A telescoping seating system comprising a plurality of seating levels arranged in a vertically stacked orientation, the plurality of seating levels comprising a bottom seating level and at least one upper seating level. The at least one upper seating level further comprises a support structure having at least one nose beam configured to support a seating portion, and at least one vertical support element provided on a surface of the at least one nose beam, wherein the at least one vertical support element is sized and positioned so as to minimize substantially direct contact with the seating portion of an adjacent seating level during opening and closing of the telescoping seating system, and to provide vertical support between adjacent seating levels in an event of vertical loading on the seating levels when the telescoping seating system is in the closed position.