The Best Seats
In The House

As much as it pains us all to say it, summer is winding down and officially will end on the 23^rd of September this year. As we roll into the fall season, sports fans begin to shift their focus from the golf-filled days of summer to the return of professional football and hockey.

The same is true for many recreational departments, facility operators and participants as they begin to ready themselves and their facilities for the upcoming hockey season. Hockey is a way of life in Canada, and has experienced tremendous growth in the United States as well, as both countries now have over 500 000 amateur participants each year respectively.

With such a large number of participants ready to take to the ice, it’s never a bad idea to check on your facility’s hockey nets and goals to make sure they are ready for the upcoming season. While checking your hockey nets, it is important to ensure there are no tears or noticeable wearing in the nylon, and to measure the inside of the netting from each knot to each diagonal knot when fully stretched. When completely stretched, the size of the mesh should be 2 ½ “. If your netting is measuring any bigger than that, it might be a good time to consider a replacement net.

We’ve been at this for over 40 years and we’ve learned a lot along the way. In addition to representing some of the best products in the athletic space, we’ve also gone a long way in developing and manufacturing our own line of products. While most of our custom fabrication involves bleachers and large grandstand seating projects, we also lend a lot of customization to other products such as inclusive padding environments, gym curtains and floor covers, to name a few.

Located in Burlington, the Fieldhouse Pirates Baseball Club is one of Canada’s premiere baseball development programs. Offering year-round access to developmental and training programs for players from between 10 years of age and 18 years of age, the program is based in a state-of-the-art facility used specifically to groom players headed for the US collegiate ranks.

Headed up by a number of experienced coaches, the indoor facility gives players an outdoor feel for the game throughout the year.

With the global pandemic affecting businesses around the world, times have changed when it comes to both international and local business. With many operations having ground to a halt at some point during the year, it’s been a tough battle for each and every one of us.

With projects completed in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and many other areas around the world, we were more than ready for an exciting project in beautiful South America. Hooking up with our new Peruvian partners at Sensei Sports, we took on a large project at Colegio de Alto Rendimiento (COAR) which was in the market for some new bleachers. 

Working closely with school boards and a variety of other athletic and healthcare facilities, we have spent plenty of time designing and installing specially padded rooms around the world. With an increasing need, whether they be simple timeout or calming rooms or complex sensory environments, we are delighted to lend our expertise wherever required.

When it comes to the great game of basketball, there is not much equipment needed to play that isn’t subject to a fair bit of wear and tear. The balls are constantly being shuffled, dribbled and tossed while the backboards, rim and net are subject to abuse from the ball and from the often large-sized humans playing the game.

With such a fast-paced sport, plenty goes into the design of the products that are used in these intense matches. With this high level of play and contact, selecting the right backboard can be a challenge, especially for those who are conscious of budgetary constraints.

Situated just west of the great city of Omaha lies the small village of Boys Town. Established in 1917, the village also has served as the headquarters for the Boys Town organization since its inception.

Founded by Father Edward J. Flanagan, the national organization dedicates itself to the care, treatment and education of at-risk children. Today the organization offers an array of youth care and health care services including helping children in crisis, treating complex conditions or helping parents locate the resources they need to help their families heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.

Controlling Equipment from the Floor

Stand on any gymnasium floor and look up – way up. At first glance, it doesn’t take much to imagine the level of sophistication in some of the equipment located overhead, not to mention the process of safely installing it. But with today’s technology and automation being built into so many of these products that are used on a daily basis, the question that often comes up is how to manage it all.

Many choose to have manual systems and equipment in place for reasons such as simplicity or with budget in mind. While there is nothing wrong with this type of operation and equipment, in terms of operational optimization, many are trending in the opposite direction.

With everything from basketball backstops that fold up into the ceiling or off to the side, to gym divider curtains, scoreboards and even volleyball systems, the modern gymnasium is becoming a connected one. With most of these products coming with independent electric controls, innovative solutions to manage them are now on the forefront.