With large sporting events happening at this time of year – Super Bowl, March Madness, and Supercross – attending in person can sometimes be daunting. Thankfully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there are regulations in place to make ticketed events a much more welcoming place to enjoy!
Knowing the lay of the land before purchasing a ticket starts with planning. First, I like to look at the event location’s website. I familiarize myself with the layout of the space, the accessible parking, and where the restrooms are located.
From there, if deemed appropriate for my needs, I purchase an ADA seat for myself and a companion seat for my wife or friend. The event location must “identify and describe the features of available accessible seating in enough detail to reasonably permit an individual with a disability to decide independently whether the seating meets his or her accessibility needs”.
Make sure that your ticket is “not higher than the price of other tickets in the same seating section for the same event. Tickets for accessible seating must be made available at all price levels for every event”. In the event there is any confusion, it is best to always call and ask to speak with a ticketing agent. I have had great success with ticketing agents, over a website, when deciding which seat is best for my needs.
Accessible seating guidelines are set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The general requirements apply to stadiums, venues, and even restaurants.
- Seats must be at least 21 inches wide
- Tables should measure between 28 and 34 inches high
- Knee clearance should be at least 27 inches
- There should be a clear floor space of 30 X 48 inches at each accessible seat location
- There should be an accessible route to each accessible seat location
Most recently, we took our daughter to see Moana 2 at an older theater in Los Angeles, CA. My wife purchased what was categorized as “accessible seating” for us, and when we arrived at our showtime, we had a problem! The access point to our seats required stairs. Luckily since we arrived early, we were able to speak with someone at the theater and they exchanged our tickets for a different area – and closer to the action!
Mistakes happen, and with enough patience, we can all enjoy live entertainment in the comfort of our own chairs, or wheelchairs!
Happy Eventing,
Aaron Baker
Why am I always sore after removing my intermittent catheter?
