Toadvine Blog

Stadium Seating—You Have a Choice When it Comes to Quality

Jessie Devine — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:47:00 GMT

If your school is thinking about installing new stadium seating for its outdoor facility, what are some of the factors that determine the quality and overall type of seating to purchase?

Price will definitely come into play in your decision making process, but what about quality, reliability, structural support, and all of the other details that go into building and installing outdoor stadium seats?

Dant Clayton has put together a comparison guide that lays out their product vs. other products on the market. The purpose of the comparison is to present the two basic systems that are available for permanent grandstand projects. The two aluminum decking systems in this guide are very, very different in design and performance.

You can download the guide for free on our website and use it as a reference when you start to consider new seating for your facility.

Contact Toadvine Enterprises with questions regarding your next seating project.

Custom Printed Volleyball Net Sleeve

Matt Roberts — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:04:00 GMT

Porter has a great new volleyball product available to build school spirit or create income from local advertisers: custom printed volleyball net sleeves. These sleeves are NFHS-approved and can be customized with your school’s logo, colors, or an advertiser’s message or design.

The sleeve can attach to any manufacturer’s net. It attaches to the top of the net using a hook and loop closure and can be assembled in just minutes.

Here are some specs about the volleyball sleeves:

Constructed of heavy (14-oz.) fire retardant, high tensile, vinyl-coated polyester fabric material
Leather-like embossed finish
Tear strength of 100 P.S.I.
Mildew and rot resistant
Fortified with an infection-combating fungicide

If you’re ready to show your team spirit with this customized volleyball sleeve, or would like more information about the product, please contact Toadvine Enterprises at 502.241.6010 or request a quote online.

New advertising opportunties available for high school and college stadiums

Matt Roberts — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:43:00 GMT

Dant Clayton, our manufacturer for high school and college stadium seating, now offers revenue generating opportunities for schools. If you need new indoor or outdoor seating, this a great solution that will help supplement the cost of the seating and instillation. Plus, it could provide extra revenue for your school.

The following products allow for advertising opportunities for your top donors or local advertisers. Contact Toadvine to learn more about each product.

1. Colosseum chairs
2. VIP seating
3. Bannerrail
4. Ddmesh banners
5. Concourse banners
6. Banners at the top of grandstands
7. Vertical banners
8. Field level banners
9. Lodge boxes
10. Aisle and stair riser advertising

Many of the products offered can easily be incorporated into existing facilities. If you’re thinking about upgrading your indoor or outdoor seating, the advertising opportunities on these products can help to offset the cost, and in some cases, even pay for the product themselves. If you think you can’t afford new stadium seating, contact Toadvine Enterprises. We can help you establish a plan for your school.

Picture source: http://www.stadiumbleachers.com/products/banners

Save 15% on your next purchase when you request a quote

Matt Roberts — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:32:00 GMT

If you have a project in the works or are thinking about beginning a project or purchasing new equipment next year, you can save 15% off your next purchase by acting now.

Simply enter the promo code “Merry Christmas” when you fill out our request a quote form on our website.

This offer is valid now through December 31 at 12 pm EST and this promotion excludes bids. Request a quote today!

Merry Christmas from Toadvine Enterprises

Matt Roberts — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:43:00 GMT

Christmastime is here! Every December we pause to reflect on the passing year—areas where we succeeded and areas where we can improve.

We also like to take this opportunity to let our employees and our clients know how much we appreciate them. The people we work with really are the life of the business, and we have the best. We are grateful for the loyalty of both our employees and our clients. And we look forward to continuing to build those relationships as we enter the New Year.

Hopefully the excitement of the holiday season will linger awhile as we enjoy time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks. 2012 holds the promise of a happy and successful business year ahead.

From everyone at Toadvine Enterprises: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Scoreboard special from Toadvine

Matt Roberts — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:49:00 GMT

From now until January 30, 2012, if you order any two indoor basketball, volleyball, or wresting scoreboards with a wireless package, you’ll receive a free 8′×2′ sponsor sign with your school name and color.

The sponsor sign is valued at $350. If you’re in the market for a new indoor scoreboard, now is a great time to seriously consider buying. You’ve got until the end of January to take advantage of this scoreboard special.

If you want more details or information, please contact us online, request a quote, or call our office at 502.241.6010.

Favorite Arenas Across the Country

Matt Roberts — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Over the coming weeks and months, we thought of something fun to profile here on the Toadvine Enterprise’s blog. We’re going to highlight stadiums, fields, gyms, and arenas around the country, maybe even world, where fans have the best memories.

This might be based on architecture, or practicality and function, history and tradition, overall experience, most comfortable, best place to watch, or a lot of other factors we’re not even thinking about right now.

This wouldn’t be a one-sided conversation, but more importantly, a place for sports fans, athletic directors, and stadium afficianadas (that’s Spanish for fan :) to have a fun dialog.

We’re looking for your input.

We may create a questionnaire or survey you can fill out here on the blog.
We may put together some cool lists and have you vote on your favorites.
We may mix in some trivia.
We may decide to profile one really cool stadium every week on the blog.

If you follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, are connected on LinkedIn, or just stumble on this post through Google (I think that covers it all), then please give us some feedback in the comments below.

What would you like to see?

What would be fun to read about each week?

Happy Thanksgiving from the Team at Toadvine

Matt Roberts — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:52:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is a busy time in our markets. High school, middle school, and college athletics couldn’t be at a busier time. The two largest sports are overlapping for a bit as they do every year. So when it comes to athletic equipment, scoreboards, and athletic seating, things are hopping. For the other markets we serve like auditorium or church seating, it can be a busy time as well. With things moving indoors, churches and theaters are preparing for busy times.

With all this increased activity, we think it’s a perfect time to step back and celebrate Thanksgiving.

It’s time to watch rivalry week in football, or to watch your favorite college basketball teams kick off the year. It’s time to watch pro football move toward playoff time. It’s time to support your high school basketball teams, or continue spurring on your football team if they made the playoffs. It’s a time to enjoy a large meal with family and friends. It’s a time to relax and rest. It’s a time to get a jump on Christmas shopping or to even put up the tree.

During all this time, take a moment or two and reflect on all you have to be thankful for. Let’s call it a grateful list. We’ll start by saying we’re thankful for you, our community that chooses us for all your athletic equipment, scoreboards, and seating needs.

From all of us at Toadvine Entreprises, Happy Thanksgiving!

As football season has ended, how is your scoreboard holding up?

Matt Roberts — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:12:00 GMT

High school football is wrapping up over the next three weeks. It’s playoff time, which means your stadium and your scoreboard get a rest. If your team is still alive, then good luck. If you’re just curious which teams are still alive, then this link will let you search all of Kentucky football classes. While we’re at it, here’s a link for Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio. We aim to please.

A lot of action has taken place during the season, and if your scoreboard has taken some dings, we’re here to help. Our team at Toadvine Enterprises, in partnership with Nevco, can fix what’s broken. If you’re just ready to replace your existing football scoreboard or soccer scoreboard, then we can help with that as well. Fill out our request a quote form on our website, and someone from our team will be in touch within 24 hours, probably sooner. We still use the telephone too, so ring us at 502-241-6010 if that’s your style.

While it’s easy to put off repairs with basketball season upon us and the focus shifting indoors, don’t wait. Check that puppy off your to do list this month.

Speaking of basketball season, we do indoor scoreboards as well for basketball and volleyball. If you’re in a bind and need a repair or a new one before the season gets rocking, contact us today.

P.S. Who’s gonna win the state football tournaments? Give us your picks in the comments below.

Basketball season is right around the corner

Matt Roberts — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:21:00 GMT

Can you believe it’s almost time for basketball season? While most of the college programs had their midnight madness a few Fridays ago, high school teams are practicing hard and gearing up for the season.

Speaking of basketball season, how’s your gym looking? Basketball season is the time when gymnasiums—and bleachers especially—see the most traffic, and wear and tear. Fans pack the stands for both boys’ and girls’ games each week, so it’s crucial that your bleachers are in good condition.

If you think it’s time to get your bleachers inspected before the season officially begins, check out Vine & Branch, our maintenance division. Our maintenance and safety inspection program handles all of your indoor and outdoor seating and equipment inspections. Vine & Branch is also fully staffed with manufacturer-certified service technicians to ensure the safety of your seating. You can fill out the maintenance form on our website to learn more and get the process started.

Need new bleachers entirely? We can help with that too. We just completed a bleacher installation at DeSales High School in Louisville, KY. This was a very large job, with three separate banks of bleachers. Whether your project is large like this or smaller, contact us for a quote or to get the process started.

Porter Athletic Videos on the Toadvine Youtube Channel

Matt Roberts — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:42:00 GMT

We work with some great manufactures in the sporting equipment industry. Porter Athletics, for one, provides indoor equipment for basketball and volleyball, as well as outdoor athletic equipment for soccer, field hockey, football, and more.

Our YouTube channel now includes some educational videos from Porter Athletics that are worth checking out. One video illustrates how their fire retardant wall pads are a safe alternative in any gym, especially where children are concerned. Another video highlights Porter's volleyball systems. The third video focuses on Porter's Center Roll Curtain System. Lastly, there is a lengthy video explaining Porter's Fair-Court Basketball Equipment Testing System.

If you're in the market for any of the above, we'd love to answer your questions. We have a 24 response guarantee. Someone from our team will be back in touch to answer your specific questions. Simply call us at 502-241-6010 or fill out our easy to use online form.

Football season is rolling, how's your team doing?

Matt Roberts — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:35:00 GMT

So we’re halfway through the college football season, one-third of the way through the NFL’s schedule, and high school football will be approaching playoff time in a few weeks. But the real question is, how is your fantasy football team doing? Well, we’ll come back to that.

If you’re a Louisville or Kentucky football fan, you’ve had better and brighter Septembers and Octobers. We all knew it might be a rough year for the Commonwealth, but maybe not this rough. The other state schools aren’t fairing much better. Western Kentucky has picked up some big wins this year, but other than that we don’t have much to get excited about.

In terms of the NFL, it’s been interesting to see parity back in the game. The Colts minus Manning are getting drummed, while the 49ers, Lions, Bengals, and Bills are creeping toward the top of their divisions. The Eagles, Jets, Chargers, and Falcons have struggled. Then teams not used to the cellar are planted there like the Vikings, Jaguars, and Broncos. The Dolphins and Rams join the Colts as the only winless teams.

All signs point to the Pats and Packers. Of course the Steelers slow start could be just that. Who would count them out? Also, the Saints are playing well for the most part.

In the world of fantasy football, it’s been about Brady to Welker, Rodgers and Brees, Megatron, Fred Jackson, Matt Forte, Cam Newton, Jimmy Graham, and Arian Foster back with a vengeance. Big flops for many of the top draft picks are players like Vick, Chris Johnson, Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, and a whole host of other running backs and receivers. Hopefully you have a few of the players listed above, and not many of the players I just mentioned.

Even if you’re a bottom dweller, there’s always hope on the waiver wire. After all, you could have picked up Demarco Murray this week.

Whatever the case, it’s great to be in the middle of football season, and the beautiful fall weather.

If you’re interested in following the Kentucky High School Football standings and playoffs, here’s a great resource.

Trade Show Reminder: KSPMA is coming up

Matt Roberts — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:19:00 GMT

The Kentucky School Plant Management Association’s (KSPMA) 22nd annual conference is scheduled for October 25-28, 2011 in Lexington, KY.

The event will take place at Embassy Suites at 1801 Newton Pike.

KSPMA is a state organization that is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the educational process through proper management practices related to school operations and maintenance.

The annual convention is held each fall in different cities associated with KSPMA. From this conference you can expect to:

See the newest equipment and materials.
Discuss common and not so common problems in your field.
Receive the latest information on pertinent topics from professionals.
Enjoy a variety of social activities.

Matt, Mike, and Chris will be attending the event to answer questions about maintenance services as well as provide information related to indoor and outdoor athletic equipment, indoor seating, outdoor seating, and more.

Exhibitors can pre-register on KSPMA’s website. If you’re planning on attending as a guest, please stop by our booth and say hi. We’d love to connect with you!

Dant Clayton indoor and outdoor stadium seating

Matt Roberts — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:18:00 GMT

Dant Clayton, our manufacturer for stadium seating, has recently launched a new website, making it even easier for visitors to see their projects and the markets they serve.

Because Toadvine works closely with Dant Clayton on a number of projects from elementary schools up to the collegiate level, we wanted to share this new video from Dant Clayton. We feel it encompasses the various types of projects and customers they have, as well as the quality of the seating itself.

You can read more about Dant Clayton here.

Contact Toadvine for any seating needs you have or request a quote online.

A few overstock of items for sale

Matt Roberts — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:46:00 GMT

We have a few overstock items for sale that we wanted to pass along. Please call our office at 502.241.6010 or contact us through our website for more information.

Four 4 row x 21 foot and three 4 row x 27 foot bleachers (slightly used, only a few months old)
An overstock of blue bleacher riser (brand new)
Two shot clocks (brand new)

Porter's Powr-Rib II Volleyball System

Matt Roberts — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:38:00 GMT

For those of you looking for a new volleyball system, Porter’s Powr-Rib II Volleyball system is the ultimate indoor system. This system is designed for its strength and ease of set up, and the best part is, it comes at a competitive price. This system has all of the features you need to play competition volleyball, including:

Revolutionary design. The Powr-Rib II gets its name from its design. The volleyball end standards are constructed of high strength, lightweight aluminum extrusion which reduces the weight of the system incredibly. This allows for the ease of installation by the end user. Two reinforcing ribs are centered throughout the entire length of the uprights to increase strength and durability. The top and bottoms of the up rights are fitted with custom molded caps to protect the finish of the floor.

Quick-release tension straps. This helps to keep the cable from fraying and kinking, by not having to wrap around the winch drum. The functional, multi-sport use and the sliding collar allow for this system to be used in all men’s, women’s, and junior USVBA competition-height settings. This system can go further with its ability to also be converted into a tennis net system.

Height adjustment lock and net height markings. Collar instantly locks into place using a pressure lock T-handle which provides a positive locking feature at any height on the upright. The Powr-Winch net tension system is a positive disc brake release device which provides the most durable, safe, and simple net attachment system available.

Call Toadvine Enterprises today at 502.241.6010 to find out more about our athletic equipment and pricing on the Powr-Rib II Volleyball System!

Introducing Toadvine's Good Samaritan Initiative

Matt Roberts — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:08:00 GMT

In case you haven’t seen or heard, there’s a new trend in high school and middle school athletics, VIP seating. It’s like what you see in college: a select section of the stands is devoted to VIP seating, with season tickets being sold for each seat.

The trend we’re starting to see in high school athletics—which is also a great fundraiser for the school—is installing a section of VIP seats and selling season tickets for these seats at a higher rate than normal admission to the game.

Toadvine Enterprises is very grateful and appreciative of our customers and their support over the years. We wanted to show our appreciation by giving back, so we’re launching our Good Samaritan Program. The mission of our Good Samaritan Program is to promote benevolence and compassion and encourage others to give back.

Here’s how it works: Whenever a school purchases VIP seating from Toadvine, we will buy two season tickets from that school to help with the fundraising efforts. The tickets will be given back to the school, and the school can then award the tickets to a good samaritan in their community. The good samaritan could be a teacher, parent, fan, or someone else deserving—it’s up to the school to decide.

This is where it gets even more fun. We’ve be created a Good Samaritan page on our website and will publish a “Good Samaritan of the week” post along with a picture, name of the school, and short write-up on that page.

We’re also encouraging you to get involved by posting pictures and stories about the good samaritan winner on our Facebook page.

All schools in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Southern Ohio can take part in the Good Samaritan Initiative, and we look forward to sharing your stories each week.

If you want to get involved, you can get started here.

Your Resource Page for UK and UL Sports

Matt Roberts — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:22:00 GMT

For all of you die-hard UK and UofL fans out there, we’ve complied a list of resources for you to check out that will keep you up-to-date on any and everything going on with your team.

We’re talking players, recruits, stats, general information and news, and more. Check them out and bookmark them for easy reference.

Websites:

True Blue Kentucky published by Marc Maggard
Cats Illustrated
CatsPause
UK Athletics
Inside the Ville published by Mike Hughes
Louisville Rivals published by Howie Lindsey
UofL Athletics

Radio:

Did we miss your favorite? If so, chime in below and tell us where you get your UK and UofL information or who you listen to on the radio.

Should I replace my basketball equipment?

Matt Roberts — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:44:00 GMT

Basketball season is just around the corner, so now is the time to make improvements to your old basketball system. As you know, there are several considerations to make when deciding whether or not to invest in new basketball equipment. We've outlined a few of them for you below:

Is your basketball rim loose? If it no longer has the flex your players want, one option you might want to consider is trying Porters new Torq Flex 180. This basketball rim flexes around a 180 degree arc at the front of the rim, at the side, and everywhere in-between. This goals is a perfect solution for most schools' main court competition. The Torq-Flex 180 Goal is the proper rim and provides the necessary elasticity and ball rebound characteristics to keep your game play fair. Also, each goal includes Porters Anti-Whip net.
Do you have a height adjuster system that is hard to handle? If yours has too much wiggle in it, one option we provide is electric and manual height adjusters, which give your goals the strength and durability for all levels of play.
Are the pads around your backboard falling off or missing? If so, they need to be replaced. Porter offers revolutionary bolt-on padding that keeps your players safe. It also comes in an assortment of colors to match your school.

If your system needs replacing, we encourage you to give us a call at 502.241.6010. You can even request a quote through our online form.

Need a scoreboard? Check out Nevco's special offer

Matt Roberts — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:22:00 GMT

Nevco has a great offer out on scoreboards that we wanted to pass along.

From now until the end of November, if you order any two indoor basketball, volleyball, or wresting scoreboards with a wireless package, you’ll receive a free 8′×2′ sponsor sign with your school name and color.

The sponsor sign is valued at $350. If you’re in the market for a new indoor scoreboard, now is a great time to seriously consider buying. You’ve got until the end of November to take advantage of this special from Nevco.

If you want more details or information, please contact us online or call our office at 502.241.6010.

Newsletter contest winners announced

Bryce Raley — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:13:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone who signed up to receive our monthly newsletter. We had a total of 63 people subscribe which was awesome! Check your inboxes early next week, our first newsletter is scheduled to go out on Wednesday, August 31.

As promised, we’re giving away Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards to four lucky subscribers. We drew this morning and the winners are:

1. Victor Black
2. Mike Beard
3. Jody Thornsberry
4. Carole Dutchka

Congratulations! Call our office at 502.241.6010 or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll arrange for your gift card to be mailed.

If you didn’t win, stay tuned. We’ll be starting other contests in the near future. The best way to stay connected with Toadvine and learn about events coming up is to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Congratulations to the boys of North Oldham Little League

Matt Roberts — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:52:00 GMT

Toadvine Enterprises would like to say a quick congratulations to the North Oldham Little League team for making it to the Little League World Series!

It’s always an honor when people in our community make such a big impact. We’ve enjoyed following along and cheering you on!

Read more about the team by visiting the website or checking out their Facebook page.

Congratulations again from Toadvine!

Have you signed up for our newsletter yet?

Matt Roberts — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:24:00 GMT

You still have time to sign up for our newsletter and be entered in a drawing to win one of four Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards. We’ll be drawing for the winners on Friday, August 26 and the winners will be announced on Facebook, Twitter, on our blog, and in the first newsletter.

In this monthly newsletter, we’ll keep you abreast of the changes in our industry and yours, have some fun, and help you follow along with some of the things happening at Toadvine Enterprises. Plus, all newsletter subscribers will be offered EXCLUSIVE promotions throughout the year!

Since school has started back up, we want to wish everyone a great school year and good lucky with the sports seasons.

You can sign up for our newsletter here. Keep Toadvine Enterprises in mind throughout the school year for any athletic equipment needs that may arise. You can contact us online anytime, day or night, and be guaranteed a quick, 24-hour response.

Schedule a free on-site visit

Matt Roberts — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:53:00 GMT

Any improvements you make to your school, facility, playing field, or gym equipment is an important one. Especially for custom work, you want to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want and that the manufacturer understands any time constraints, budget limitations, and specific details that you have.

That’s why we think it’s important to offer a free initial on-site so we make sure we’ve spoken to you face-to-face and know exactly what it is you need.

If you would like us to schedule a visit to your facility, please fill out this form. You’ll receive a confirmation email and someone from our office will get in touch with you soon to schedule a meeting. On-site visits are available based on location and current scheduling, but rest assured, your project is very important to us.

If you have any questions before you’re ready to schedule an on-site visit, you can contact us through our website or call our office at 502.241.6010.

A resource list for fall sports in Kentucky

Matt Roberts — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:37:00 GMT

We’ve put together this guide to help you stay abreast on all fall sports in the state of Kentucky. Whether it’s high school or college, we have you covered.

Here’s a link to a downloadable sports season calendar from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.