CELEBRATING A MILESTONE: 10 MILLION SEATS INSTALLED!
From High-Profile to Out-of-the-Ordinary: A Look Back at Projects that Stand Out and have withstood the test of time.
Above left to right: Bruce Merrick, Chairman; Roger Ray, Sr. Project Manager (now retired), Jamie Richardson, President and CEO, and Jim Lewis, Vice President of Sales and Preconstruction Services
When Dant Clayton surpassed installing 10 million seats in sports and entertainment venues throughout the country, its leaders gathered for a look back at memorable projects that helped make this momentous milestone possible.
They make for entertaining storytelling that ranges from the enviable high-profile projects (Philadelphia Eagles) to the quirky and offbeat (mud wrestling and tractor pull arenas) to those that connect them with their love for their country (the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington D.C. and the Blue Angels training facility at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL).
All in, the team estimates that Dant Clayton’s products are in 7,000 communities throughout the U.S. Some projects even reach beyond our borders, including the Bahamas (National Baseball Stadium) and Hong Kong (Hong Kong Jockey Club).
What projects stand out the most in your mind?
Acrisure Bounce House, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Bruce Merrick: For me, it has to be the University of Central Florida stadium. The school and one of its primary donors reached out to us to consult on building the school’s first on-campus football stadium. I attended the first game every played at UCF against University of Texas and sat with the GC and owner, and they were really pleased with the outcome.
Yost Ice Arena, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Roger Ray: Renovating Yost Ice Arena on the University of Michigan campus was a true highlight for me. Originally constructed in 1923 as the largest indoor building on a college campus at the time, it was an honor to be part of elevating such a historic venue to its next chapter.
Commander Stadium at Washington County High School, Springfield, KY
Jim Lewis: In September 2024, the Washington County High School varsity football team played their home opener to a sold-out crowd at their new Commander Stadium. Dant Clayton had just completed the job in August. I attended the game, and it was gratifying to see how excited everyone was. One school official even said “I never would have dreamed we’d have a stadium that looks like this.”
Yulman Stadium, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Jamie Richardson: I was Sr. PM on Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium, which opened in 2014 and marked the first time the football team had played on campus in 40 years. It has the feel of a boutique stadium. I attended a game there after it opened and everyone was smiling. It was just an awesome feeling being there after managing the project and seeing it through from start to finish.
Can you reflect on the pivotal moments throughout your tenure?
Merrick: In the late ’80s we made a conscious effort to evolve from just selling product and building spectator seating. It became more evident that architects and owners valued our knowledge. Instead of asking the customer how many seats they needed, the sales team provided consultation by asking for the customer’s goals, attendance history, and future enrollment.
Working with owners on creating revenue from areas within the stadium was another development during this time. We were able to help them figure out that adding features to improve fan comfort, such as more legroom in a VIP section, could actually translate into charging more per seat even though the final seat count was less.
Lewis: In 2014, a CM called with a request to get involved while the architect was still in the project’s early planning stages. We flew out there and met with the CM over two days to work through the challenges while keeping the architect’s vision intact. At the end of the meeting, we all landed on the best solution, and the CM said, “This was a really cool experience. That was the birth of Dant Clayton’s preconstruction services.”
What excites you about the future of sports construction?
Merrick: It has to be the fan experience and taking it to the next level.
Lewis: That’s right. Architects and owners are continually competing with TVs in living rooms. We want to help them achieve their vision for offering exceptional experiences for their fans.
Richardson: The customer will always be challenged by budget and tight schedules, and I believe this is why we’re doing more preconstruction services agreements year over year. Bringing us in early helps the customer deliver budget, on-time delivery, and innovative fan experiences.
Ten million seats installed across the country is more than a milestone—it’s a reflection of how venues, fans, and expectations have evolved together over time. From shifting client priorities to the transformation of the live experience itself, spectator seating has continually adapted to meet the moment while quietly shaping it.
As we look ahead, the opportunity is no longer just about adding seats—it’s about redefining what those seats enable: connection, comfort, accessibility, and experience. The next 10 million will be built in a very different landscape, and that’s what makes it compelling. The next revolution in spectator seating is already underway—and we’re just getting started.