Loge boxes provide alternative between suites and club seats

When the 12- to 16-person suite is too large and the club seats aren’t intimate enough, the loge box might be just right.

Loge seats at Minnesota’s new stadium feature all-
weather televisions and space heaters.

Tom Waggoner and 360 Architecture were on the front edge of developing four-person loge boxes at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and as colleges turn to the pros for facility ideas, Waggoner sees this midpriced option as a hot alternative.

Loge seats are often four-top or six-top tables with a view of the field and full access to all of the club-seat amenities. They’ve been a hot commodity at Oregon State’s renovated Reser Stadium and Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. The 57 loge patrons at Minnesota have all-weather televisions and space heaters above to stay warm during late-season games.

Other twists in premium seating have emerged. At Auburn, 360’s Waggoner worked with the school to design a new basketball arena with 12 suites that have outdoor patios facing Jordan-Hare Stadium, providing fans in those units the exterior space for tailgate parties during football season.

“It’s a cool thing to market, something that ties into football games, but is not directly attached to the stadium,” Waggoner said.

— Don Muret