Aug. 28, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - In addition to welcoming the country's fiercest football competitors and thousands of Boilermaker fans, Purdue also will welcome the Andy Frain company to West Lafayette, Ind. for the 2000 season. Andy Frain Services, Inc. has been contracted for one year to deploy uniformed, well-trained, courteous ushers and security personnel for Ross-Ade Stadium.
"This is a direction many universities are headed toward," Facilities Operations Director Steve Simmerman says. "We contracted Andy Frain for football only this season to make sure it's a good fit for us, and the expectation is to eventually have the ushering service provided for all revenue sports."
As Purdue's football attendance has risen, so have the concerns of Boilermaker ticket-holders. Some fans have expressed concerns with unruly behavior and the lack of spectator control within the stadium. Others complained of not being able to locate ushers because they were hard to identify them in the crowd.
Andy Frain Services will attempt to remedy those problems by increasing the number of ushers and outfitting them with easily identifiable uniforms. Ushers, who will receive more intensive training, will be responsible for enforcing disciplinary procedures for unruly fans.
"It was apparent we needed to make an investment in crowd control and upgraded ushering services," Simmerman says. "We found Andy Frain to be quite receptive to providing these services to Purdue. The company has a policy of using courtesy and respect when dealing with the public, and we are looking forward to what they can bring to Ross-Ade."
Founded in 1924 by the late Andrew T. Frain, Andy Frain Services, Inc.'s experience includes service at the Kentucky Derby, national political conventions and the World Series. The company also provides ushering and other services for nine professional sports teams, conventions and trade shows, concerts and other events.