Ever since the first wooden stadium seats were constructed, people have been looking for ways to make stadium seating more comfortable. As large venue events such as football games and concerts became more popular in the twentieth century, the need to make fans and audiences more comfortable became a priority. After all, a comfortable patron is one who will come more often and stay longer each time.

Improving Stadium Seating

The first kinds of seating for large audiences were created for the Roman and Greek amphitheatres, examples of which are still seen in the Colisseum today. Benches made of stone were the standard form of seating for centuries. Actually, stadium seating changed very little from the bench form, with advanced being made mostly in the materials used.

Stone was replaced by wood in the stadiums built in the twentieth century. As sports became more popular and profitable, seating in stadiums advanced to meet the needs of the growing numbers of sports fans. In the post-war era, science developed plastics and polymers that could be used to make more comfortable furniture-style chairs with backs. Today, you will generally see the old wooden and metal benches only at high school stadiums and small sports venues.

Making the Fan Comfortable

The advances in stadium seating reflect the importance that is placed on sporting events and the people who attend them. Today's large venue seating accommodates people in comfort, and virtually eliminates the need to leave early from events. Much research is invested in seating for the sports fan to determine what seating gives him or her the best stadium experience.