Community events bring locals together – but how can councils ensure their spaces are comfortable and inviting for everyone?
As communities around Australia continue to grow, community events and activities become increasingly important for locals to stay connected.
Councils play an essential role in building and maintaining the spaces that enable this connection, such as parks and ovals, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of the community.
One of the most crucial – yet perhaps overlooked – elements in creating functional and inviting spaces is comfortable seating. Grandstand seating is a popular choice for outdoor venues because of the excellent use of space, versatility, comfort and practicality.
The tiered configuration of grandstand seating allows for a higher seating capacity and an obstructed view for everyone, regardless of where they sit. This allows more people to attend and enhances the experience of guests and spectators.
More than just a place to sit, grandstand seating creates an inviting space for members of the community to come together, engage and support local events and each other.
Council-trusted seating solution
Felton Industries is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of quality Australian made outdoor furniture, with more than 20 years’ experience in supplying premium seating solutions for all educational, community, sporting and commercial environments.
Councils around Australia trust Felton to provide grandstand seating to transform their outdoor spaces and provide accessible, comfortable seating for their communities.
For example, Parramatta City Council used Felton to upgrade Garside Park and create an inviting outdoor space with ample seating. Felton worked collaboratively with the Council and its contractors to create a customised product that effortlessly integrated into the park’s existing layout, enhancing the park’s functionality and comfort.
Bega Valley Shire Council also worked with Felton, calling on the company for help replacing old grandstand seating. After consulting with the council about its specific requirements, Felton custom designed a custom range of grandstands to meet the council and community’s needs. From design, manufacture, on-site assembly and installation, Felton delivered the project in just eight weeks – providing a stylish and comfortable vantage point for the community to support its local teams.
Felton is a Local Government Procurement Approved Contractor in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, meaning councils in these states are not required to conduct formal tenders on a project-by-project basis.
Redefining comfort
In February 2025, Felton launched its new comfort grandstand range, offering enhanced comfort, flexibility and functionality – all while maintaining the company’s signature quality, durability and sustainability.
The range builds on the Felton’s existing single-plank grandstands but offers twice as much space for each seat, allowing patrons to sit comfortably and navigate the stands without disturbing other spectators.
Felton Industries Product Marketing Manager, Simon Clayton, said the company is constantly evolving to meet customer needs.
“Attending sporting events and community gatherings should be enjoyable, and our new range is designed for that very reason.
“The wider seating, increased legroom, and improved safety features reflect our commitment to enhancing the lives of our customers and their communities,” he said.
Available in various sizes and tier configurations, Felton’s comfort grandstand range is customisable to the specific needs of each venue.
It is made from premium aluminium, making it a lightweight, durable and 100 per cent recyclable outdoor seating solution.
“The comfort grandstand range represents a major step forward in comfort, accessibility, and sustainability,” Mr Clayton said.
“We’re so excited to bring this product to market and look forward to seeing how it transforms outdoor experiences for councils across Australia.”
To learn more, visit felton.net.au
