Stadiums and Athletic Centers: The Arizona Cardinals' Casitas, an Ascension Wheelchair Lift Case Study
Project Summary
- Challenge: Provide ADA-compliant, portable access for a two-story premium seating experience.
- Solution: An Ascension Clarity wheelchair lift that is custom-engineered to be portable and work seamlessly with a specially designed railing system.
- Result: The Cardinals are able to offer use of their premium casitas to all fans.
Company Overview
The Arizona Cardinals is the oldest continuously run professional football franchise in the United States. It was founded in 1898 in Chicago and became a charter member of the National Football League (NFL) in 1920. In 1988 they relocated to Arizona. They provide high-level sports entertainment while engaging fans, corporate sponsors, media partners, and the broader Arizona community through games, merchandise, and outreach initiatives. The franchise is owned by the Bidwill family, whose legacy of ownership dates back to the 1930s.
Challenge
State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, is a versatile venue known for its retractable roof and grass field that can be rolled out so it can grow in natural conditions. It has seating for about 63,400, expanding to 70,000 for major events. In 2024, the organization decided to add premium fan experiences including 10 luxury “casitas” (multi-level suites) that provide unparalleled views of the action. They were committed to ensuring that all of these casitas were fully accessible.
The project posed several challenges:
- Height – the casitas are two stories tall (14 feet). That height is the maximum allowed for wheelchair lifts by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Portability – the casitas are portable so the accessibility solution needed to be portable, too.
- Maneuverability – the lift also needed to be versatile enough that it could be moved through the various spaces within the stadium.
- Schedule – the team needed the lift in time for the home opener
Solution
The Cardinals chose Ascension’s Clarity lift as their preferred solution. It is able to reach the lifting height that they needed. However, it was not available in a portable model. Our engineers developed an exoskeleton for the lift that enables it to be moved among the casitas.
This lift can be wheeled on its back or transported by fork lift, which enables it to be easily moved through the corridors of the stadium to where it is needed. Once in position, it is tilted up with a gantry crane, plugged in, and it’s ready to use!
As part of this project, Ascension also partnered with the Cardinals on a configurable railing system for the upper level of the casitas. A portion of the railing is removable, which provides a perfectly-sized opening for the Clarity lift. The lift’s threshold plate provides the transition from the lift to the platform, providing a smooth ride for guests.
Results
Our Ascension Clarity lift enables the Arizona Cardinals to accommodate a wider range of fans in their premium seating experience.
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