install a new set of  retractable bleachers.

The first step for most facilities is evaluating the bleacher systems available to them, and determining whether or not telescopic bleachers are a good fit. These seating solutions offer facility operators a versatile spectator seating solution, giving them the opportunity to seat the masses when need be, or simple tuck the seating away for extended floor space for non-spectator events.