If it had been any other year, a sudden summer downpour would have washed out the Jon Pardi concert during the Greeley Stampede’s 100th anniversary SuperStar Concert Series. Prior to the centennial celebration, the Stampede relied on a portable stage for its outdoor concerts in the rodeo arena—a setup that became increasingly impractical when crews had to prepare the stage during heavy rain.
Instead, the milestone celebration marked the debut of the new JBS Stage. The permanent stage building features three Schweiss Doors bifold doors that protect the stage, performers and valuable audio-visual equipment from the elements. Rather than canceling the concert, organizers simply closed the doors during the storm, resulting in only a one-hour delay.
The JBS Stage with its Schweiss bifold doors is located at the open end of the rodeo arena. This placement keeps the dirt arena wide open for some events, while also increasing the capacity for concerts.
The JBS Stage at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley, Colo., home of the Greeley Stampede, is the new permanent stage structure at the park. The building includes three Schweiss Doors bifold doors. The doors are wide open to display a large American flag prior to a rodeo at the arena.
“We were able to shut the doors, do the stage change and go on with the show once the storm moved on,” says Justin Watada, CEO of the Greeley Stampede.
Held each year around the Fourth of July, the Greeley Stampede celebrates Western heritage with rodeos, parades, carnival rides and concerts. Since the 1970s, the rodeo arena has hosted major country and rock performers, but the portable stage—hauled into place by tractors—could no longer meet the production demands of today’s touring acts.
“We decided we needed a permanent stage,” Watada says.
The Stampede partnered with Weld County, the City of Greeley and JBS USA to build the new venue. Designed and manufactured by American Buildings and constructed by Big Johnson Construction of Fort Morgan, Colorado, the structure supports up to 100,000 pounds of lighting, sound and production equipment. It also includes green rooms, restrooms, an audio-visual control room and a loading dock.
Because the arena regularly hosts rodeos and demolition derbies, protecting the stage from dust, dirt and Colorado’s unpredictable weather was a top priority.
“We had to check a lot of boxes,” Watada says.
The project team selected Schweiss bifold doors because they provide complete protection when closed while allowing full overhead clearance for lighting and speakers when open. Big Johnson Construction recommended Schweiss based on its experience with the product.
Horses and their riders wait around the JBS Stage as they get ready to take part in a rodeo at the arena at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley, Colorado as part of the Greeley Stampede.
Country music superstar Brad Paisley was the first act to use the JBS Stage, during the Greeley Stampede. The Stampede organizers hope the new stage set-up will bring more big-name acts to the celebration.
“We’ve worked with many brands of doors, and Schweiss Doors has consistently been one of the best in the industry in terms of product quality,” says Trevor Fehseke, vice president of Big Johnson Construction.
The stage features three bifold doors—two measuring approximately 18 feet by 30 feet and one measuring 78 feet by 30 feet—for a combined span of more than 114 feet.
“They’re gigantic,” Watada says.
Each door operates independently, allowing the venue to expose only the areas needed for different events. Installing the doors was challenging because the stage sits on an eight-foot-high concrete platform, requiring crews to lift the doors nearly 38 feet before securing them.
“That presented a bit of a challenge from an installation standpoint,” Fehseke says. “Once our installers figured out a game plan and got it going, I think the install went fairly smooth.”
Although operating doors of that size initially required some adjustment, Watada says the results have exceeded expectations.
“The construction of the Schweiss doors has been top quality,” Watada says. “The doors have been great and are serving their purpose.”
The permanent stage has significantly enhanced the Greeley Stampede’s entertainment venue, attracting larger touring acts and expanding opportunities to host additional events throughout the year.
“We’ve had numerous artists comment on the stage and its size and function,” Fehseke says. “Everybody’s been pleased with the overall project.”
About Schweiss Doors
Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors. Doors are custom made to any size for any type of new or existing building for architects and builders determined to do amazing things with their buildings, including the doors. Schweiss also offers a cable to liftstrap conversion package. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.
