Goodrich – Home fans may get to know the visitors really well after the first football game.
Following a recommendation by the district’s insurance carrier, SET SEG, the school officials have decided to close the vistors side for the first football game of the year.
After an inspection in May, SET SEG officials said they believe the seating area and the floorboards on the bleachers at the football stadium are too far apart.
As a result, at the Aug. 25 board of trustees meeting, district Athletic Director Al Martus said everybody will be on the home side of the field for their first home football game on Aug. 28.
‘Our insurance company has recommended that we not allow spectators on the visitors? side until we upgrade the bleachers over there,? said Martus.
‘This is not a big deal,? said Martus. ‘Our bleachers are safe, there is no mandate by our insurance company to do this. Safety requirements have changed over the years. We are choosing to do this upgrade, and for that reason we have decided not to open the visitors? side of the football stadium to the public until they are updated to be safer.?
Cindy Hoogasian, spokesperson for SET SEG, said because the bleachers are 30 years-old, they have an older, more open design that is not recommended.
Restricting the visitors? side of the bleachers until they can be retrofitted, Hoogasian said, is how the district is being pro-active concerning the matter.
Martus said he wants to make sure both the home and visitors? side of the bleachers are ready for the Oct. 2 homecoming game.
‘We have a plan to fix both sides of the bleachers,? he said. ‘It is being put into place. We are going to tighten up the screws on the bleachers before the home game, because we aren’t going to take any chances. Everything will be fine. My biggest worry is winning the football game.?
‘We had one of our risk control consultants look at the bleachers back in May. The spacing the bleachers have is not recommended. Newer standards are that we should not be able to pass a ball that is four inches in diameter between the seat and the toeboard of the bleachers.?
Hoogasian said the 4 inches is representative of the size of a child’s head. ‘There are wide openings beneath the seats and between the railing that should be upgraded,? said Hoogasian. ‘We want to stop the possibility of people falling through the bleachers. We work with our clients and are asking that the district be in compliance with our recommendations. This is not a punitive action.?