In their home debut, the LSU Tigers will have some new technology on the sidelines, helping to keep them safe and cool. 

Thanks to a new collaboration between the Southeastern Conference and Cleveland, Ohio-based “sideline solutions” company Dragon Seats, the Tigers will be among the first in the league to use climate-controlled benches and retractable shade tents designed to combat extreme heat.

Franklin Floyd, the company’s chief operating officer, stated that the rollout is the result of years of work at both the school and conference levels, with the ultimate goal of protecting athletes from the grueling weather conditions they face year-round.

“Our mission is first and foremost player health and safety,” Floyd said. “Football is a violent sport, and we want to do everything we can to aid athletes’ wellness and performance.”

The technology behind the benches

The so-called “hybrid” benches can function as both heating and cooling systems. For now, they’ll pump out cold air through a custom diffuser that directly cools the player’s neck area — one of the body’s fastest cooling zones. 

By targeting areas like the neck and armpits, the system helps lower an athlete’s core temperature more effectively than traditional cooling methods.

Each bench is built to accommodate six to seven players at once, providing LSU’s roster with ample space, as six benches are stationed on both the home and visiting sidelines.

The benches are also equipped with “Hot Hats,” or specialized compartments where players can place their helmets between drives. 

The compartment extends from the bench like a short pole, where players can put their helmets to help keep them cool and dry. 

“It’s a fully customized air-conditioning solution designed for the sidelines,” Floyd explained. “It significantly lowers players’ core body temperature, which can make a huge difference in performance and recovery.”

Once temperatures cool down later in the season, the same benches can be flipped to heat mode with a simple turnkey switch handled by Dragon Seats’ service team.

Shading the sidelines

The partnership isn’t just about cold air. Dragon Seats is also providing retractable tents that stretch above the benches, designed to block the sun and reduce heat at the field level.

Originally introduced two years ago, Dragon ShadERs have gained popularity rapidly. Dragon Seats partnered with Kinematic, the company best known for producing medical privacy tents used in college football, to refine the design.

“They’re lightweight, effective and fully retractable,” Floyd said. “We tested them at the Raiders’ training facility in Las Vegas, and the shade alone made about a 20-degree difference. When you combine that with the air-conditioned benches, the impact is enormous.”

For players competing in the sweltering Louisiana heat, where field-level temperatures can exceed 120 degrees, this combination could be game-changing, keeping players fresher, longer. 

A conference-wide effort

While Dragon Seats has worked directly with SEC schools in the past, this marks the first conference-wide effort. All 16 SEC sidelines, home and away, will now feature the company’s climate-controlled benches and shading systems.

Last year, Dragon Seats worked with the conference to put Dragon ShadERs on the new tablet carts that were introduced to the sidelines, and after continued success, the company and conference are working much closer together to bring this innovative technology to all 16 SEC sidelines. 

“That project went really well and sparked a broader conversation about how we could support athletes across the board. Now, we’re proud to say every SEC school will have access to this equipment.”

“It was a monumental lift for our team,” Floyd admitted. “But the SEC made health and safety a priority, and we were ready to deliver.”

Dragon Seats has already partnered with the Big Ten Conference, providing benches on every visiting sideline, and is excited for the opportunity to work with the SEC.

Non-conference opponents traveling to SEC stadiums will also have the option to rent the benches for single-game use, ensuring both teams benefit from the technology.

“Any school playing at an SEC stadium can contract with us,” Floyd said. “We’ll have a service team on-site to support them for that specific game.”

While Floyd couldn’t give any details on the economics of that, whatever the cost, it may be worth beating the elements all season long.

Impact at LSU

For LSU, the benefits are apparent. The Tigers’ home benches will feature team branding, while the visiting sidelines will use a clean, white design. 

Floyd said the visual difference will be noticeable, but the real value lies in player comfort and safety.

On scorching September afternoons, when athletes fight heat as much as their opponents, the cooling benches and ShadERs, complete with Hot Hats, diffusers and space for dozens of players at a time, could become as essential as helmets and shoulder pads themselves. And when late-season cold snaps hit, the same technology will flip to heat, keeping players loose and ready.

“It’s about making sure players are safe, hydrated and performing at their best,” Floyd said. “That’s our mission, and we’re excited LSU and the SEC are leading the way.”

LSU will debut the new benches this Saturday when the Tigers face LA Tech in their home opener in Death Valley.