Yankee Stadium

The lift can park at any level for easy access

Our wheelchair lift opens up directly onto field level, making the entire stadium ADA compliant and accessible

A separate control panel is present for remote operation of the wheelchair lift

The lift opens up when called

Turning Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lifts use flexible, customizable tracks that we build specifically for each installation

Location

Credits

When we were selected to provide accessibility equipment for Yankee Stadium, we knew it had to be perfect.

Elevator World (December '09) published an article we wrote that explains the unique use of an inclined platform (wheelchair) lift to provide accessibility to the playing field at Yankee Stadium.

"Earlier in the 2009 Season before their game with the Toronto Blue Jays, Derek Jeter led the Yankees in a tribute to Lou Gehrig on the 70th anniversary of Gehrig's "luckiest man" speech... That day the Yankees hosted a group of those struggling wih Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) including Michael Goldsmith, a Brigham Young University law professor, who wrote in a column in Newsweek that led to baseball's ALS initiative. Goldsmith's son who suffers from the disease was also there and threw out the first pitch. Handi-Lift, Inc. was proud to have provided the accessibility solution to the playing field, which helped Austin Goldsmith, who uses a wheelchair, get onto the field..."

By using an Artira Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lift, we didn’t obstruct the line of site from the stands. The lift folds up when not in use, leaving plenty of space for stair traffic. Finally, since the Artira inclined platform lift can make multiple stops we could provide access between the clubhouse, the dugout and the field with a single lift.

Accessibility with Dignity means providing a great experience for the people who need accessibility equipment. With our lift, a wheelchair user can quickly, quietly, and easily visit areas of the park they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to visit.

We’re proud to offer solutions that exceed minimum standards and meet the needs of the end user.

"The Yankess beat the Blue Jays that day six to five, but raising awareness of the dreaded disease ALS, was the real success of the day. Nick Nicholson, of Virginia Beach, VA., a retired navy commander who was recently diagnosed with ALS was there that day with his wife and daughter who got to scurry around the field getting autographs while dad got to sit in the dugout. 'Dream come true,' he said."

The Garaventa Artira was the lift of choice for this challenging venue. These lifts would be exposed to the elements so the support system was constructed in stainless steel. The tubes were doubled back on themselves to locate the drive out of the weather and out of the way under the dugout roof. The lift travels from the dugout tunnel and stops level with the dugout floor. The platform hangs over the stairs and a ramp lowers so users can exit the platfrom and enter the dugout if necessary.

That of course is not the main purpose of the lift. It continues to travel up to the field elevation where the access ramp unfolds, allowing the user to exit right onto the playing field. The lift does not travel over stairs at this point. A box step was installed in order to meet the code requiremnt stating that an inclined platform lift's leading edge must never be more than 24" above the floor or stairs.

To protect anyone from falling into this space when the lift is not there, a gate was installed at the field level. Obviously, this application is also in a venue with security controling who can and cannot go onto the field, so the lift is always operated under constant supervision.