Arena with configurable seating arrangements for selectively providing viewing access to an event floor from an event level hospitality area

Abstract

The present invention relates to arenas with selectively configurable seating arrangements for selectively providing viewing access to an event floor from an event level hospitality area. The arena includes a plurality of seats, at least some of which are removable. The plurality of seats is selectively arrangeable in tiered seating sections around the event floor to define one of a first seating arrangement and a second seating arrangement. The tiered seating sections include first and second opposing curved seating sections, and first and second spaced apart straight seating sections. The first straight seating section is located in front of the hospitality area. When the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement, the first and second straight seating sections are disposed generally parallel to each other and extend between the first and second curved seating sections so as to define an obround distribution of seats around the event floor; and viewing access of the event floor from the hospitality area is impeded by the first straight seating section. When the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement, the first straight seating section and the first curved seating section are omitted leaving the second straight seating section extending to the second curved seating section; and viewing access of the event floor from the hospitality area is unobstructed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arena comprising:
 an event floor;   a plurality of seats; at least some of the seats of the plurality being removable; the plurality of seats being selectively arrangeable in tiered seating sections around the event floor to define one of a first seating arrangement and a second seating arrangement; the tiered seating sections including first, second, third and fourth seating sections;   an event floor level hospitality area located behind the first seating section;   when the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement:
 the first and second straight seating sections are disposed opposite to each other and extend between the third and fourth seating sections; 
 a view of the event floor from the hospitality area is obstructed by the first seating section; 
   when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement:
 the first seating section and the third seating section are omitted leaving the second seating section extending to the fourth seating section; 
 a view of the event floor from the hospitality area is unobstructed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the event floor is configurable for one of a sporting event and a non-sporting event. 
     
     
         3 . The arena of  claim 2  wherein the non-sporting event is an entertainment event selected from the group consisting of a concert and a show. 
     
     
         4 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the first seating arrangement is adapted for viewing a sporting event. 
     
     
         5 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the second seating arrangement is adapted for viewing a non-sporting event. 
     
     
         6 . The arena of  claim 5  further comprising a stage, the stage being positionable opposite the fourth seating section when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The arena of  claim 6  wherein the event floor is a general admission floor bounded by the fourth seating section, the second seating section, the stage and the hospitality area. 
     
     
         8 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein:
 the event floor occupies a first footprint when the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement and a second footprint when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement; 
 the second footprint being larger than the first footprint. 
 
     
     
         9 . The arena of  claim 1  further comprising at least one wall arrangeable between the hospitality area and the first seating section. 
     
     
         10 . The arena of  claim 9  wherein when the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement, the at least one wall separates the hospitality area from the first seating section. 
     
     
         11 . The arena of  claim 10  wherein in the first seating configuration, the seats in the first seating section are accessible from the hospitality area via a plurality of passageways communicating with openings formed in the at least one wall. 
     
     
         12 . The arena of  claim 10  wherein the at least one wall is made of a transparent material. 
     
     
         13 . The arena of  claim 10  wherein the at least one wall includes a plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         14 . The arena of  claim 10  wherein when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement, the at least one wall is moved or removed so as open the hospitality area onto the event floor. 
     
     
         15 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the hospitality area includes one or more hospitality suites, clubs, bars, restaurants, and other establishments for patrons. 
     
     
         16 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the first and second seating sections are relatively straight seating sections. 
     
     
         17 . The arena of  claim 16  wherein the third and fourth seating sections are curved seating sections. 
     
     
         18 . The arena of  claim 1  wherein the first, second, third and fourth sections are laid out around the event floor in one of: (a) a rectangular distribution, (b) a square distribution, (c) a circular distribution, (d) an oval distribution, and (e) an obround distribution. 
     
     
         19 . An arena with selectively configurable seating arrangements for selectively providing viewing access to an event floor from an event level hospitality area, the arena comprising:
 a plurality of seats; at least some of the seats of the plurality being removable; the plurality of seats being selectively arrangeable in tiered seating sections around the event floor to define one of a first seating arrangement and a second seating arrangement; the tiered seating sections including first and second opposing curved seating sections, and first and second spaced apart straight seating sections; the first straight seating section being located in front of the hospitality area;   when the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement:
 the first and second straight seating sections are disposed generally parallel to each other and extend between the first and second curved seating sections so as to define an obround distribution of seats around the event floor; and 
 viewing access of the event floor from the hospitality area is impeded by the first straight seating section; 
   when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement:
 the first straight seating section and the first curved seating section are omitted leaving the second straight seating section extending to the second curved seating section; 
 viewing access of the event floor from the hospitality area is unobstructed. 
   
     
     
         20 . An arena comprising:
 an event floor;   a plurality of seats; at least some of the seats of the plurality being removable; the plurality of seats being selectively arrangeable in tiered seating sections around the event floor to define one of a first seating arrangement and a second seating arrangement; the tiered seating sections including first and second opposing curved seating sections, and first and second spaced apart straight seating sections;   an event floor level hospitality area located behind the first straight seating section;   when the seats are selectively arranged in the first seating arrangement:
 the first and second straight seating sections are disposed generally parallel to each other and extend between the first and second curved seating sections; and 
 a view of the event floor from the hospitality area is obstructed by the first straight seating section; 
   when the seats are selectively arranged in the second seating arrangement:
 the first straight seating section and the first curved seating section are omitted leaving the second straight seating section extending to the second curved seating section; 
 a view of the event floor from the hospitality area is unobstructed.