Temporary Structures for Sporting Events
Sporting events place demands on temporary structures that most other events simply do not. Build windows are fixed by the sporting calendar and cannot move to accommodate a supplier who is behind schedule. Guest numbers at major fixtures are large and the hospitality offer needs to be right from the first day. Structures often need to work across challenging and varied sites, whether that is a racecourse infield, a coastal event venue with tidal access constraints, a golf links where vehicle access is limited to specific routes, or an urban venue where every lorry movement needs to be coordinated with the local authority.
Add to that the reputational stakes involved and the level of scrutiny that comes with high-profile sporting occasions, and it becomes clear why event directors and hospitality managers at major sporting events tend to work with suppliers they know and trust rather than taking a chance on someone new.
We have been supplying temporary structures to sporting events across the UK since 1991. Our clients include The R&A, The Jockey Club, Royal Ascot, Cheltenham Festival, SailGP, the America’s Cup World Series, the Bournemouth 7s Festival and the Royal International Air Tattoo. These are events at which the margin for error is essentially zero, the guest experience has to be right from the moment people arrive, and the structures need to look and perform at the level the occasion demands.
Hospitality and VIP facilities
The hospitality offer at a major sporting event is often the primary commercial revenue driver for the host organisation. A structure that does not match the brief, feels generic, or creates operational problems directly affects that revenue and the reputation of the event. The standard of the hospitality environment shapes how guests remember the occasion, which in turn affects whether they return and whether they recommend it to others.
Our temporary hospitality structures are designed around the guest experience from the outset. That means working with our experienced in-house design team on the full specification: the layout and flow of the space, the level of internal fit-out and finish, the window and door configurations, the insulation and temperature control, the heating and lighting, and the external appearance including any branding requirements. We do not present clients with a standard product and ask them to make it work. We design to the brief.
At Royal Ascot we have installed numerous structures providing luxury dining areas and hospitality space for one of the most prestigious events in the British social calendar. The client told us: “I think with your help we have raised the bar to new heights. Your staff should be very pleased at what has been achieved.” At Cheltenham Festival, which the Jockey Club describes as one of the most significant sporting events in the country, the client wrote to us: “The knowledge and expertise your team brings, from build through to de-rig, is invaluable. It brings me a huge amount of comfort to know I have people around me I can turn to.”
That level of confidence comes from working with a supplier who has done it before, many times, at that level.
Media centres and broadcast facilities
The media operation at a major sporting event has its own distinct set of requirements. Reliable power infrastructure, controlled internal temperature, specific configurations for broadcast equipment and editing suites, clear and efficient access for production teams, and a structure that can be set up quickly by crews working to the tight deadlines that broadcast schedules demand.
We supplied the media centre at The R&A Open Championship, one of the most logistically complex and high-profile sporting events in the UK calendar. The R&A wrote to us after the event: “Delivering The Open is not easy and it is always a considerable challenge, but thanks to your efforts, passion, collaboration and drive to succeed, all the various obstacles were overcome and The Open was a great success.” The Open attracts global broadcast coverage and the media operation is substantial. Getting the structure right is not optional.
For broadcast and media facilities we work through the technical requirements at the design stage, ensuring that the building is specified to support the operation it needs to house rather than being adapted after the fact.
Grandstand covers and spectator facilities
Covered spectator areas at sporting events require structures that can span significant widths, deliver good sightlines across the viewing area, meet the structural loading requirements that come with large numbers of people in a single space, and be engineered correctly for the specific site conditions. These are not standard builds and they should not be treated as such.
We’ve delivered grandstand canopy solutions across the UK and internationally, including a project for the Adelaide500 in Australia where the client said they could not believe how quickly a solution was designed, manufactured and delivered. Our structures reach up to 60m wide with eave heights to 14m, and our in-house engineers carry out structural calculations based on your exact site, location and loading requirements. For international projects we calculate to the relevant local standards alongside UK requirements.
Spectator facilities also need to consider flow and access, particularly at events where large numbers of people are moving through the space at the same time. We factor this into the design from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Changing rooms and athlete facilities
Temporary structures for athletes and participants have requirements that are quite different from hospitality or spectator buildings. They need to be properly insulated and heated, capable of housing showers, changing areas and treatment rooms, secure, and built to a standard that reflects the level of the event and the expectations of the athletes using them.
We supplied temporary changing facilities to Saracens RFC whilst a new stand and permanent changing facilities were under construction, providing home and away facilities that worked effectively for a Premiership rugby club throughout the build period. We’ve delivered similar solutions across a range of sporting contexts, always working from the functional brief rather than a standard product.
For events where participant welfare facilities are part of the structural package, we plan and specify these alongside the hospitality and spectator buildings to ensure the whole site works as a coherent operation.
Operational and logistics structures
Behind the scenes at any major sporting event there is a significant operational footprint that guests never see but that the event cannot function without. Ticketing and accreditation, first aid and welfare, production and technical operations, catering preparation, vehicle management and logistics. These spaces need to be in place before anything else, they need to work efficiently throughout the event, and they need to be positioned and configured in a way that supports the overall site plan rather than creating problems for other suppliers.
We’re experienced in planning and delivering the complete structural footprint for large sporting events, not just the headline hospitality buildings. Our case studies reflect the breadth of what that involves across different types of events and venues. If you are working on a project where the structural requirement extends beyond a single building, we are well placed to support the full scope.
Sailing and waterfront events
Waterfront and sailing events present a specific set of challenges that inland venues do not. Coastal weather conditions are more demanding and structures need to be engineered accordingly. Site access is often restricted and may be tidal. The event footprint frequently spans both waterside and landside areas, requiring structures that work across different ground conditions and orientations.
We’ve worked on multiple sailing events including SailGP and the America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth, where we were the nominated marquee and temporary structure supplier. The America’s Cup client described our approach as being an extension of their team rather than a supplier, and noted that what impressed them most was our management, communication and focus when challenges arose. Challenges always arise at waterfront events. The question is whether your supplier is set up to handle them.
Safety, accreditation and engineering
Sporting events are subject to significant scrutiny from local authorities, safety advisors and event licensing bodies. The structures on site need to meet the required standards and be supported by appropriate certification and documentation. We hold MUTA full supplier status, SafeContractor, CHAS, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BSI certification, all independently audited. We carry out structural calculations for every project based on the specific site and location, and we can provide full documentation to support licensing and safety applications. Full details are on our about us page.
We also offer flexible payment options including phased payments and leasing, which can be useful for events organisations managing large structural budgets across a season.
If you are planning temporary structures for a sporting event, whether that is a single hospitality building or the full structural package for a major fixture, browse our sporting event structures page, read what our clients say on our testimonials page, or take a look at our case studies to see the range of events we have worked on. Get in touch and we’ll give you a clear picture of what is achievable for your event.