thumb|Wooden bleachers
Bleachers (North American English), or stands, are raised, tiered rows of benches found at sports-fields and at other spectator events. Stairways provide access to the horizontal rows of seats, often with every other step enabling access to a row of benches.
Benches range from simple planks to elaborate ones with backrests. Many bleachers are open to the ground below so that there are only the planks to sit and walk on. Some bleachers have vertical panels beneath the benches, either partially or completely blocking the way to the ground.
Name origins
The open seating area in baseball was called the "bleaching boards" as early as 1877. American football bleachers are commonly made from concrete or aluminum with concrete footings or superstructure underneath. Many college football stadiums use bleachers as their main source of seating.
See also
- All-seater
- Mobile bleacher
- Grandstand
- Terrace (stadium)
- The gods (theatrical)
- Nosebleed seats